Join me as I chat with author Mary Grace Johnson about how she took a traumatic event from her childhood and turned it into a children’s book. She wasn’t originally planning on writing for kids, but over time, it became clear who she was writing for. Listen in to hear about that process.

Her book, And the Sun Came Up: A True Story of Grief and Hope, comes out this fall.

Mary Grace Johnson writes inspirational stories for those who have faced grief and loss at a young age, offering love, comfort, and hope. You can find her at https://marygracejohnsonauthor.com or on Instagram.

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

Disclaimer: I believe in and approach life (and writing) from a distinctly evangelical Christian perspective, but some of my guests may not. When I interview a guest on a specifically spiritual topic, I do my best to know in advance that I can support their theological stances on the topics that relate to our interview. When the topic is not particularly spiritual, our theological views may differ. My interviewing of guests and providing links to their work does not necessarily indicate a complete theological endorsement of all their written work.

This week, I deviated a bit from my theme of finding your reader and message to talk about a topic that affects us as writers in a broad way—the use of AI in our writing.

In this episode, I explain my three questions that I ask myself when considering the use of AI in my writing:

* Is my use of AI God-honoring?

* Is my use of AI causing my God-given creativity or other skills to atrophy from lack of use?

* Am I valuing expediency over the longer writing process in a way that short-changes the end result and my own participation in that process?

I also break them down and share some of the ways that I have decided not to use AI, some of the ways I currently do, and where I feel the area is a little grey.

I don’t claim to be an authority on this topic or have all the answers, but this episode gives you a peek into my own thought process as I consider different ways to use or not use this new technology.

(PS - I did not use AI to write these show notes!)

Resources mentioned:

Episode 105

Sign up for Pen Points, my weekly email for Christian writers

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

Sometimes we feel the pressure to include every aspect of all the things we’re passionate about in the core message of our writing. It just doesn’t fit, nor does it need to!

Covered in this episode:

* It’s OK NOT to talk about certain topics

* You may have more than one book in you

* The importance of being intentional about what personal details we share or don’t share

* What to do with smaller ideas that don’t fit into our main message

* Why having an intentional personal brand isn’t inauthentic or fake

Other episodes referenced:

Episode 40 - What is an author brand? with Cara Ray

Episode 66 - Branding and Business Planning for Creatives with Karla Colahan

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

This week, I talk about the balance between settling on our reader and message and also remaining flexible and responsive to reader input and feedback.

We’ll look at:

* The importance of adjusting as you write rather than trying to have it all figured out ahead of time

* Different ways of getting feedback from your readers

* Examples of how a popular post doesn’t always equal a drastic change in your future writing focus

Resources:

If you haven’t signed up yet, check out Pen Points - a weekly email of writing tips, resources, and prayer.

In this episode of The Purposeful Pen, we’re continuing our conversation about honing in on your reader and the message you offer them. Today, we’re diving into one key reason this clarity matters: language. When we know exactly who we’re talking to and what we’re helping them with, we can learn how they describe their problems—and use those words in our writing. This not only helps your reader feel seen and understood, but it also boosts discoverability through SEO.

We’ll explore:

* Why using your reader’s own words makes your writing more relatable and effective

* How Jesus modeled this kind of audience awareness

* Simple, practical ways to “listen” to your audience online and in real life

* How to use tools like AI (including ChatGPT’s Deep Research function) to dig into how your ideal reader describes their struggles

* Tips on incorporating this research into your writing to serve and connect more deeply

You can sign up for the Pen Points weekly email here.

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

We’ve spent time exploring our ideal readers, but today we turn our attention to the message we’re called to share. Your message is deeply tied to your personal life experiences and the biblical truths you’ve learned through them. Whether you're writing from grief, growth, or transformation, this episode will help you connect your story to the people who need it most. Plus, I’ll walk you through practical steps to put your message and audience together in a way that brings focus and clarity to your writing life.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

* Why your message often starts with your own life experiences

* The difference between writing from experience and writing about experience

* How to identify the biblical truths God has taught you through your journey

* What to consider when narrowing or broadening your message and reader focus

* How to craft a clear one-sentence “X, Y, Z” statement that keeps your writing purposeful

* A tip on how your broader message can lead to more focused book ideas

Helpful Links:

* Book a Free 30-Minute Discovery CallLet’s see if coaching with me can help you find clarity and direction. Schedule your call here

* Get the “Path to Purposeful Writing” WorkbookA 30-page guided workbook to help you discover your message and audience with clarity. Available now at amylynnsimon.com/store

Let’s Connect:Have an XYZ statement to share? Post it in the comments or tag me on Instagram @amysimonwriter — I’d love to celebrate your clarity with you!

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

In this episode, we’re going deeper into understanding our audience by looking at the three most common mistakes writers make when defining who they're writing for—and how to fix them. Whether you're writing for fun or aiming to publish, getting clarity on your audience is key to writing content that resonates and serves well.

What You'll Learn:

* Why being too vague about your audience actually limits your impact

* How narrowing your audience can actually deepen your message and reach

* How to identify and address your reader's felt needs (and what that even means!)

* The importance of your tone—and how to come across as a relatable guide rather than a distant expert

* A simple SEO tip to make your writing more findable online

Resources Mentioned:

* Simple SEO for Christian Writers by Jana Carlson

* Sign up for Pen Points – a weekly email for Christian writers with reflection questions, tips, and encouragement

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com

Are you clear on who you're writing for?In this episode of The Purposeful Pen, we're diving into the essential process of identifying your reader. Discovering your audience isn't just about demographics—it's about finding the overlap between your unique story and the people who most need your message.

We’ll talk about:

* How your personal story can guide you toward your ideal reader

* Practical places to observe and engage with your potential audience

* Questions to help you picture your reader more clearly

* Why it’s okay if you don’t have it all figured out yet

* How writing itself can help you refine your message and audience

This isn’t about boxing yourself in—it’s about being intentional so your words can serve others more effectively.

Resources Mentioned:

Pen Points – A Weekly Email for Christian WritersGet encouragement, clarity, and a journaling question in your inbox every Saturday morning. Sign up at: amylynnsimon.com/pen-points

A Path to Purposeful Writing – Digital WorkbookJournaling prompts to help you uncover your message and your reader. Find it at amylynnsimon.com

The Purposeful Pen is a weekly podcast for Christian writers designed to help you build a writing life with eternal impact. Each week you’ll hear practical tips and Biblical truth on topics such as improving your writing, honing your message, and managing your time. I always respond to listener emails and I’d love to hear from you! Amysimon@amylynnsimon.com