After exploring multiple ways to grow your platform, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options. In this episode, we’re simplifying the process and helping you discern your next right step. Instead of trying to do everything, you’ll learn how to choose one platform strategy that fits your current season, strengths, and capacity—so you can move forward with clarity and consistency.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Over the past several episodes, we’ve covered a variety of platform-building strategies, including:

* Public speaking

* Podcasting

* Guest blogging and podcast interviews

* YouTube

* Collaborations and giveaways

* The YouVersion app

But here’s the truth: you can’t do all of them—and you shouldn’t try to.

In this episode, we walk through five key questions to help you confidently choose the best platform strategy for you.

5 Questions to Help You Choose Your Next Step:

1. What is your current capacity?Consider your time, energy, and emotional bandwidth. Your season of life matters more than you think.

2. What are you already doing?It’s often easier (and wiser) to build on something you’ve already started rather than creating something brand new.

3. What are your strengths?Lean into what comes naturally—whether that’s teaching, storytelling, or connecting with others.

4. What sounds interesting and fun?Pay attention to what energizes you. Excitement can be a strong indicator of where God is leading.

5. What can you be consistent with?Consistency matters more than frequency. Choose a rhythm you can realistically sustain.

Key Takeaway:

It’s far more effective to focus on one strategy done well and consistently than to try several strategies sporadically and burn out.

Season Wrap-Up:

This episode wraps up the current season of the podcast. We’ll be taking a break in April to rest, plan, and prepare for what’s next.

🎙️ The podcast returns in May, where we’ll dive into what needs to happen before you start writing your book.

Resources:

From Stuck to Steady: The 5 Pillars of a Consistent Writing Rhythm for Christian Writers (free 30-minute recorded workshop)

Schedule a free discovery call to see how coaching can help you get unstuck.

Sign up for Pen Points, a weekly email to encourage you in your writing.

Watch the podcast on YouTube.

Read the blog version of the podcast.

Download the “Christian Writer’s Mindset Makeover”.

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 week’s episode, I talk with Cara Ray, who has recently published her first book, “The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places”. We talk about the different ways that she grew her platform, including through publishing Bible reading plans on the YouVersion Bible app. She also shared about her publishing journey and what that looked like as a first time author without having the huge platform numbers that some publishers are looking for.

Cara Ray is a writer, Bible teacher, and founder of The Writers’ Bloc community and podcast. As a former quiet time checkbox checker, she now writes to help others slow down, savor Scripture, and pursue holy leisure. Her work has been featured on Desiring God, Challies.com, Gospel Centered Discipleship, and the YouVersion Bible App.

Cara’s online community, The Writers’ Bloc, equips women to grow in the art and heart of writing. Her weekly podcast by the same name features conversations with Christian writers who desire to encourage others in the craft of writing and write for God’s glory. She also owns and operates her own copywriting and marketing business, where she helps entrepreneurs and creatives communicate their message with clarity and conviction. Cara lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with her husband, four kids, and two obnoxious dogs.

Resources:

From Stuck to Steady: The 5 Pillars of a Consistent Writing Rhythm for Christian Writers (free 30-minute recorded workshop)

Schedule a free discovery call to see how coaching can help you get unstuck.

Sign up for Pen Points, a weekly email to encourage you in your writing.

Watch the podcast on YouTube.

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

Platform growth can easily become all about numbers, such as followers, subscribers, downloads. But as Christian writers, our worth isn’t measured by metrics.

In this episode, we talk about how to pursue growth without being defined by it, how to focus on the people behind the numbers, and how to stay faithful while leaving the results to God.

If you’ve been discouraged by slow growth or tempted to compare your journey to someone else’s, this conversation will help refocus your heart where it belongs.

Resources:

* From Stuck to Steady: The 5 Pillars of a Consistent Writing Rhythm for Christian Writers (free 30-minute recorded workshop)

* Schedule a free discovery call to see how coaching can help you get unstuck.

* Sign up for Pen Points, a weekly email to encourage you in your writing.

* Watch the podcast on YouTube.

* Read the blog version of the podcast.

* Download the “Christian Writer’s Mindset Makeover”.

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