28 | Are You a Christian Writer or a Kingdom Writer?

Discover the profound difference between being a Christian who writes and being a true Kingdom writer with strategic purpose and eternal impact. This episode unpacks the identity crisis many faith-based authors face and provides clarity for your writing calling.

As Christian authors, we often struggle with conflicting tensions—wanting commercial success while making Kingdom impact, feeling guilty about marketing while needing to reach readers, and questioning if our writing truly matters for eternity.

This uncertainty can lead to paralysis, confusion, and overwhelm that robs you of both joy and effectiveness. Without clarity on your Kingdom identity as a writer, you risk creating content that's merely "clean" rather than truly transformative.

In this episode, I share five practical strategies to move from being a Christian writer in name to a Kingdom writer in practice, so you can:

• Write with confidence, knowing your exact purpose and calling
• Market your books without guilt, seeing promotion as biblical stewardship
• Create content with eternal impact, regardless of genre or market
• Embrace the integration of commercial viability with Kingdom values
• Experience the freedom and joy that comes from writing in partnership with the Holy Spirit

Whether you're questioning your calling, struggling with book marketing, or wanting deeper purpose in your writing, this episode gives you the practical, Spirit-led framework to write with both excellence and eternal impact.

Transcript

Let me ask you something right out of the gate today.

Have you ever wondered if there's a difference between being a Christian writer and being a Kingdom writer?

Because, friend, I discovered there is. And understanding the difference transformed my own writing journey and could completely revive yours too.

You see, as believers who write, we all start with good intentions, right?

We pray over our words, dedicate our books to God, and approach our craft from a place of faith.

That's being a Christian writer.

Someone who loves Jesus and happens to write.

And that's beautiful. But is it enough?

Somewhere along the way, those uncomfortable questions start creeping in.

Am I writing what God wants me to write or just what I think will sell?

Is my work truly kingdom focused or am I just slapping a Christian label on worldly strategies when I promote my books? Am I building my platform or am I building God's kingdom?

See, these aren't just questions about craft or marketing, friend. They strike at the very heart of our purpose. And as writers,

they reveal the tension we all feel between being successful in the publishing world and being faithful to our calling.

And you know what? The truth is,

many of us are stuck in this uncertain middle ground.

Christian writers by identity,

but unsure if we are truly Kingdom writers by mission and impact.

So today, I want to help you navigate this tension.

We'll unpack what being a Kingdom writer really means.

Not with vague spiritual platitudes, but with practical, heart level, spirit led strategies you can implement right away.

By the end of our time together,

you'll walk away with clarity about who you are as a writer and how to move forward with confidence, peace and purpose that aligns with God's vision for your words.

So, friend, grab your coffee, get comfortable and and let's dive in.

This is episode 28.

I'm Urcelia Teixeira, ex real estate agent turned award winning Christian fiction author.

When I wrote my first novel on a bucket list whim, I had no idea it would spark a spiritual journey that would redefine my calling.

But you know what, friend? Self publishing wasn't easy. I got caught in the hustle, chasing rankings and sales while desperately trying to stay rooted in Christ.

Now, by God's grace, I'm building my author business his way. And now he's called me to help you do the same.

Welcome to the Anointed Scribe Podcast, where faith meets business for Christian writers. Let's write, publish, and grow our author business God's way. Are you ready? Well then, let's get started.

Hey, it's your author friend, Urcelia. And welcome to this week's episode of the Anointed Scribe Podcast.

I'm super excited about today's topic, Friend, because it covers an area I really struggled to see when I first started my writing journey.

But first, as always, if you're a regular listener and subscriber, I want to thank you for coming back to this show today.

Your support means the world to me and I've thoroughly enjoyed all my messages and emails from you this past week.

Let me tell you, God is doing amazingly wonderful things in your author life, and I can't be more blessed to be able to watch him work out his purpose and in your life.

So thank you for making me part of it.

And if this is your first time joining us, well, welcome to the Anointed Scribe tribe, friend.

I truly believe God's timing is perfect and there's a reason you found this podcast today.

I believe the message he's placed on my heart for this episode is exactly what you need to hear right now. And I'm thrilled you are here and I hope you'll make this a regular part of your writing journey by hitting that subscribe or Follow button so we can walk this path together.

Because really, I want the show and my coaching to fill the gap for you that I so desperately needed in my early career.

It's my honour and privilege to share my personal experiences and lessons learned with you so that you can write with freedom and confidence, knowing exactly who you are and and what your purpose is.

You know, I'm busy writing my 20th novel, which actually blows my mind just saying that out loud because I never thought I'd ever even write and publish one,

much less 20.

But God clearly had a different plan for me and I'm deeply grateful for his incredible patience along the way. Because I'll tell you, there have been many times I did things my way and the wheels were would literally come off.

But in his mercy and love, the Holy Spirit gently brought me back into the fold,

teaching and guiding me, helping me discover the joy and freedom that comes when we write from Kingdom purpose rather than worldly pressure.

And I so deeply want to save you from this confusion,

overwhelm and heartache I experienced so you can step confidently into your purpose as a Kingdom writer from the start.

I'm sharing all this because I want you to know my heart behind this podcast.

This isn't just content for me, it's a mission to help writers like you flourish.

I'm genuinely invested in sharing my journey and the insights God's given me because I want to see you thrive as a Kingdom writer,

confident in your calling and clear about your purpose.

And that's exactly why today's topic has been stirring in my spirit for weeks.

I believe it will truly transform your approach to writing as we explore what it really means to write for the Kingdom rather than just write as a Christian.

So if you're ready, let's dive in, friend.

Let's start by addressing the elephant in the room, which is that identity crisis most Christian authors face. Face at some point.

Perhaps you know what I'm talking about. But if not,

it's that moment when you wonder if being a in quotes Christian author means you can only write explicitly Christian content,

or when you feel guilty for wanting your books to sell well and make money.

Let me clarify what I mean by the difference between a Christian writer and a Kingdom writer.

A Christian writer is simply someone who follows Christ and also writes. There's nothing wrong with that.

But a Kingdom writer is someone more intentional.

A Kingdom writer sees their writing as a strategic mission or a calling to advance God's purposes in the world, to transform lives, and to create lasting impact regardless of the genre or market.

Writing for the Kingdom isn't about a genre.

It's about a mindset. It's about the heart behind the words.

Think about Jesus and how he communicated.

Did he only speak in theological terms?

No.

He told stories about farmers, widows, rebellious sons, and wedding feasts.

He met people where they were with content that they could relate to. But his stories carried profound truth.

In Matthew 13:33, Jesus says this the kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour till it was all leavened.

Notice that word head?

Kingdom influence often works best when it's woven into the fabric of a compelling story, or rather than plastered across the COVID This doesn't mean explicit Christian content isn't valuable. It absolutely is.

But it does mean that God can use all kinds of writing to impact lives as long as it comes from a heart aligned with his.

So the first step in writing for the Kingdom is to release this guilt and embrace the truth.

God has uniquely positioned you with your specific voice,

your experiences, and an audience to reach people that others can't.

Now, let's talk about the marketplace reality,

since we're going there. Because, yes, if you want to be a working author,

you need to sell books. I mean, let's just face the facts.

And sometimes that feels at odds with a Kingdom mindset, right?

I was in a roundtable discussion with another author at one of these author conferences. I attended a while back. I think it was the NINK conference in America in Florida.

By then this author had already published a number of books and her then latest one hit the bestseller lists. But she confided in me that she felt uncomfortable with her success and that she wasn't sure if it was holy to be promoting herself so much.

She even went on to question if it was godly for wanting her books to sell so well.

These are such common questions among Christian authors and they can be paralyzing if we don't address them head on.

So if you hear right now asking similar questions, let me be clear.

There is absolutely nothing ungodly about wanting your books to reach people and generate an income.

In fact,

it's biblical and I'll tell you why.

In 1 Timothy 5:18 Paul writes this.

He says the laborer deserves his wages.

And in 1 Corinthians 9:14 he states this.

Those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the Gospel.

God designed work, including creative work, to be sustainable.

But here's the thing to remember, friend.

The problem isn't wanting success.

It's when the pursuit of success becomes our primary driver.

It's when you obsess more about your success and money and your accolades than you do about your impact and God.

We can navigate this tension by recognizing that marketing and platform building aren't just necessary, potentially harmful elements.

When done correctly, they're in fact biblical stewardship.

If God has given you a message or a story,

don't you have a responsibility to get it into as many hands as possible?

Isn't it actually poor stewardship to write a powerful book and then hide it under a bushel because you're uncomfortable with marketing?

Would a kingdom writer hide their God given message because marketing feels marketing isn't about self promotion. Remember we discussed that in the previous one of the previous episodes.

It's about message promotion.

It's about connecting the right readers with the content that could transform their lives.

Think of Jesus sending out the design,

the disciples, the disciples.

Think of Jesus sending out the disciples two by two to spread the good news.

He was essentially saying,

I have a message that people need to hear. Go take it to them. That's the Great Commission, right?

That's what good marketing does. It takes your message to the people who need it.

So yes, study the market,

learn what readers want,

master the craft of writing books that sell.

But do it all as an act of stewardship,

recognizing that reaching readers is the only way your words can can have impact.

And make sure you give God the glory for putting those opportunities in your path.

All right, so we've talked about the identity crisis and the marketplace reality, but now let's get practical about how to integrate kingdom values with commercial viability.

I call this the integration approach. And it works. Whether you're writing children's books,

romance novels, fantasy epics, or business guides,

the integration approach has three purpose,

process,

and product.

First, purpose before you write a single word, ask yourself,

what transformation am I hoping to facilitate through this book?

Notice I didn't say what message am I trying to communicate?

That's too one dimensional.

Kingdom writing isn't about downloading information. We can get information anywhere these days.

It's about transformation.

So consider how might this story or content help readers see themselves?

How do they see others? How will it help God?

How is it different?

What lies might it help them reject?

What truths might it help them embrace?

Write this transformational process down and keep it visible as you write. It'll be your North Star, your anchor when you face creative decisions.

The second component is process.

This is about how you write, not just what you write.

Writing for the Kingdom means inviting God into your creative process.

It means seeing your writing time as sacred space where you co create with the ultimate creator.

Practically, this might look something like this.

Beginning your writing sessions with prayer, inviting God's guidance,

being open to the Holy Spirit's redirection when your story takes an unexpected turn. Because that happens. I always think of a GPS where it says recalculating, Recalculating. I can't tell you how many times I've written and think I'm going one way with my story because I don't plot.

I just I'm a panther and suddenly the Holy Spirit will just break in and just send the story off into a different direction. So be open to the Holy Spirit's redirection when your story takes an unexpected turn.

Writing from a place of rest rather than striving trust in God's timing and being excellent in your craft as an act of worship.

I remember listening to an interview with a worship singer once.

I can't remember his name actually at this time, but it stood out for me because he said he was telling how his process changed when he started viewing his songwriting as kingdom work.

If you push through forcing the words even when you are empty, he said,

there's no joy in that and therefore no worship behind it.

Now he sees his writing time as collaborative. He shows up,

does his part, but also listens. That's that redirecting coming in and the songs are so much better for it.

So that's the interview and I'll tell you, it is so true, friend. So I encourage you to focus on the worship, focus on the impact, focus on the transformation,

not the word count. And getting it all technically correct. Okay?

Focus on the worship, not the word count. Right?

The third component is product,

the actual content you create.

Writing for the Kingdom doesn't mean every book needs to have a salvation message or a Bible verse.

But it does mean that your content, whatever genre or topic, reflects Kingdom values.

So you should ask yourself, does my content affirm or undermine what I know to be true about God and His creation?

Does it respect the dignity of all people as image bearers of God?

Does it offer hope, even if it explores dark themes?

Does it tell the truth about the world, both its beauty and its brokenness?

In Philippians 4:8, Paul says, Whatever is true. I love it. It's the whatever verse. I call it the whatever verse. Philippians 4:8. Whatever is true. Whatever is noble. Whatever. Whatever is right.

Whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable. If anything is excellent or praiseworthy. Think about such things.

This doesn't mean we only write about happy, sanitized topics.

It means that even when we address difficult subjects, we do so in a way that ultimately points towards what is true,

noble, right, pure,

lovely and admirable.

When you align your purpose,

your process,

and your product with Kingdom values,

something amazing happens, friends.

Your writing gains a depth and a resonance that readers respond to,

even if they can't quite put their finger on why.

So let me ask you this. When you look at your writing life right now,

are you creating with Kingdom purpose,

partnering with God in your process,

and shaping content that reflects his heart?

Now let's get even more tactical with some practical strategies.

So here are five ways to move from being a Christian writer in name to a Kingdom writer in practice. You ready?

Strategy number one.

Know your specific calling.

Not every Christian writer is called to write the same things.

Some are called to write directly to the church.

Others are called to write to those who'd never set foot in a church building.

Now, if you're still in the place of not being clear, if you are called to be a writer,

or perhaps you're second guessing yourself,

and if that's you, I want you to know that's completely normal. There is no condemnation in that. We go through ebbs and flows as writers all the times, and I second guess.

Sometimes when I get lost in worldly things and worldly thoughts and my mind takes over, I second guess if I was even called to write. So if you're in that place discerning your calling,

I want you to know that discerning your calling isn't always a thunderbolt moment either.

Sometimes it's a gentle unfolding of purpose over time.

In episode 25, I shared a spirit led guide with four powerful questions to help you get clarity on your calling.

If you haven't listened to that episode yet, I'd encourage you to go back to it after this one. Those questions helped dozens of writers now in our community discover not just if they are called to write, but specifically what they are called to write.

God works and he works through those questions.

Remember, God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called.

And sometimes that calling becomes clear only after you take that first first step in faith.

So reflect on your unique experiences, your passions and your gifts. Where do they intersect with the needs you see in the world?

That intersection is often where your specific calling lies.

You could, for example, be someone who experienced devastating grief after losing a child. For example,

your journey through that valley equips you to write stories that minister specifically to parents who are suffering.

That's your lane, and you can run in it with confidence and excellence, knowing you are bringing healing and sometimes even forgiveness to your readers.

So give it a think and a prayer, friend. Watch your lane.

Don't try to be everything to everyone either.

Identify your specific audience and focus on serving them exceptionally well.

It's that simple.

Strategy number two Master the art of subtlety.

You know, CS Lewis once said he never set out to write Christian books, but because he was a Christian,

his worldview naturally infused his writing.

And I can so relate with this actually, because when I wrote my Alex Hunt adventure thriller series,

I didn't write that for the Christian readers or for the Christian categories on Amazon even. I wrote that purely for fun and excitement and adventure. But because I'm a Christian.

My the worldview. The Christian worldview is what translated in the writing.

And so as CS Lewis once said,

you know, he never started off being to write for Christian books, but because he was a Christian,

his worldview naturally infused his writing.

That's why his Chronicles of Narnia have impacted millions,

including many who would never pick up an explicitly Christian book.

You can address themes like redemption, grace, sacrifice, and hope without using overtly religious language. In fact, I know my readers don't like anything that's too preachy.

So you can bring in themes and subtropes without using overtly religious language.

Often these themes are more Powerful even when readers discover them organically through the story and the characters,

rather than having them stated explicitly.

This doesn't mean hiding your faith.

It means trusting that truth resonates with people, even when it's not labelled as Christian.

Strategy number three write with excellence as an act of worship.

Colossians 3:23 tells us, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

This means taking the craft seriously. It means studying story structure, character development,

prose techniques and yes, even marketing techniques. It means revising and editing and polishing until your work shines.

When we create with excellence, we honour the God who created us to create.

Don't rush through the book just to get your book out there and get it sold and get it into the platforms on Amazon. Do your best with it, because excellence is an act of worship.

Slow it down.

Plan your schedule better so that you don't work according to tight deadlines that make you rush through your work.

Invest in professional editing and a professional book cover and I guarantee the result will be much more impactful because it was crafted with care and excellence.

Strategy number four Build genuine community,

not just platform.

You know, in our digital age, there's so much focus on building platform,

getting more followers, more subscribers, more readers. And yes,

platform matters because unfortunately, it's what drives the algorithms to put you in the front of the line, on top, the top shelves.

And yes,

if you want your books to reach people,

you need to absolutely build a platform.

But Kingdom writing focuses first on building genuine community.

I can't say this enough.

This means seeing your readers as people to serve,

not just numbers to accumulate and to help you build your platform.

Practically, this might look like responding personally to emails and messages, creating value for your audience between books,

being vulnerable and authentic in your communication,

praying for your readers regularly. Have you ever done that? I do that all the time. Pray for your readers. Even if you've never seen them or met them, pray for them.

When you build genuine community,

you create loyal readers who not only buy your books, but champion them to others.

And that's what you want. Remember that word of mouth marketing that everybody seems to have forgotten about? That is still the most valuable way of marketing word of mouth. And more importantly, you create space for real transformation to occur.

That's the source of a Kingdom writer.

Strategy number five, I think, is our last strategy. Embrace the tension.

Writing for the Kingdom means living in healthy tension between commercial viability and spiritual integrity,

between entertaining and transforming,

between meeting readers where they are and inviting them somewhere new.

Don't try to resolve this tension. Embrace it.

It's in this very space that some of the most powerful writing emerges.

I think of the Psalms.

They don't shy away from questions and doubts and struggles.

They hold space for lament alongside praise,

and it's this honest wrestling that has made them resonate with readers for thousands of years.

It meets us where we are at.

Your willingness to explore life's complexities with honesty and hope can make your writing deeply resonant with today's readers who are hungry for authenticity.

So friend, as we wrap up our time together, I want to speak directly to where you might be right now in your writing journey.

Maybe you're just starting out, wondering if your words even matter. Wonder if you can even finish this book that you started and chucked in a drawer 10 years ago. And now, feeling encouraged to or inspired to start again,

I want you to know that your words matter.

Every single one of us started with a single word on a blank page.

Maybe you've been writing for years but haven't seen the success you hoped for.

Don't give up.

Move your expectations around a little bit. Pray about what it is that you're expecting success to look like for you.

The seeds you are planting today may bear fruit in ways you can't even imagine.

Or maybe you're experiencing success,

but you're wrestling with whether your writing is making a kingdom difference.

Trust that when you write from a heart aligned with God, he can use your words in ways far beyond your intentions.

I think of 2 Corinthians 9, 10, actually, which says,

he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

God is the one who supplies the seed,

your ideas, your stories, your message, friend. And he's the one who multiplies it for a harvest beyond what you could accomplish on your own.

Your job is to faithfully plant the seeds to steward the gift of writing he's given you.

So this week I want to challenge you with these action steps.

Take time to write out your kingdom why?

The deeper purpose behind your writing?

Post it where you'll see it every day.

Then evaluate your current work in progress through the lens of purpose, process and product.

Where might you need to make adjustments?

Then I want you to identify one specific way you can elevate the excellence of your craft this month.

Whether that's studying story structure,

improving your dialogue, or mastering a marketing skill, you have to keep learning so that you have to keep giving out excellence in your work and through your work.

Then reach out to at least one reader this week with a simple goal of encouragement,

not promotion.

And finally, set aside time to pray specifically over your writing,

inviting God to use it for his purposes.

Remember, friend, writing for the Kingdom isn't about perfection.

It's about partnership with a perfect author who is writing a much bigger story than we can see.

You're not just a Christian who writes.

You are a Kingdom writer,

called and equipped for such a time as this.

Your words matter.

Your words matter. Your stories matter. And as you align your writing with Kingdom purposes,

you are participating in work that has eternal significance even as you build a sustainable career here and now.

The difference is clear.

A Christian writer has faith.

A Kingdom writer has both faith and strategic purpose.

They don't just create content that's clean or safe.

They create content that carries the potential for transformation,

however subtle or profound. And that, my friend, is what makes all the difference.

I'd love to hear how today's conversation resonates with you,

so if you don't mind, drop me a message on social media or via the message link on the Show Notes page. And if you found value in today's episode, why don't you just share it with another writer?

Share it in one of the groups in Facebook who might actually need this encouragement too. We need to come together today,

in these days, these last days, because I honestly believe that God is raising an army. We need to come together as Christian writers and not one worry about competition and comparing and all that other ugly stuff.

We need to stand together as one church. Okay? So until next time, keep writing for the Kingdom one word at a time.

Because friend, for such a time as this you have been called to thrive as God's Anointed Scribe Friend. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of of the Anointed Scribe podcast.

I would love, love, love to know what resonated most with you today. So do let me know by leaving a review in the show description please.

And if you want more biblical strategies and spirit led wisdom on how to build your author business God's way,

make sure you like or subscribe to the show so you can get regular updates of all the new episodes the most moment they drop.

Then head on over to anointed scribe.com for today's show notes and a link to sign up to my newsletter, which will also give you free access to all the resources I personally use to help me in my writing life.

If you want to continue discussions on today's episode or just want to connect with me directly. I love if you join the Anointed Scribe tribe, you'll find the link to my private, private Facebook group in the show description.

So friend, I hope that you are leaving feeling inspired,

encouraged and on fire to step boldly into your calling as a writer chosen and set apart to fulfill a unique purpose in God's plan. I look forward to our next episode together and remember, for such a time as this, you have been called to thrive as God's Anointed Scribe.