Don't Play With Your Pen

Impact without Applause

Episode 8 – Impact Without Applause (Season Finale) Episode SummaryIn the Season 1 finale of Writing to Win with Mya Kay, Mya closes out with a powerful, scripture-rooted charge to Christian women writers: you must be willing to make an impact even when no one is clapping. Using Daniel as the central figure, she unpacks what it looks like to walk in purpose, carry divine secrets, and stay consistent under pressure — all while operating in a dark industry. This episode applies to all writers and beyond. Key Points * What it means to create impact without the applause of man — and why heaven's applause is enough. * Daniel's blueprint: a heart postured to serve God no matter the threats, pressure, or lies. * Why you must purpose in your heart not to be defiled before the door of opportunity opens. * How God gives His people secrets and wisdom that the kings around them cannot Google. * The importance of staying in your lane — and how Paul's letter to Corinth gives us the formula. Timestamp Overview * Welcome to the Season 1 finale + introducing impact without applause; Daniel 1:3–8 as the foundation. * Overview of Daniel's assignment; key questions for kingdom writers to consider. * Point #1: Purpose in your heart not to be defiled before the door opens — Daniel 1:3–8. * Point #2: Be prepared for God to give you secrets and wisdom for high-level answers — Daniel 2 & 4; Job 33:14–16; Joel 2:28. * Point #3: Be prepared for people to lie on you — Daniel 6; why consistent character is your protection. * Tips for advancement: seek deep intimacy with the Holy Spirit; learn your industry but carry what the kings can't Google — Daniel 2:20–23. * Stay in your lane: Tyler Perry's example + 2 Corinthians 10:13–16. * Closing prayer and season send-off. Call-to-Action * 📖 Get the Rooted to Write devotional — 30-day digital devotional for writers: Grab Your Devotional Here [https://girlsanthem.biz/b/writersdevotional] * 🔗 Connect with Mya and her books at writermya.com [https://writermya.com] * Follow Mya on social @writermya.

Don't Play With Your Pen

Episode 7 – Don't Play With Your Pen Episode Summary In this powerful, spirit-led episode of Writing to Win with Mya Kay, Mya delivers a sobering and encouraging word to Christian women writers about the spiritual weight of their calling. Backed by publishing industry data and scripture, she unpacks why the pen is a weapon in the kingdom of God and why now is not the time to shrink back. This is not a how-to episode; it is an assignment. Key Points * In 2025, US book output surpassed 4 million titles — over 3.5 million from self-publishing — and occult content is quietly flooding safe sub-genres like cozy mystery and witchy romance. * Why Christian writers must audit their homes before they can write freely from heaven's perspective. * The Nehemiah model: rest when tired, but don't stop — the assignment must be completed. * Future generations are depending on the stories we write today. * Novels are God's modern-day parables for a generation that may never open a Bible. Timestamp Overview * Welcome + why this is the heavy episode Mya warned you about. * The state of publishing in 2025: 4 million titles, the rise of occult content, and the witchcraft phenomenon flooding social media and safe sub-genres. * Why this is actually a massive open door for Christian writers; Bible sales hit a 21-year high. * Point #1: Audit your home — you can't write what heaven is saying while staying connected to hell. * Point #2: When you get tired, rest, but don't stop — Nehemiah 4 and 6 as the kingdom writer's blueprint. * Point #3: Future generations are depending on us — Psalm 78 and the legacy of your words. * Point #4: Novels are God's parables for a generation that may never read the Bible. * Closing charge: this is an assignment, not just a career Call-to-Action * 📖 Get the Rooted to Write devotional — 30-day digital devotional for writers: Grab Your Devotional Here [https://girlsanthem.biz/b/writersdevotional] * 🔗 Connect with Mya and her books at writermya.com [https://writermya.com] * Follow me on social @writermya. Primary Sources Used: * Publishers Weekly: Book Output Topped Four Million in 2025 [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/99943-book-output-topped-4-million-in-2025.html] * RUSSH: Is 2026 the Year of the Witch? (WitchTok Stats) [https://www.russh.com/is-2026-the-year-of-the-witch/] * Atmos: In a Burning World, Witchcraft Is on the Rise [https://atmos.earth/ecological-wisdom/in-a-burning-world-witchcraft-is-on-the-rise/] * Jane Friedman: US Book Sales Update (Religious Press Growth) [https://janefriedman.com/book-sales-update-feb-11-2026/] * Publishers Weekly: Bible Sales Hit 21-Year High [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/99800-wi2026-passion-purchases-analog-living-trend-up.html] [1] https://www.publishersweekly.com [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/99943-book-output-topped-4-million-in-2025.html] [2] https://www.linkedin.com [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anne-robertson-8891456_book-output-topped-four-million-in-2025-activity-7442253933315522561-W_5D] [3] https://www.facebook.com [https://www.facebook.com/glamourmaguk/posts/witchtok-is-a-bubbling-community-with-475-billion-views-on-tiktok-so-expect-to-s/1235880158570460/#:~:text=%23WitchTok%20is%20a%20bubbling%20community%20with%2047.5,witch%20makeup%20fly%20this%20Halloween%20%F0%9F%91%89%20https://glamouruk.visitlink.me/t8UxIo.] [4] https://www.russh.com [https://www.russh.com/is-2026-the-year-of-the-witch/] [5] https://atmos.earth [https://atmos.earth/ecological-wisdom/in-a-burning-world-witchcraft-is-on-the-rise/] [6] https://www.facebook.com [https://www.facebook.com/ChristianPost.Intl/posts/in-a-candid-interview-with-tucker-carlson-bestselling-author-lee-strobel-warns-t/1074014184931280/] [7] https://www.researchgate.net [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/400093792_Call_for_Book_Chapters_Reinventing_The_Witch_Witchcraft_and_Sorcery_in_21st-Century_Fiction_and_Film] [8] https://www.publishersweekly.com [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/99800-wi2026-passion-purchases-analog-living-trend-up.html#:~:text=Religion%20and%20spirituality%20were%20also%20%E2%80%9Ca%20standout,more%2C%E2%80%9D%20as%20sources%20of%20hope%20and%20community.] [9] https://authornews.penguinrandomhouse.com [https://authornews.penguinrandomhouse.com/looking-into-anticipated-fall-2025-publishing-trends/] [10] https://janefriedman.com [https://janefriedman.com/book-sales-update-feb-11-2026/]

Top Essentials for Writers

Episode 6 – Essentials for Writers Episode Summary In this lighter, fun episode of Writing to Win with Mya Kay, Mya breaks down her seven essential tools for the Christian woman author's journey. From websites to promo packets, she shares what has actually worked for her over nearly 15 years in the industry, and why investing in your writing career doesn't have to break the bank. Key Points * Why your website is your storefront and how to keep it simple but professional. * The truth about free book giveaways and what to do instead to grow your email list. * How to use a social media scheduler so you can stay focused on writing. * Setting SMART goals with a real example from Mya's own Kindle Unlimited goal. * Why every author needs Canva Pro, editing books, and a promo packet. Timestamp Overview * Welcome back + what to expect: a fun, practical episode before two heavier ones. * Essential #1: Your website — BookBub, WordPress, Wix, or Canva; what matters most. * Essential #2: Email list — why Mya doesn't give out free books and what she does instead. * Essential #3: Social media scheduler — how Mya uses Buffer to stay off social and still show up. * Essential #4: Goals — Mya shares her real 1 million pages read Kindle Unlimited goal breakdown. * Essential #5: Canva Pro — cover design, graphics, branding, and brainstorming. * Essential #6: Editing books — Elements of Style and building your own editing toolkit. * Essential #7: Your promo packet — what's in it and why every author needs one + recap. Call-to-Action * 📖 Get the Rooted to Write devotional — 30-day digital devotional for writers: Grab Your Devotional Today [https://girlsanthem.biz/b/writersdevotional] * 🔗 Connect with Mya and her books at writermya.com [https://writermya.com] * Follow Mya on social @writermya

How to Wait Well in Between Projects

Episode 5 – How to Wait Well Episode Summary In this episode of Writing to Win with Mya Kay, Mya speaks to Christian women writers about how to wait well between writing projects. Drawing from her own journey — including her experience with Kindle Unlimited pressure, her novel The Essence of His Soul, and a season off social media — she unpacks why rest between projects is a spiritual discipline, not wasted time. Listeners will learn how to use the in-between season to consecrate themselves, let their work do its work, and rediscover who they are outside of writing. Key Points * Why disciples of Christ can't write on the world's production timeline. * The spiritual warfare that happens after you finish a God-given assignment. * How God used The Essence of His Soul to touch on gaslighting, generational trauma, and God-ordained relationships — without chasing trends. * Why downtime is actually God's best download time. * Three practical tips for waiting well: consecration, letting your work work for you, and doing an identity audit. Timestamp Overview * Welcome back + why Christian women writers must wait on God's timing, not industry pressure. * Sponsor spotlight: Rooted to Write devotional + a deep dive into The Essence of His Soul. * Tip #1: Consecration — praying, fasting, removing distractions, and intimacy with the Holy Spirit. * Tip #2: Stop watching trends and other authors; let your work work for you. * Tip #3: Identity audit — finding out who you are outside of writing + rest of episode. Call-to-Action * 📖 Get the Rooted to Write devotional — a 30-day digital devotional for writers: Grab Devotional Here [https://girlsanthem.biz/b/writersdevotional] * 🔗 Connect with Mya and her books at writermya.com [https://writermya.com] * Follow Mya on social @writermya.

How to Write a Powerful First Chapter

In this episode of Writing to Win with Mya Kay, host Mya Kay teaches writers how to craft a powerful first chapter that immediately draws readers in and keeps them engaged. After reflecting on the growth of the podcast and the decision to rebuild it with greater authenticity and obedience to God, Mya recaps the foundational lessons from the first three episodes—building a writing foundation, navigating the industry as a Black Christian woman, and outlining a book. She then walks listeners through four key elements of a compelling first chapter, using both biblical examples (Genesis 1, John 1, Luke 1) and a detailed breakdown from her novel The Essence of His Soul. Mya shows writers how to start with action, reveal character through behavior, build intrigue without oversharing, and end with connection and curiosity. She closes by challenging nonfiction writers to rethink how they approach their work, emphasizing that storytelling is just as essential in nonfiction as it is in fiction. Through a powerful real-life example, she demonstrates how to draw readers into transformation by starting with lived experience rather than simply presenting information. Listeners will walk away with a clear, practical framework for writing first chapters that are engaging, intentional, and rooted in both craft and calling. The Non-Fiction example starts at minute 24 and ends at minute 30. Timestamps * [0:00–02:00] – Why this season of the podcast feels different * [02:00–06:00] – What the Bible teaches about strong beginnings * [06:00–16:00] – The 4 keys to writing a powerful first chapter * [16:00–End] – How to apply this to nonfiction writing Show Resources Coaching Services [https://writeyourmemoirin30days.my.canva.site/literary-coaching-sales-website] Email List Sign Up [https://writermya.com/landers/exclusive-offer]