by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed.D. @khutch0767

A few months ago, I was contacted by a local disc jockey. I’d known him as a casual acquaintance through Andrew, my brother, but I was surprised when he invited me to speak at a fund-raising banquet. As we worked through the engagement’s details, I asked him why he’d chosen me to speak at this prestigious event since he’d never heard me give a speech. That’s when he reminded me that he’d attended Andrew’s funeral and witnessed my delivery of my sibling’s eulogy.

While I’d never recommend using an untimely death to get a speaking gig, this illustration demonstrates that what we say is more powerful than we may imagine. Our messages, despite the context—matters. And people are constantly listening. When we speak, we must continuously ask ourselves, “Am I shining light, truth, and God’s love?”

Christian authors have unique opportunities to use our voice and writing as a platform for speaking opportunities to promote our work and God. With the right approach, we can leverage our writing skills to reach a wider audience and spread God’s message.

Here are a few ways (other than speaking at funerals) to reach a wider audience with our writing and words:

• Attend conferences and events related to our genre or niche. These events offer opportunities to meet other writers, industry professionals, and potential readers. We can also connect with event organizers and offer to speak on a panel or present.
• Start a blog or podcast. This allows us to share our thoughts and ideas with a broader audience and establish ourselves as an authority in our field. We can also use our platform to promote our books and engage with our readers. Make sure to include links to our books and other resources in our blog or podcast, and actively encourage our followers to share our content.
• Join writing organizations and associations. Many of them have conferences, expos, and webinars that offer opportunities for instructors and keynote speakers.
• Inspire others organically by using our writing to promote God and others. Consider incorporating our faith and values into our writing and seek out opportunities to share our message with others.

Whether through our books, social media, or speaking engagements, always remember the impact our words can have on others. Here are some places to consider being a featured speaker:

• Chambers of Commerce
• Places of Education
• Libraries and Bookstores
• Conferences and Trade Shows
• Corporations
• Nonprofit organizations
• Places of Worship
• Media Publications

As Christian authors, our writing is more than a means of self-expression. It’s a powerful tool for spreading the love and message of God. By using our writing as a platform for speaking opportunities and promoting our work, we can make a difference in the lives of others. Best of all, we can share our message with a world that needs light, hope, and healing more than ever before.

Author, speaker, educational consultant, and editor–Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed. D. has had her hand in leadership for many years. She loves speaking to groups and delivering messages with a quick wit and real-life stories. Katherine is a freelance writer/content editor, a content editor/writing coach for Iron Stream Media, and a sensitivity reader for Sensitivity Between the Lines. She is a review board member and contributor to Inkspirations (an online magazine for Christian writers), and her writing has been published in Guideposts. Her work in art/writing is distinguished by awards, including the New York Mayor’s Contribution to the Arts, Outstanding Resident Artist of Arizona, and the Foundations Awards at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022). She was a finalist in the Genesis Contest ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers/Romantic Suspense 2022). She is a finalist for the Claymore Award 2022 (Thriller Division) for the best-unpublished manuscript. She is a member of Word Weavers International and serves as an online chapter president and mentor. She belongs to FWA (Florida Writers Association), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), CWoC (Crime Writers of Color), AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and AASA (American Association of School Administrators). She serves on the board of the nonprofit organization Submersion 14 and is an art instructor and virtual exhibition specialist for the nonprofit organization Light for the Future. Katherine is the host of the podcast Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality. She has authored a Christian Bible study for women and is currently working on the sequel and prequel to her first general market thriller novel, “A Fifth of the Story.”