Grief changes us—and it can change the way we write.
In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, Cara sits down with writer, journaling coach, and founder of the Pen and Mend Collective Kristin Vanderlip for a thoughtful conversation about grief, biblical lament, journaling, and the healing power of putting words on the page.
After experiencing the devastating loss of her infant daughter, followed closely by the death of her father and other seasons of deep grief, Kristin discovered that journaling could become more than a writing practice. It could provide a place for honest lament, emotional processing, prayer, and ultimately a way of turning back toward the hope and character of God.
In this conversation, we talk about:
• Why biblical lament gives us permission to be honest with God
• How journaling can help us process grief without getting trapped in rumination
• Why writing can sometimes be harmful—and the guardrails that can help
• The difference between writing for catharsis and writing for craft
• Why we should often write for ourselves before writing for a reader
• What grief, fear, exhaustion, and other inner struggles may have to do with writer’s block
• Kristin’s Rest: A Journal for Lament and Rise: A Journal for Perseverance
Whether you're walking through grief, struggling to find words, or simply curious about how journaling can deepen both your faith and your writing life, this conversation offers a gracious reminder: we are not machines created simply to produce. Our writing comes from an embodied, spiritual, emotional life—and sometimes tending to that life is part of tending to our craft.
Learn more about Kristin, the Pen and Mend Collective, and her journaling resources at: https://kristinvanderlip.com
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Cara Ray
The Writers' Bloc Podcast
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📌 Video Timestamps
00:00 Introduction: Can Journaling Ever Be Harmful?
01:28 Kristin Vanderlip’s Story: Child Loss, Military Life & Grief
04:50 Discovering Lament & Journaling as a Toolkit for Trauma
11:20 Avoiding Rumination & Giving Journaling Safety Guardrails
15:20 What is Biblical Lament? (Turning Pain Toward God)
23:00 The Neuroscience & Emotional Release
29:20 Catharsis vs. Craft: Writing for Yourself First
34:50 Is Writer’s Block a Craft Problem or an Internal Block?
41:15 Rest& Rise Journals: Frameworks for Suffering & Renewal
45:30 Listener Q&A: Getting Lost in Your Own Mess
53:30 Should You Reread or Burn Your Old Grief Journals?
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