Steward Your Words for God’s Glory

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

Subscribe to The Writers’ Bloc Podcast for more conversations about faith, writing, creativity, and the writing life.



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💥 Watch Next ⤵️⤵️⤵️

💎 Ep 110: The "Secret" Writing System Behind 90+ Books with Cara Ray & Tricia Goyer
🧿 https://youtu.be/tfvEAvMriOQ

💎 Ep 109: Lead Magnets That Actually Grow Your Email List With Cara Ray
🧿 https://youtu.be/cRigAE4n5JI

💎 Ep 108: Why Writers Get Stuck & How to Keep Creating Anyway
🧿 https://youtu.be/iQof88RT-FA

✅ Thanks for Watching 👆👆👆

Sending So Much Love
Cara Ray
The Writers' Bloc Podcast



✅ Connect With Cara Ray Website
🚻 https://cara-ray.com/

💹 The Writers' Bloc
💠 https://mywritersbloc.com/


✅ Connect With my Social Media

📥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pursuingotiumsanctum/

🧸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuingotiumsanctum

🌌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pursuingotiumsanctum/


📌 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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How does an author write 4–5 books a year, work across multiple genres, collaborate with bestselling authors, and still have creative energy left?

In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, I’m talking with USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Tricia Goyer about the habits, systems, and mindset behind her remarkably prolific writing life.

Tricia shares how she has learned to follow where God is leading rather than feeling pressured to stay in one writing “lane.” We talk about how she manages multiple ideas and projects, collaborates with other authors, protects her mental bandwidth, and uses structure to make the writing process faster and more effective.

We also get into:

✍️ How Tricia produces 4–5 books a year

✍️ Why she writes across so many different genres

✍️ Her collaborations with authors like Max Lucado, Ken Blanchard, and Robin Jones Gunn

✍️ Her wonderfully simple “plop method” for drafting nonfiction

✍️ Why understanding structure can make you a faster writer

✍️ How she decides which opportunities to say yes—and no—to

✍️ Why worry can become a major drain on your creative energy

✍️ Writing in focused 20–25 minute blocks

✍️ Listening to readers to discover what they actually need

✍️ Trusting God with both open and closed doors in your writing life

If you’ve ever wondered how prolific writers actually get the work done—or you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the ideas, responsibilities, and distractions competing for your attention—this conversation will encourage you to simplify, trust God, and faithfully work on the next thing in front of you.

CONNECT WITH TRICIA GOYER

Website: https://triciagoyer.com/

Instagram: instagram.com/triciagoyer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authortriciagoyer/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/triciagoyer

THE FINISH LINE INTENSIVE

Tricia and Amber Lia are hosting an in-person writing intensive October 22–25, 2026, in Benton, Arkansas, designed to help writers start, sustain, or finish their books.

Learn more: https://form.jotform.com/261874550064055


🙏 Please subscribe and enable all push notifications to get more updates​ 🔔
✅ https://www.youtube.com/@Cara-Ray

🙏 Please like, comment on, and share videos too!

💥 Watch Next ⤵️⤵️⤵️

📚 Ep 109: Lead Magnets That Actually Grow Your Email List With Cara Ray
🔎 https://youtu.be/cRigAE4n5JI

📚 Ep 108: Why Writers Get Stuck & How to Keep Creating Anyway
🔎 https://youtu.be/iQof88RT-FA

📚 Ep 107: Chronic Pain, Prayer & Writing Through It All
🔎 https://youtu.be/6r2Gh50i5Qs

✅ Thanks for Watching 👆👆👆

Sending So Much Love
Cara Ray
The Writers' Bloc Podcast



✅ Connect With Cara Ray Website
🚻 https://cara-ray.com/

💹 The Writers' Bloc
💠 https://mywritersbloc.com/


✅ Connect With my Social Media

📥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pursuingotiumsanctum/

🧸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuingotiumsanctum

🌌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pursuingotiumsanctum/


Video Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction & Welcoming USA
00:02:26 - Behind the Scenes: Starting
00:05:45 - How to Write 4 to 5 Books
00:07:48 - Capturing Book Ideas
00:13:27 - Collaborations & Co-Writing
00:17:32 - Writing Steampunk & Stepping
00:26:14 - Daily Habits for Energy, Focus
00:31:30 - The "Plop Method" & Structuring
00:41:56 - Knowing When to Say No & Pitching
00:51:34 - In-Person Writing Retreats & Final



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In this episode of The Writers’ Bloc Podcast, Cara Ray talks with author and The Love Offering Podcast host Rachael Adams about one of the most important tools writers can use to grow their audience: lead magnets.

But a great lead magnet isn't simply a way to collect email addresses. It's an opportunity to serve your readers, solve a real problem, begin a relationship, and invite people into your community.

Rachael shares what's worked for her—from collaborative devotionals and quizzes to seasonal resources, QR codes, email sequences, and evergreen freebies—and how writers can start building an email list without overcomplicating the process.

In this conversation, we talk about:

What a lead magnet is and why writers need one
How to discover what your audience actually wants
Lead magnet ideas you can create without starting from scratch
Why your email list matters more than social media followers
How collaborations can help introduce you to new audiences
Quizzes, devotionals, checklists, calendars, challenges, and other freebie ideas
Using Canva, ChatGPT, and Interact to create resources
What to send after someone downloads your freebie
Why unsubscribes aren't necessarily bad
Building an audience slowly, faithfully, and sustainably
If growing your platform feels overwhelming, Rachael offers a helpful reminder: start small, serve people well, stay consistent, and play the long game.

ABOUT RACHAEL ADAMS

Rachael Adams is an author, speaker, and host of The Love Offering Podcast. She is the author of A Little Goes a Long Way and Everyday Prayers for Love, and her work has appeared in outlets including Crosswalk, Proverbs 31 Ministries, YouVersion, and more. You can find out more about Rachael at rachaelkadams.com, or on Instagram and Facebook @rachaeladamsauthor

🎙️ ABOUT THE WRITERS’ BLOC

The Writers’ Bloc is a community for Christian writers who want to grow in their craft, connect with other writers, and faithfully steward the words God has given them.




🙏 Please subscribe and enable all push notifications to get more updates​ 🔔
✅ https://www.youtube.com/@Cara-Ray

🙏 Please like, comment on, and share videos too!

💥 Watch Next ⤵️⤵️⤵️

📊 Ep 108: Why Writers Get Stuck & How to Keep Creating Anyway
➰ https://youtu.be/iQof88RT-FA

📊 Ep 107: Chronic Pain, Prayer & Writing Through It All
➰ https://youtu.be/6r2Gh50i5Qs

📊 Before You Write a Word, Learn to See
➰ https://youtu.be/slqu4XD2rB0

📊 Ep 106: The Art of Book Cover Design with Cara Ray & Kaycee Parker
➰ https://youtu.be/tKELeXTEUeA

✅ Thanks for Watching 👆👆👆

Sending So Much Love
Cara Ray
The Writers' Bloc Podcast



✅ Connect With Cara Ray Website
🚻 https://cara-ray.com/

💹 The Writers' Bloc
💠 https://mywritersbloc.com/


✅ Connect With my Social Media

📥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pursuingotiumsanctum/

🧸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuingotiumsanctum

🌌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pursuingotiumsanctum/



Chapters:
0:00 How to Listen to Your Audience
0:35 Meet Rachel Adams
2:39 Defining the Lead Magnet
4:50 Successful Lead Magnet Strategies
10:32 Navigating Social Media
13:52 Simplifying the Process for New Writers
21:49 Tools to Build and Promote
27:49 Nurturing Your Email Subscribers


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This video is private.

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