Encouraging and equipping you to write for healing and hope
through a private membership experience
with an exclusive collection of offerings, hosted by Kristin Vanderlip.
the collective
pen & mend
write for healing & hope
The Pen & Mend Collective is for the woman who wants to use writing as a tool for healing and hope in her life. Maybe you've been hurt, experienced grief of any kind, or suffered at the hands or words of another. Maybe you're seeking to heal from trauma, suffer from chronic discontent, or feel disconnected from yourself, your life, or even God. Maybe life is just plain hard and you feel flooded by overwhelming emotions and stuck in spinning, spiraling thoughts.
You want better for yourself. You want to pursue mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. You want to recover hope and the parts of yourself that have been lost or wounded. And you know there's no quick fix.
If you can relate, the Collective is a safe place to join with other kindred spirits who want to take action and tap into the healing benefits of writing. But this isn't going to be your typical Facebook group (in fact, there's no Facebook group at all). The Collective honors your private healing journey (perfect for introverts) while also offering you ways to gather and engage with others at a level you're comfortable with (because community matters too).
Keep scrolling to see how it works.
02. Monthly guided journaling workshop (live on Zoom w/ replays!)
03. Weekly journal prompts (in your inbox)
04. Monthly co-writing space (live on Zoom)
05. Quarterly mentorship meet-up (live on Zoom)
06. Access to exclusive content (on Instagram)
07. Access to Shared Words collaborative document
plus more, including a free downloadable habit tracker
what does the Collective include?
JOIN NOW
With the wisdom and tools you'll gain from workshops, private mentorship conversations, and more, you'll find a rhythm for writing that works for you. You'll also find the level of accountability you need through habit trackers and access to Kristin's Close Friend content on Instagram.
CULTIVATE A CONSISTENT JOURNAL HABIT
Not every type of writing is healing. In fact, sometimes it's possible to write in a way that can actually harm us. Learn frameworks and strategies inspired by therapeutic and biblical practices to help you journal in a way that is transformative and effective.
WRITE IN A WAY THAT CHANGES THINGS
If you've ever felt like your voice has been silenced, filtered, dismissed, neglected, or unable to be expressed freely and safely, you'll be able to use writing as a way of recovering your voice and find renewal from thoughts and narratives that have held you captive for too long.
RECOVER YOUR VOICE + FIND RENEWAL
If you decide to journey with me, you'll be able to...
“I journal all the time and didn’t know if I was going to learn anything new. But I loved the reflection questions that you posed to us...
- Heather
And the care ideas for after the class and suggestions for transitioning out of the journaling experience were so so helpful. I landed in some really helpful new places through the session and afterwards with follow up work that I don’t think I would have gotten to without your great reflection questions. Thank you so much!"
what others are saying
“Thank you for the gift of your time and guidance tonight. It was just what I needed, and I didn’t even realize that I needed it...
- Deborah
When I feel anxious, I can feel it in my lungs. It’s like there’s a lion sitting on my lungs, and I can’t get a deep breath. I felt that way for a few days. And I don’t anymore, and I didn’t by about half way through our time tonight… I really really appreciated this time.
Did you know that journaling for 20 minutes 3-5 days a week can notably reduce depression and anxiety and improve your sleep?
it's time to write your way to healing + hope
ready to change your life through writing?
Become a member of the Collective today.
The Pen & Mend Collective is a monthly membership
experience created to offer you inspiration and tools to support you as you seek to write for healing and hope.
All the information you need will be delivered straight to your inbox.
I'm a bereaved mother, veteran military spouse, journal enthusiast, and writing coach.
I believe writing can offer healing + hope to anyone - including you.
Grief, depression, and anxiety took their toll on me as a bereaved mother and military spouse. I was desperate for relief and for something to change but felt so stuck and alone. In all that was out of my control, I began to focus on what I could control. I sought help and wisdom from safe friends, wise spiritual mentors, and licensed therapists.
And then I began to write. That was when it all started to change for me. Owning my story, my choices, my emotions, my thoughts, and becoming curious and compassionate about myself and my life through writing brought (and still brings) such healing + hope to my life. I believe you have healing words to write and that you can write your way to hope.
Pick up your pen with me as we seek to mend the broken pieces of our hearts and lives.
about your host
Hi, I'm Kristin.
former english teacher, bereaved mother, veteran military spouse, writing coach, journal mentor, author, enneagram 4W3
...and a compassionate guide and witness to your journey
- I have a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- I've taken numerous continuing studies courses at Yale and Stanford on religious studies, creative writing, and communications.
academic
- I'm a certified writing coach.
- I have created and hosted monthly journaling workshops serving 5-50 attendees at a time.
- I have led hundreds of writers through the best-selling book on creative recovery, The Artist's Way, and have taught a course on Writing Your Hard Story.
PROFESSIONAL
- My writing has been featured online on (in)courage and Proverbs 31 Ministries' the First 5 App.
- It has also appeared in printed collections published by Proverbs 31 Ministries and DaySpring.
- And featured in Rachel Marie Kang's book, Let There Be Art.
- My journal for lament released in November 2022.
PUBLICATIONS
background & qualifications
LOUIS DESALVO, WRITING AS A WAY OF HEALING
"It's not what you write or what you produce as you write that is important. It is what happens to you while you are writing that is important. It is
while you write that is important."
who you become
How much does it cost to join the Collective?
When can I join?
Where will the Collective gather and meet?
Membership is currently discounted at an introductory rate of $17 a month. Payments will be automatically recurring until you request to cancel your membership. Refunds are not available.
Membership doors will open quarterly during these weeks. Enrollment windows: Quarter 2—March 27th to 31st, Quarter 3—June 25th to 30th, and Quarter 4—September 24th to 30th.
Our scheduled gatherings are virtual and will take place on private Zoom calls. You'll also have access to shared collective offerings on Instagram and Google Drive. See our upcoming scheduled sessions for 2023 below (dates/times subject to change).
Can't make a session live? No worries! Collective members will have access to guided workshop and mentorship meeting replays to watch at your own convenience. UPCOMING DATES:
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be expected to share what I write?
What do you mean when you talk about writing as a spiritual practice? What faith background is this for?
I don't have much experience journaling. I don't consider myself a writer. Is this collective is for me?
Yes! No prior writing or journaling experience is required to join or to receive the benefits of this collective. All that's required is a willing and interested heart. The Pen and Mend Collective is the perfect place for someone new to the practice or for someone who has been journaling for years (whether on and off or consistently). You'll have access to all sorts of tools and support to help you cultivate a healing writing practice in your life.
Nope. Not unless you want to. There will be dedicated times and spaces for sharing meaningful words for those who would like to share.
When I refer to writing as spiritual formation or as a spiritual practice, I do so from a Christian faith perspective and this will at times come through within the Collective. However, all faith backgrounds are welcome here. We encourage one another to explore and incorporate spiritual and religious beliefs into our writing and respect one another's beliefs even if we do not agree or align. This collective will be a safe space for every member to express themselves freely as long as to not harm, attack, or shame others.
Will I have any opportunities to receive feedback on my writing?
The short answer: No. You will not receive any formal critique, feedback, or editing on your writing from myself or the other group members. The Collective is focused on writing for personal growth and healing in a safe, judgment free space. I do offer editing and coaching services as a separate offering if you're interested. Please use the contact form to reach out to me with any questions.
- GUIDED WORKSHOP
- SHARED WRITING SPACE
- MENTORSHIP MEET-UP
- shared writing space
- guided workshop
- guided workshop
- shared writing space
- february 8TH (wed.) @ 11 am PT / 2 PM ET
- february 13TH (mon.) @ 9 AM PT / NOON ET
- February 24TH (fri.) @ 9 AM PT / NOON ET
- march 7th (tues.) @ 9 am pt / noon et
- March 22nd (wed.) @ 11 am pt / 2 pm et
- april 14th (fri.) @ 9 am pt / noon et
- april 25th (tues.) @ 9 am pt / noon et
