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Journals with Purpose: A Self-Publishing Course for Authors Who Want to Create Journals That Sell

Writing Niche
September 26, 2025•3 min read

I have a terrible obsession with journals.

I collect all kinds of them, forget where I put half of them, refuse to write in the really pretty ones, and then scatter my notes across four different notebooks — only to lose track of what I actually need.

Can you relate?

When I first published my book, I created a simple companion workbook for my launch team. It was just a fillable PDF they could download and use while reading my book. But that little experiment sparked an idea I couldn’t let go of:

What if I turned this into an actual journal?

Why Journals Are a Smart Next Step for Authors

Over the last year of coaching writers, one of the most common frustrations I hear is this:

“I want to make an income doing what I love.”

Books are powerful, but they’re not always the income stream we hope they’ll be. The truth? Your book might be a gold mine of content, but it isn’t always a gold mine of income.

That’s where journals come in. Journals and workbooks allow you to:

  • Extend the message of your book or blog

  • Create tools your readers can interact with daily

  • Add a new stream of passive income without writing another full manuscript

  • Offer meaningful holiday gifts that are affordable and practical

My Journey into Journal Publishing

After hours of YouTube videos and several courses, I realized that self-publishing journals on Amazon KDP is completely doable.

I experimented with designs, sizes, templates, categories, and keywords… and before I knew it, I had several journals and workbooks published on Amazon — with even more drafts waiting in Canva.

And you know what?

You can do it too.

Introducing Journals with Purpose

This fall, I’m offering a brand-new course designed to help you publish your first journal step by step.

Journals with Purpose: From Idea to Income in 6 Weeks will guide you through:
✅ Choosing a profitable journal theme
✅ Creating prompts, affirmations, or trackers
✅ Designing your interior and cover in Canva
✅ Uploading your journal to Amazon KDP
✅ Pricing, packaging, and promoting with confidence

And here’s the best part: by Thanksgiving, your journal could be published and ready to bring in holiday sales (hello, meaningful gifts + extra income ).

What’s Included in the Course

  • Weekly recorded teaching sessions

  • Live Writing Workshops (with replay access)

  • Live Q&A sessions (with replay access)

  • Worksheets, templates, a guided journal, and checklists to keep you on track

Investment: $97 flat rate

Bonus: Enroll by Sept 30 and get a free 30-minute strategy call with me to map out your journal or promotion plan.

We start October 6 — and I’d love for YOU to join me in this first round.

Is This Course for You?

If you’ve ever thought about publishing a:

  • Book companion journal

  • Gratitude or prayer journal

  • Wellness, productivity, or parenting journal

  • Niche-specific workbook

  • Creative or coloring journal

…this course is for you!

Ready to sign up today?
Yes, sign me up!

Click here to enroll.

journalsself-publishing journals
Kristen Neighbarger is a writer, speaker, and faith coach who helps spiritually weary women breathe again. After years of performing, people-pleasing, and pretending she was fine, Kristen found herself unraveling—and slowly rebuilding a faith that could hold both her questions and her hope. Through honest storytelling and practical tools, she creates space for others to wrestle with what they’ve been taught, name what they actually believe, and move forward with gentleness and intention. Whether you’re wandering, wondering, or just worn out, Kristen’s words will remind you: you’re not too much, too late, or too far gone. She’s the author of Breathing Again and the creator of The Soul Seat—a reflection guide for those learning to live, grieve, and believe with honesty. Writing weekly on her blog and social media channels, Kristen helps survivors of church hurt, religious trauma, and spiritual abuse heal and find peace in their faith again. She balances deep dives into scripture with narratives from her own life and church experiences, always connecting with her reader and making faith, the bible, and her teaching relatable and applicable to today’s world.

Kristen Neighbarger

Kristen Neighbarger is a writer, speaker, and faith coach who helps spiritually weary women breathe again. After years of performing, people-pleasing, and pretending she was fine, Kristen found herself unraveling—and slowly rebuilding a faith that could hold both her questions and her hope. Through honest storytelling and practical tools, she creates space for others to wrestle with what they’ve been taught, name what they actually believe, and move forward with gentleness and intention. Whether you’re wandering, wondering, or just worn out, Kristen’s words will remind you: you’re not too much, too late, or too far gone. She’s the author of Breathing Again and the creator of The Soul Seat—a reflection guide for those learning to live, grieve, and believe with honesty. Writing weekly on her blog and social media channels, Kristen helps survivors of church hurt, religious trauma, and spiritual abuse heal and find peace in their faith again. She balances deep dives into scripture with narratives from her own life and church experiences, always connecting with her reader and making faith, the bible, and her teaching relatable and applicable to today’s world.

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