Episode 65: [GUEST] Journaling to Empower Women's Voices with Jenny Benitez

03/31/25 • 40 min

In this week's episode, Elizabeth chats with Jenny Benitez about the benefits of creating her podcast and discovering journaling for mental health and self-discovery. Elizabeth and Jenny share a passion for amplifying women's voices. Their conversation focuses on the transformative power of writing and journaling in women's lives. Jenny shares how she got started podcasting.With her podcast, she's created a space for women to share their stories and feel valued.
You can get the guide she created here.
Journaling is transformative because, like meditation, it brings you into the present moment. Jenny discusses how journaling became both a stress reliever and a spiritual practice that helped her navigate career challenges and financial difficulties. She discovered through her daily writing practices that her life started to change for the better, and while it might sound "woo-woo," it's been incredibly beneficial to her life. Writing can be important to document life experiences not just for personal growth but as a legacy for future generations. Yesterday, Elizabeth was featured on Jenny's podcast, Steel Roses. Elizabeth shares her story about how writing saved her life. You can listen here.

Who is Jenny Benitez?

Excerpt from: https://womensjournal.com/empowering-women-through-authenticity-the-story-of-steel-roses-women/

Jenny Benitez, the founder of Steel Roses Women, embarked on a mission to empower women to embrace their authenticity. With over 17 years of experience in communications and a deep passion for women’s healthcare, she has dedicated her life to fostering a supportive and engaged community where women can thrive. Jenny’s work is built upon her desire to uplift women, encourage personal growth, and provide tools like meditation, manifestation, and affirmations to help women lead fulfilled, empowered lives. The Steel Roses Podcast, one of her flagship projects, addresses the challenges that many women face but may not openly discuss. Through her podcast, Jenny hopes to spark dialogue and inspire women to break their silence and reclaim their power.

Connect with Jenny:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

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We hope you've found guidance and inspiration for your own writing.

Here are two resources for you:

Get your list of 4 Essential Reads for Memoir Writers

Get your Character Coffee Chat Guide for Character Development

Send us a text

Who is Jenny Benitez?

Excerpt from: https://womensjournal.com/empowering-women-through-authenticity-the-story-of-steel-roses-women/

Connect with Jenny:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

We hope you've found guidance and inspiration for your own writing.

Here are two resources for you:

Get your list of 4 Essential Reads for Memoir Writers

Get your Character Coffee Chat Guide for Character Development

Previous Episode

Episode 64: Finding Your Creative Flow

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In this week's episode, we reflect on our process of getting in the creative flow.

Here's some of what we touch upon:

The Science of Flow: We reference research in positive psychology about flow by professor, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi who wrote a book called "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience"
Identifying Resistance: Elizabeth emphasizes that recognizing when you're not in flow provides valuable information about your writing process. She shares her experience with her memoir, where resistance indicated she needed to restructure her outline.
Creating Flow Conditions: We discuss several strategies for establishing flow:
- Community accountability: Writing sessions over Zoom
- Environment: From coffee shops to a dedicated office space
- Physical movement: Exercise and walks help prepare the mind for writing
- And more...
Working with Coaches: We talk about our work as book coaches (Elizabeth for memoir, Stephanie for romance) and emphasize the value of professional guidance, comparing it to how athletes use coaches to improve.

There's a lot packed into this episode and we're excited to share it with you. We hope you find guidance and inspiration for your own writing, or whatever your creative journey might be, from what we've shared.

Get your list of 4 Essential Reads for Memoir Writers

Get your Character Coffee Chat Guide for Character Development

We hope you've found guidance and inspiration for your own writing.

Here are two resources for you:

Get your list of 4 Essential Reads for Memoir Writers

Get your Character Coffee Chat Guide for Character Development

Next Episode

Episode 66: [GUEST] Finding Consistency Through Accountability with Amanda McKinney

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In this week's episode, Elizabeth talks with Amanda McKinney about the following and more:
The Three Levels of Accountability
Creating a 90-Day Writing Strategy
Overcoming the "Perfect Conditions" Trap
Accountability is the secret weapon of consistent writers, but you might need a different level depending on your needs. When you listen to this episode, you'll learn about those levels and you can decide what works for you.
As you listen, ask yourself: What level of accountability do I currently need for my writing goals?
We've found incredible benefits from peer accountability. If you're seeking this kind of accountability comment on this video with the words "co-working" and we'll send you details about how you can join our Zoom room.
One of the practical approaches Amanda shares is breaking down a writing project into 90-Day chunks of time rather than trying to tackle the entire thing all at once. Listen to the episode and you'll learn the steps for setting yourself up for success. If you're interested in a deeper dive into this approach, then the PATH program is for you.
Find it here and use code INSPIRED to get 20% off
As you listen, ask yourself: What's one writing goal I could realistically accomplish in the next 90 days?
"PATH helped me create a 12-week plan so I'm set for the next 3 months! 100% worth it!" - Amber
Amanda encourages you to show up to write for 10 minutes every day as the strategy for overcoming the notion that you have to wait for the "perfect conditions" to get your writing done. When you build the habit of showing up, even if you're not sure what to write, it helps create consistency and accountability.
Challenge: Set a 10 minute timer after reading this and write!

Connect with Amanda:

Website
Free Resources
Podcast
Book
Instagram
LinkedIn

Listen to Amanda's episode from her podcast, Accountable, about the 3 Levels of Accountability for Goal Achievement here

We hope you've found guidance and inspiration for your own writing.

Here are two resources for you:

Get your list of 4 Essential Reads for Memoir Writers

Get your Character Coffee Chat Guide for Character Development

Inspired Writer Collective Podcast - Episode 65: [GUEST] Journaling to Empower Women's Voices with Jenny Benitez

Transcript

Elizabeth00:00:00.810

Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie book coaches who help you finish your book. Tune in each week as we dig into the writing process, including reaching your goals and silencing your inner critic. You'll learn how to deepen your characters, hone your authentic storytelling style, and strengthen your writing muscles by exploring books in and out of your own genre. You'll also hear from publi