Create from Rest

Hosted by Rachel Fahrenbach

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About the show

You were made to create. You were also made to rest. Most advice in the Christian creative space treats those like opposites. They're not. Create from Rest is a weekly podcast for high-capacity Christian creative women who want to steward their calling with both conviction and strategy. Every episode: one clear topic, theological grounding, a practical framework, and a next step that won't overwhelm you. Hosted by Rachel Fahrenbach, self-published author building a six-figure author brand without agents, proposals, or permission from the industry. New episodes every Wednesday.

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59 recent

28 min

Ep 59: Time is a constraint, not something you steward

Time management is a myth. What God entrusted you to steward is your response to the 24-hour limit. Episode summary You can’t manage time. It moves forward without your consent, and no planner or hack changes that. God created time as a construct and placed us inside it, and that limit is meant to remind us we’re finite image bearers. What you can steward is your response to the limit. In this episode, Rachel walks through nine ways we respond. Then how the four areas of stewardship (body, home, fields, tables) tell you what belongs inside your 24 hours. She closes with the question that reframes the whole thing: what has God actually asked me to steward and how do I allocate 24 hours to that? Key takeaways Time isn’t something you steward. It moves forward without your consent, and you can’t multiply, slow, or stop it. God created the limit and placed you inside it. What you can steward is your response to that limit. Most responses are reactive: ignoring it, letting others fill it, saying yes out of fear or guilt. Accepting the 24-hour limit is an act of dependence. It reminds you that you’re a finite image bearer, not the Creator. The four areas (body, home, fields, tables) tell you what belongs inside the limit. Ask what God entrusted you to tend, then allocate your 24 hours daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly. The words you use matter. When you stop asking “how do I manage my time?” and start asking “what has God asked me to steward?” your decisions come from intention instead of fear, guilt, or hustle. Grab the free 15 Minute Margin Method: rachelfahrenbach.com/margin Connect Learn more about Rachel: https://rachelfahrenbach.com Send Rachel a DM on Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachelfahrenbach

33 min

Ep 58: 1 Day Rest, 6 Days of Tending (scrap work-life balance)

Work-life balance puts work and life in competition. God designed something different: a rhythm. Episode summary The phrase 'work-life balance' creates three problems. It turns work into a necessary evil (as if creating isn't part of being human). It makes the rest of life sound effortless (it's all tending). And it puts your creative calling in competition with everything else. In this episode, Rachel walks through how her family defines what stops on Sabbath (and what doesn't), why moms especially need to redefine what counts as 'work,' and what shifted when work-life balance got replaced with a rhythm of creative stewardship. Key takeaways Work-life balance turns work into something separate from living. But God's directive for humanity was to create, cultivate, and steward. The work is part of being human. Every area of your life (body, home, field, tables) requires tending. When we expect the 'life' side to be effortless, we feel like failures when it's hard. The biblical rhythm is 1 day of rest, 6 days of tending. Tending means stewarding all four areas. Rest means stopping provision-producing effort and delighting in what's been done. The hardest part is defining what 'work' actually is. The question that helps: what creative effort that produces provision can I stop for 24 hours? This rhythm produces a stabilizing peace, forces intentional decisions, and removes the guilt of doing your creative work during the six days God gave you to do it. Free Guide Grab the free 15 Minute Margin Method: rachelfahrenbach.com/margin Connect Website: https://rachelfahrenbach.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachelfahrenbach

33 min

Ep 57: How I stopped drowning in 10 categories of guilt

Everything felt equally urgent. Then Rachel found four categories and a flow that changed how she decides. ➡️Grab the free 15 Minute Margin Method: https://rachelfahrenbach.com/margin Episode Summary Rachel spent years trying to prioritize my life with frameworks that gave 7, 8, 10 categories and expected her to set goals in each one. It was exhausting. She'd make progress in one area and watch another fall apart. One Sunday in church, four areas arrived clearly: Body, Home, Field, Table. The real gift was the order: Body first, then Home, then Field, then Table. Each one depends on the one before it. When you can name which area a demand belongs to, you can evaluate it. When you know the flow, you know what to prioritize. The framework gives you the right questions instead of more guilt. Key Takeaways Body, Home, Field, Table: four areas of stewardship that flow in order. Each depends on the one before it. Body is your embodied soul: physical, spiritual, mental, emotional. All integrated. When this breaks down, everything downstream suffers. Home is your relationships within your home (namely spouse, kids) and your habitat. The environment everything else grows from. Field is your entrusted work: the areas you invest in with the expectation of provision. It simultaneously serves others and provides resources for your Body and Home. Tables is your community, volunteering, and generosity. The extension of your stewardship outward. The framework produces awareness, not perfect balance. Awareness lets you make intentional adjustments instead of guilt-driven reactions. Grab the free 15 Minute Margin Method: https://rachelfahrenbach.com/margin Connect Website: https://rachelfahrenbach.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachelfahrenbach

13 min

Ep 56: You were designed to create — but not how you think

You know you were designed to create. But the ache you feel might be bigger than missing your art. Episode summary In this episode, Rachel talks about the difference between managing your life (keeping chaos at bay, checking boxes, surviving) and stewarding it (cultivating growth, bringing forth beauty, multiplying). The ache creative women feel isn't just about missing their art. It's about living in management mode when they were designed to cultivate every area of their lives. Key takeaways Managing keeps things from getting worse. Stewarding makes things grow. Most women Rachel talks to are stuck in management mode—competent, busy, holding it together, and quietly suffocating. The ache you feel when you miss your art goes deeper than the art itself. When you're only managing your life and creating nowhere, you feel the loss everywhere. The art is just the obvious absence. The Genesis mandate to tend, be fruitful, and multiply covers everything:body, home, fields (work), and tables (community). When you steward all of those areas (instead of just managing them), you come alive. Rachel's writing moved from Sabbath rest to Field work as she started creating across her whole life. Grab the free 15 Minute Margin Method: https://rachelfahrenbach.com/margin Connect Website: https://rachelfahrenbach.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachelfahrenbach

24 min

Ep 55: Why your creative work needs a different starting point

Christian creatives fall into two camps: hustle or be still. God asked for neither. He asked for stewardship. Episode Summary I have been in both camps. The season where I white-knuckled my way through a book launch because I thought effort equaled faithfulness. And the season where I dragged my feet on writing Image of the Invisible because I was afraid being productive meant I was hustling. Both sides use Scripture. Both feel true in the moment. And both miss what God actually asked us to do: steward what He's entrusted to us from a posture of rest. In this episode, I break down what "create from rest" means, why it starts in Genesis 1-2, and how practicing a 24-hour Sabbath reshaped how I approach every area of my life. Key Takeaways "Create from rest" is a posture of dependence on God, not an activity or a goal to hit. You work from security, not toward it. Hustle culture and stillness culture are two sides of the same problem: both are responses to fear instead of responses to God's invitation to steward. Work was never a curse. God placed Adam and Eve in the garden to tend it before the fall. Creating with God is the invitation. Practicing a weekly Sabbath reframes everything: it reminds you that you are not God, and that's actually a relief. Free Guide: Grab the free 15 Minute Margin Method: https://rachelfahrenbach.com/margin Connect Website: https://rachelfahrenbach.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachelfahrenbach

17 min

Ep 54: This Podcast is Changing—Let's Talk About Why

What if the reason you feel stretched thin isn’t because you need a better strategy—but because you need a deeper foundation for how you steward your life? ✅GRAB Rachel’s Books 👉 https://amzn.to/3R8bRPR After years of helping Christian fiction writers build meaningful work without hustle, Rachel is expanding the conversation. In this special transition episode, she shares the personal journey that led from The Business of Christian Fiction to Create from Rest —a podcast for Christian creative women who want to steward their lives faithfully and make space for the work God has called them to do. You’ll hear how years of practicing Sabbath and life challenges deepened Rachel’s understanding of what it means to rest with God and work with God rather than strive apart from Him. This new season of the podcast will explore how to steward your Body, Home, Field, and Table so that what you create flows from dependence on God instead of pressure and exhaustion. Key Takeaways The heart behind the podcast has not changed: to help Christian women build meaningful work without hustle or striving. The most transformative conversations go deeper than tactics and address the stewardship of your whole life. Create from Rest means partnering with God in your work instead of trying to force outcomes in your own strength. Faithful creativity begins with dependence on God and alignment with what He has entrusted to you. Action Step Ask yourself: What has God entrusted to me in this season, and how can I begin stewarding it from a place of rest rather than striving? Then grab Rachel’s book Rest & Reflect to go a little deeper 👉 https://amzn.to/4nrG9sJ This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something Rachel will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Connect with Rachel on Social Media https://rachelfahrenbach.com https://instagram.com/rachelfahrenbach https://facebook.com/rachelfahrenbach ============================= This Video was Filmed & Edited Using: Web Camera: Logitech for Creators StreamCam Amazon ➡️ https://amzn.to/3Cm0D02 Microphone: Audio-Technica ATR2100X Amazon ➡️ https://amzn.to/3GCUrD5 Video Editing: Descript Descript ➡️ https://get.descript.com/7hj2arp0leed

1 hr 8 min

Ep 53: Artisan Authors in an AI World with Marline Williams

In a world of fast, AI-generated books, your unique voice might be your greatest advantage. But only if you’re willing to use it. ✅GRAB MARLINE’S BOOKS 👉 https://amzn.to/4dczw9k Rachel sits down with Marline Williams to unpack what it means to write meaningful, lasting books in a world increasingly dominated by AI and fast fiction. From redefining success beyond metrics to embracing “boutique” storytelling, this conversation challenges authors to think differently about their craft and their calling. If your work doesn’t fit neatly into a genre—or you’re wondering if that’s a problem—this episode will reframe everything. 📒 Show Notes and Resources 📒 Topics covered in this episode: 00:00 — Redefining Success (It’s Not What You Think) 04:30 — The Simple Networking Strategy Authors Overlook 16:00 — How to Grow Your Audience (Even Without a Big Platform) 19:30 — A Free Way to Get More Readers (Most Authors Miss This) 26:00 — AI vs Authors: What’s Actually Happening 50:00 — Why Your Unique Voice Is Your Competitive Edge This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something Rachel will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 📘 Connect with Marline ➡️ Website : https://marlinewilliams.com/ ➡️ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/marlinewilliams_author/ ➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarlineWilliamsAuthor/ ============================= 📱 Subscribe and Listen to the The Business of Christian Fiction Podcast HERE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-of-christian-fiction/id1645870156 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7CPaxgmw479Q3r31NsdCQM?si=1c4916c3bd7e4f09 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thebusinessofchristianfiction Connect: Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebusinessofchristianfiction ============================= This Video was Filmed & Edited Using: Web Camera: Logitech for Creators StreamCam Amazon ➡️ https://amzn.to/3Cm0D02 Microphone: Audio-Technica ATR2100X Amazon ➡️ https://amzn.to/3GCUrD5 Video Editing: Descript Descript ➡️ https://get.descript.com/7hj2arp0leed ============================= We’re on a mission to help 1,000 Christian fiction writers make both an impact and an income from their storytelling. ⚡️FREE RESOURCES: Download FREE worksheets designed for fiction writers: https://rachelfahrenbach.com/resources ⚡️BOOK: Check out the Gifted + Guided Quarterly Prayer Journal for Entrepreneurs: https://amzn.to/48kMyOl Connect with Rachel on Social Media https://rachelfahrenbach.com https://instagram.com/rachelfahrenbach https://facebook.com/rachelfahrenbach QUESTION — Who would you like to hear from on the podcast? About this video: Welcome! Here on The Business of Christian Fiction podcast, we’re diving into what it takes to make an impact and an income as a Christian Fiction Writer. Each week, we talk about the creative process of writing a novel from the lens of business decisions and marketing strategies.

56 min

Ep 52: How to Actually Sell Your Books (Without Feeling Salesy) with Aaron Ryan

What if the problem isn’t your book—but how you think about marketing it? This conversation will completely reframe how you show up as an author. ✅GRAB AARON’S BOOKS 👉 https://amzn.to/42eJh1v In this episode, Rachel sits down with author and voiceover artist Aaron Ryan to talk about what it really takes to sell books in today’s market. From “living a billboard life” to thinking like a business owner—not just a writer—Aaron shares practical, unconventional strategies that actually work. They also dive into audiobooks, AI, self-publishing realities, imposter syndrome, and how to market your work without feeling pushy. If you’re ready to treat your writing like a real business, this episode will challenge and equip you. 📒 Show Notes and Resources 📒 Topics covered in this episode: 03:00 — Why Aaron Chose Self-Publishing 05:00 — The Marketing Shift That Changed Everything (Stop Selling, Start Being an Enthusiast) 09:30 — The Unexpected Strategy That Sells More Books Than Book Fairs 20:30 — The Truth About Book Ads 34:00 —Audiobooks, AI, and the Future of Voice Acting (What Authors Need to Know) This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something, Rachel will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 📘 Connect with Aaron ➡️ Website : https://authoraaronryan.com/ ➡️ Podmatch : https://www.joinpodmatch.com/join_aaron_on_podmatch ➡️ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authoraaronryan ============================= 📱 Subscribe and Listen to the The Business of Christian Fiction Podcast HERE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-of-christian-fiction/id1645870156 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7CPaxgmw479Q3r31NsdCQM?si=1c4916c3bd7e4f09 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thebusinessofchristianfiction Connect: Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebusinessofchristianfiction ============================= This Video was Filmed & Edited Using: Web Camera: Logitech for Creators StreamCam Amazon ➡️ https://amzn.to/3Cm0D02 Microphone: Audio-Technica ATR2100X Amazon ➡️ https://amzn.to/3GCUrD5 Video Editing: Descript Descript ➡️ https://get.descript.com/7hj2arp0leed ============================= We’re on a mission to help 1,000 Christian fiction writers make both an impact and an income from their storytelling. ⚡️FREE RESOURCES: Download FREE worksheets designed for fiction writers: https://rachelfahrenbach.com/resources ⚡️BOOK: Check out the Gifted + Guided Quarterly Prayer Journal for Entrepreneurs: https://amzn.to/48kMyOl Connect with Rachel on Social Media https://rachelfahrenbach.com https://instagram.com/rachelfahrenbach https://facebook.com/rachelfahrenbach QUESTION — Who would you like to hear from on the podcast? About this video: Welcome! Here on The Business of Christian Fiction podcast, we’re diving into what it takes to make an impact and an income as a Christian Fiction Writer. Each week, we talk about the creative process of writing a novel from the lens of business decisions and marketing strategies.

55 min

Ep 51: Making the Most of YouTube as a Fiction Author

If you’ve ever wondered whether YouTube is worth your time as a novelist, this conversation with Dale L. Roberts will give you both clarity and a plan. ✅GRAB THE BOOK 👉https://amzn.to/4cthBf5 In this episode of The Business of Christian Fiction Podcast, Rachel Fahrenbach sits down with author and YouTube strategist Dale L. Roberts to unpack how fiction authors can use YouTube to grow an audience, build trust, and create long-term visibility for their books—without feeling salesy. Dale gets into the nitty-gritty practical as he shares a behind-the-scenes look at how he’s launching a brand-new fiction channel from scratch! 📒 Show Notes and Resources 📒 Topics covered in this episode: 00:00 – Why YouTube Is About Community (Not Just Sales) 12:00 – How Fiction Authors Can Create the Right Content 25:00 – Evergreen Content, Experimentation, and Growth 40:00 – Serving the Right Audience + Channel Strategy 54:00 – Balancing Writing and Content Creation 1:02:00 – Building a YouTube Strategy That Supports Your Books 1:08:00 – Monetization: How Authors Actually Make Money on YouTube This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something Rachel will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 📘 Connect with Dale ➡️ Dale’s Website: https://selfpublishingwithdale.com/ ➡️ Dale’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts ➡️ Dale’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selfpubwithdale ============================= 📱 Subscribe and Listen to the The Business of Christian Fiction Podcast HERE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-of-christian-fiction/id1645870156 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7CPaxgmw479Q3r31NsdCQM?si=1c4916c3bd7e4f09 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thebusinessofchristianfiction Connect: Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebusinessofchristianfiction ============================= This Video was Filmed & Edited Using: Web Camera: Logitech for Creators StreamCam Amazon ➡️ https://amzn.to/3Cm0D02 Microphone: Audio-Technica ATR2100X Amazon ➡️ https://amzn.to/3GCUrD5 Video Editing: Descript Descript ➡️ https://get.descript.com/7hj2arp0leed ============================= We’re on a mission to help 1,000 Christian fiction writers make both an impact and an income from their storytelling. ⚡️FREE RESOURCES: Download FREE worksheets designed for fiction writers: https://rachelfahrenbach.com/resources ⚡️BOOK: Check out the Gifted + Guided Quarterly Prayer Journal for Entrepreneurs: https://amzn.to/48kMyOl Connect with Rachel on Social Media https://rachelfahrenbach.com https://instagram.com/rachelfahrenbach https://facebook.com/rachelfahrenbach QUESTION — Who would you like to hear from on the podcast? About this video: Welcome! Here on The Business of Christian Fiction podcast, we’re diving into what it takes to make an impact and an income as a Christian Fiction Writer. Each week, we talk about the creative process of writing a novel from the lens of business decisions and marketing strategies.

1 hr 7 min

Ep 50: Faith, Failure, and 3.5 Million Books w/ Christopher Greyson

What does it take to sell over 3.5 million books as a self-published author? In this episode of The Business of Christian Fiction , Rachel Fahrenbach sits down with Christopher Greyson , a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, to uncover the secrets behind his incredible success. ✅CHRISTOPHER’S BOOKS 👉 https://amzn.to/3OYFZsv From navigating failure to staying true to his faith and values, Christopher shares the hard-earned lessons, strategic insights, and powerful mindset shifts that transformed his writing career. If you're ready to take your writing to the next level without compromising what matters most, this conversation is for you! 📒 Show Notes and Resources 📒 Topics covered in this episode: 00:00 – The Importance of Mindset for New Authors 02:00 – Christopher's Journey to Self-Publishing 05:00 – Why Staying True to Your Values Matters 09:00 – Paying Attention and Being Creative 12:00 – Learning from Failure and God's Timing 18:00 – Balancing Writing, Family, and Finances 28:00 – The Prayer, Dedication, Sweat, and Tears Approach 36:00 – Learning from Reader Feedback 44:00 – The Importance of Email Lists and Staying Current 54:00 – Final Advice: Pray, Work, and Build Your Foundation This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something Rachel will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 📘 Connect With Christopher ➡️ Christopher’s Website : https://www.christophergreyson.com/ ➡️ Christopher’s Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherGreysonAuthor/ ➡️ Christopher’s Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7203746.Christopher_Greyson ➡️ Christopher’s Bookbub : https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christopher-greyson ➡️ Christopher’s Twitter : https://x.com/Chris_Greyson ============================= 📱 Subscribe and Listen to the The Business of Christian Fiction Podcast HERE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-of-christian-fiction/id1645870156 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7CPaxgmw479Q3r31NsdCQM?si=1c4916c3bd7e4f09 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thebusinessofchristianfiction Connect: Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebusinessofchristianfiction ============================= This Video was Filmed & Edited Using: Web Camera: Logitech for Creators StreamCam Amazon ➡️ https://amzn.to/3Cm0D02 Microphone: Audio-Technica ATR2100X Amazon ➡️ https://amzn.to/3GCUrD5 Video Editing: Descript Descript ➡️ https://get.descript.com/7hj2arp0leed ============================= We’re on a mission to help 1,000 Christian fiction writers make both an impact and an income from their storytelling. ⚡️FREE RESOURCES: Download FREE worksheets designed for fiction writers: https://rachelfahrenbach.com/resources ⚡️BOOK: Check out the Gifted + Guided Quarterly Prayer Journal for Entrepreneurs: https://amzn.to/48kMyOl Connect with Rachel on Social Media https://rachelfahrenbach.com https://instagram.com/rachelfahrenbach https://facebook.com/rachelfahrenbach QUESTION — Who would you like to hear from on the podcast? About this video: Welcome! Here on The Business of Christian Fiction podcast, we’re diving into what it takes to make an impact and an income as a Christian Fiction Writer. Each week, we talk about the creative process of writing a novel from the lens of business decisions and marketing strategies.