How long have you been doing what you do and how did you get to be an expert in the field?
I started writing seriously in 2007. I quickly decided to go back to school and get my master's degree, but even after graduation I had very little success. My short stories were serially rejected, I couldn't seem to figure out my novel, and I was starting to get seriously discouraged.
Thankfully, around 2016, things started to change. I figured out the novel, finished it, found an agent, and sold the book. A short story I wrote was not only published, it was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. I wrote a second, far more complex novel in a fraction of the time it took me to write the first and while I was doing that, my first novel won the WILLA Award for Women Writing the West.
In 2019, when I looked back on my string of triumphs and tried to figure out what had shifted, I had to credit the changes to two things. 1. I never stopped working on my craft. I have always been and will always be a dedicated student of writing. And 2. I started meditating regularly.
At first I dismissed the meditation as possibly having such influence on my writing, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much the specific cognitive training of mindfulness practice helped me to be a happier, more productive writer.
It was then that I decided to enroll in a mindfulness teacher training with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. After graduating, I started Sit Write Here to help writers banish writer's block forever, get their first drafts on the page, learn to edit more effectively, and finish their novel or memoir with more joy and less stress.
I've helped hundreds of writers be more productive (and happier) and I absolutely love what I do.
How are you different from other writing coaches?
The number one thing that makes me different from other writing coaches is that I address mindset first. Practically speaking, this manifests in several ways.
- The first thing I teach my writers is how to get out of their own way. There are specific methods we can use to train our minds to block out distractions and drop into a state of flow. From there, first drafts fall onto the page like water from a facet.
- Once the first draft is on the page, we can learn to work with our inner critics so that each time we revise the draft improves measurably. Instead of 6, 9, 10 drafts, you can write a just a few.
- We can learn, through meditation practices, to write much more complex characters who drive stories forward.
- We can learn to persist. There are specific meditation practices that can help us detach from the successes and failures of our work so that we're not crushed by rejections.
Of course, I also teach craft. I love talking about story structure, POV, scene development, conflict, dialogue, diction, and so much more, but it's the fact that I start with mindset that makes my programs unique.
What kind of writer is not a good fit for how you coach?
For my one-on-one coaching and manuscript reviews, I generally work with people who are writing novels.
If you're working in shorter formats (essays, short stories, poetry) or prescriptive non-fiction (sometimes called how-to books), I am not the coach for you.
That said, my online writing community includes all kinds of writers, from fiction writers, to poets, to screenplay writers and essayist. If you're looking for a wonderful group of writers to work with on a regular basis, check that out here.
Does this really work?
You will be amazed. I hear from people all the time, after they first implement the strategies I teach, how surprised they are at how quickly things shift.
Writers report incredible inspirations, dramatically increased productivity, and a wonderful sense of accomplishment in their writing.
How long will it take me to finish my book?
Beware of any program that promises a completed novel or memoir in 30 days, or 6 months, or any specific time frame.
Creative writing is an art. My goal in working with writers is to help them tell their story in the way that feels most compelling to them as the author. Sometimes this happens quickly (I've had writers write entire drafts in 6 weeks) and sometimes it happens slowly.
What I can promise is that, if you implement the practices I can teach you, it will happen much faster than if you go it alone. We're talking years faster. It took me 9 years to write my first novel. When I implemented everything I teach my clients, I wrote my second novel (a far more complex story) in 3 years.
How will we work together? What programs do you offer?
How we work together will depend largely on where you're at in your writing journey and how much guidance you're looking for.
Writers at all levels are welcome to join the Sit Write Here online writing community. In this group we don't share pages, we just show up and write together.
As you get some pages under your belt, you might sign up for one of my workshops, one-on-one coaching packages, manuscript reviews, or even a retreat.
As you get closer to a finished manuscript you will want to put together an author platform and craft a perfect query letter.
These are all things I can help with.
What's more, I often bundle two or more of my programs along with several added bonuses. On our call, be sure to ask what's available now.
I have a busy life and a family. How much time do I need for this?
The writers I work with generally carve out one hour a day, two-five days a week. With the increased productivity you will experience in my programs, that is all you need to make serious progress on your manuscript.
Of course some programs require more. My workshops meet for 2.5 hours once a week, and retreats last several days. But start with what works for you.
I'm not sure. Is there a way I can sample your work to see if it's the right solution for me?
Of course. At the top of this webpage is a blue banner advertising an eWebinar: Banish Writer's Block Forever. This 45-minute mini-master class is an excellent way to get a sense of how I work.
I also occasionally offer drop-in days for the online writing community. If you'd like to try adding a guided meditation to your writing routine and working with an awesome group of writers, let me know and we can arrange for you to join us for a day.