Have a story you can no longer keep silent?

Perhaps you know you’ve got a story to tell, but you’re not sure what form it should take. 

Personal essay, blog, memoir, book, fictional story… something else? 

Maybe you don’t know where to start.  Or, you’re stuck somewhere in the process.

When people come to me, they’ve often made some attempt to get their words down.

They’ve sat in front of a blank page feeling miserable.

They may have read books about writing 101 by published authors, listened to professionals give tips based on their experience, and participated in generative writing workshops.

While this is often inspiring at first, they end up finding themselves overwhelmed with–at times contradictory–information, not knowing when and what to apply to their own writing.  

They’re crushed by the responses they receive when they dare to share their work or ideas with others.

When they’ve worked up the courage to share about the ideas in their heart, they’re disheartened by the responses they get from family and friends.  Bland “oh that’s nice” comments that don’t match the excitement they feel.  Or “you can do it” reactions that don’t make them feel like the challenges they’re facing are understood.  Or overwhelmingly positive responses that intimidate and don’t really help.

Their drafts or brainstorms end up in boxes in their closets or in untouched folders on their desktop.

The problem is, they often believe what’s stopping them is that they’re just not good enough.  

That they needed to have always been a strong writer to write.  For instance, to have been singled out by an English teacher in school and have gotten above-average grades during that one creative writing class in college.

They may think there’s something wrong with them because they aren’t disciplined enough or able to follow a structured recipe for results.  Or that they’re just not creative enough.

It doesn’t seem like it should be so hard.  Many people have done it before.  All they have to do is sit and write.  They’ve written other things before.  So why does it seem so impossible?

The reason the things they’ve tried haven’t worked is often because of a lack of alignment between their head and heart.

This misalignment is typically rooted in perfectionism, “shoulds,” attachment to outcome, and to other people’s opinions.

“Shoulds”

“Shoulds” are when you have preconceived notions of what good writing should be, versus bad writing.  Believing you should be writing in a certain way.  Or that your writing process should follow a particular pattern.  

Perfectionism

Perfectionism is a satisfaction-killer.  Nothing ever feels good enough.  Each word is perused, each comma analyzed.  It’s an endless loop.

Both “shoulds” and perfectionism can cause overthinking and overworking, instead of trusting the process.

Attachment to outcome paradox

This may look like trying to force something to happen in a particular way.

When the emphasis is strongly on a particular outcome, it’s often because that outcome is thought of as a means to an end.  Like “I want to finish this book so I can feel relief, satisfaction, joy, and connection to my readers.” 

But what often happens is the process gets warped when trying to achieve that outcome.  The closer you get, the more agitated you become.  You think you just need to work harder, but you still don’t experience those desired feelings.  Ultimately you either don’t reach the outcome at all, or you do and you’re still unhappy.

Plus, taking a step-by-step approach to reach an outcome doesn’t always work for creative, emotional, visceral, visionary, out-of-the-box people who operate differently.  It can be boring or feel impossible.

Getting caught up in other people’s opinions

When we struggle with our own inner guidance, we tend to seek external validation.  Looking for those we see as authorities to tell us what to do.  Yet receiving contradictory or not resonant advice.  Getting further away from our own truth.

They were trying to follow advice that wasn’t right for their own creative style.  

For those who feel misunderstood, othered, and different, with valid limitations to time and energy, others’ advice might be out of alignment or even cause real harm.

It’s not just you–we’ve been conditioned to NOT follow our creative instincts and write what lights us up.

We’ve all had our papers marked up in red ink, letting us know what’s acceptable and what’s not.

External conditioning comes from societal programming (e.g. don’t be too emotional), cultural expectations (e.g. put others first), family agreements (e.g. she’s the creative one, he’s the smart one), school systems (grades rule “good” and “bad” writing competency and certain types of writing are rewarded while inconvenient creativity is punished), deficit model in U.S. healthcare system (holds the belief that being outside the norm means something is wrong and needs to be fixed; an authority is looked to for healing).

There may have also been a preverbal or ancestral trauma, lack of attuned support, active suppression, or rejection by others when sharing a creative product.

Conditioning leads to shame and disconnect from the body, which creates a struggle to translate inner guidance.

We all have inner guidance, or intuition.  It is usually understood through body sensations and emotions.  This is like a personal GPS system.  Handy, right?

Yet many of us have to relearn how to translate the messages we hear, and rediscover how to be open and receptive to these messages if we’ve actively suppressed them in the past.

We might value or listen to our intellectual side more than our emotional body or inner child.  This can show up as a battle between head versus heart.  

Given all that impacts us consciously and unconsciously, it’s no wonder we struggle to know who we are, be ourselves, find our voice, and follow what lights us up in our creativity.

Why body-centered writing?

In my experiences with chronic pain and chronic health conditions, I’ve learned the importance of working with the body in every single activity of the day, including creativity.  

Our bodies are the container we live in.  Body sensations are one way to access intuition.  Yet many of us struggle with our connection to the body for many reasons including trauma and conditioning to put others’ needs first.  

I use somatic (body-based) exercises, which are activities that activate the body physically or through creative imagination.  

In sessions, we might do a brief guided meditation to help relax the body and access your senses, so thought becomes clear instead of chaotic or muddled.  From this place, writing and creative problem-solving have greater ease.

These somatic exercises and guided meditations are inspired by my training and experience as a neurolinguistic programming coach, reiki practitioner, trauma support specialist, and writerly play educator.  I pull from my background and personal studies in psychology and metaphysics.  I customize these experiences based on the needs and preferences of each of my clients.  

I have found that taking the time for making the connection to the body leads to much greater ease and less stress.  This supports all stages of writing, from brainstorming to revision.

These exercises can be done in the comfort of your room, in however much space you have.

You can learn more about how this works and see examples in these blog posts: (1) (2) (3)

Writing in this deeper, more heartfelt way is vulnerable.

When guidance comes from within, there lacks a sense of black/white parameters of good versus bad writing.  No one else is telling you what’s okay and what’s not okay, which can feel like an uncomfortable risk.  It’s like standing near a cliff and wondering… Where is the edge of this cliff?  Where is it okay to stand so I don’t fall off or trip?

Writing from the heart tends to bring up some scary stuff.  This isn’t like writing a research paper, making a work presentation, or penning a grocery list.  Deeper stuff gets touched by the meaningful, personal element of this work.  It’s all part of the process.

Safety is the foundation of coaching

Safety means being able to consciously relax the body.  This is the first step.  This way, when things get tough, you control the intensity and remain in the captain’s seat through any choppy waves of the creative process.

Here, we focus on communication, kindness, and consent.  The intention is to ensure you get the type of feedback you’re seeking, not what someone unattuned to you thinks best.  

I support you to find your own pace.  In every moment, I encourage you to check in with yourself on how much to share, and how you feel afterwards.

The relational aspect of writing

We receive a message in western society about autonomy and working hard.  That you should be able to do what you need to do by yourself.  And succeed if you work hard enough.  I don’t think this is the whole story.  

Writing is communication.  There is a bit of self-involvement by nature (think of first-person perspective), and it is also a language allowing connection.  For certain types of projects, it doesn’t make sense to write alone.  You need feedback.  When you are so close to a piece you’ve worked extensively on, it’s impossible to see it with fresh, objective eyes.

At the end of many books, acknowledgements mention “it takes a village” to write a book.  I don’t want people thinking there’s something wrong with them for struggling with parts of the process–this might just mean that some help would benefit them.

Needing support, like for accountability and encouragement, is normal as humans are social beings.  Sometimes we need to be reminded that our story matters.  Sometimes we just need to know that our words won’t mean extinction of connection if we share them.  Especially if our creativity has been shamed in the past.

That’s where the relational component of this work comes in.  Writing bridges inner parts of self.  Writing is a bridge between self and others.  Both are true.  

In this work, we work together so that you have a good relationship with yourself.  And you feel good about knowing when to share, if that’s part of your process.  You learn and practice boundaries around when it’s best to go it alone, and when collaboration will feel good.  People commonly work best when they have elements of both.

Each session is creatively customized for your needs, based on what works best for you.  Whether you like to write (or not) during session time, whether you like being assigned a lot of homework, whether you prefer more or less guidance during meditations and somatic exercises, it’s all taken into account … Whatever will serve you best.  Your feedback is used to continuously refine the process.

Communication can be poison or medicine

Let’s make sure your writing is medicine–for yourself and the world.  The type that resonates from your heart and feels good.

Audio-only sessions allow for body freedom and deeper listening

These sessions are audio-only by phone or Zoom.  The benefits of audio-only sessions: More freedom of movement.  Greater body awareness.  Deeper listening.  Fewer visual distractions.  Relaxing facial muscles and torsos from being held in certain positions to show up best on screen.  Reduced bandwidth issues and no more video lagging.  Reduced risk of eye-strain, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue from screen time.  Greater sense of safety.  See article on Zoom fatigue: (1)

Cyclical, not Linear

This program is an ongoing subscription to provide access to the support you need. You choose whether to meet weekly or biweekly.

In any creative or cyclical process—and in this program—there are stages to complete and integrate.  Sometimes you may have to go back and repeat something you thought you were done with.  

The writing process is nonlinear with inevitable ups and downs. 

You might have to spend three weeks on your outline when you thought it would take two days.  Or, you may speed through the beginning of your first draft with ease and hit unpredictable bumps during the middle.

When you show up with curiosity, openness, willingness to engage in the process, and when you have commitment to show up even when things are difficult, you will make measurable strides. 

You’ll also have a solid foundation for future endeavors.  

As you become truer to yourself in your writing, you will likely notice changes in the bigger picture of your life to mirror this more authentic truth-telling.

This program can help you:

About Your Guide

Overview

I am a writing guide who loves to help people safely open their hearts and express themselves through writing. 

Writing Mentor

Since 2008, I’ve worked with writers in every messy step of the creation process.  I’ve helped writers connect with their words and find their voice as a writing instructor, mentor, and freelance editor.  

I’m passionate about delving deep into the story underneath the story — the root cause of the struggle with communication — so you can complete your writing project and feel good about the results.  

I approach writing with balance.  I hold the heart of the story while also being strongly detail-oriented. 

I blend practical knowledge with intuitive skills, supporting clients to uncover the language for the story that is most alive, joyous, and expansive.  

Sensing into the energy of the words helps me provide feedback to clients that helps them know how others might receive, understand, and appreciate their stories. 

I’m good at making connections and finding patterns in what my clients share with me, which helps them see a bigger picture beyond the details they may be stuck in.  

I’m flexible and creative in my approach, meeting clients where they are. 

Certified Coach

In 2017, I received my coaching certification from the Academy of Leadership and NLP.  There, I learned how to help clients change their inner language to help them achieve their desires. 

My training as a certified Reiki II practitioner gives me a holistic understanding of people beyond our minds.   I use this to help clients pinpoint the source of their struggles, how it impacts their bodies, hearts, and energy, and clear emotional blockages.

My coaching is trauma-informed. I educate clients on self-regulation so telling their story empowers, lifts, and heals without re-traumatizing. To create an integrated narrative of resilience and competency.

Logistics

Support you in generating soulful, heart-centered writing of the stories that need to be told.

What’s included:

• Personalized guidance to support you in your journey towards more inspired and enlivened writing
• Writing prompts and exercises to help you to tell your stories and find your truth.
• Customized homework assignments curated to help you make progress and maintain momentum on your own between sessions.
• Visualization, guided meditation, somatic exercises, coaching tools, neuro linguistic programming, and storytelling structures, as needed, to support your creative process.
• Support setting goals and getting clear on your mission, vision, values, and desires for your story.
• Collaboration through Google drive. 
• Weekly or biweekly 60-minute audio-only Zoom sessions.

$400/month subscription through PayPal. 3 month minimum; cancel anytime.

Ready for support with your writing?

I hope you’re ready to feel good about your writing with a caring guide. If you are, please do the following to see if we’re the right fit. 

1. Fill out the application form about your interest in the program.
2. You’ll hear back from me through email to set up a free 30-minute consultation call. 
3. During this consultation call, we’ll make sure this program is a good fit.  You’ll get to ask any questions you have.
4. If you’re ready to get started, we’ll go over the next steps for intake and/or may also schedule your first session.  If this isn’t a good fit or you don’t want to go through with the program, I can refer you to other resources.

Questions? 

Please contact me. I welcome your inquiry.