Have you taken your writing as far as you can on your own but know another set of eyes could help you
go even deeper?
Are you interested in learning more about craft and about how to build upon your strengths?
Has an inconsistent writing practice got you losing faith in your abilities as a writer?
Do feelings of self-doubt stand between you and the page?
Are you feeling too exhausted, irritable, stressed, or isolated to be creative?
You’re a writer who wants more than anything to be at the page, but there’s this tension between wanting to/needing to/loving to write and the many demands and responsibilities of everyday life . . .
Between some days feeling like you’ve nailed a line or a paragraph or a scene and other days feeling like you’ll never have anything to say that’s worthy of print. Between feeling gifted and feeling drained.
You’ve experienced the contradictory feelings of guilt for not writing (perhaps even after spending years and thousands of dollars on writing classes, programs, or an MFA) and feelings of guilt for writing when you could be spending that time with family, or picking up an extra job, or hanging out with friends like a “normal” social person.
Maybe you’re not writing as much or as well as you know you can because you’re not feeling all that healthy. Poor sleep or eating habits, too much stress, excess weight or a compromised digestive system, or a lack of consistent exercise have you feeling exhausted and frustrated.
Maybe you are writing regularly and your health is good and you’re mostly looking for support and guidance, to help you finish a project or begin a new one.
Maybe you’ve decided it’s time to honor your passion and live a writer’s life and you’re looking for a little help getting started.
What matters most to us is that you do what you’re called to do, and that’s write. Why? Because we love stories, poems, essays, songs. We love to be around people who are connected to their creative energy, who share their gifts with the world, who help us see the ordinary in extraordinary ways, and who help us experience ordinary time as extraordinary time.
Over the years we’ve learned some useful, soulful, and enjoyable strategies for putting a structure in place to support a writing life. We’ve learned & developed ways to go deeper into our writing. We’ve prioritized our health & well-being, trained in holistic health practices, and committed ourselves to sharing what we’ve learned with others.
Whatever is keeping you from the page or keeping you from making the most of your time there, we’re here as coaches to help you bring more joy, health, direction, soul, playfulness and consistency to your writing life.
And, once you have that consistency, we’re here as mentors and editors to help you hone your craft and polish your work.
Check out our services and programs below to learn how to work with us:
Coaching Services
Our Coaching Services are designed to focus on YOU and your lifestyle and writing habits.
(If you want us to focus on your writing, then check out our Mentoring Services below.)
Our approach is HOLISTIC which means we sit down with you (or chat via Skype/Phone) and discuss the big picture of your life – relationships, job, health, responsibilities, any challenges that are unique to you (as well as those challenges experienced by most writers) so we can CUSTOMIZE a plan around your specific goals and needs.
If you want strategies for a healthier lifestyle or you want techniques to give you more control over inspiration or you want to show up at the page more consistently, we’ll put together a personalized plan that fits you best.
Here are some reasons why, as a writer, you’ll want Coaching:
You’re a writer who’s not writing because
- Life’s too hectic
- You find yourself procrastinating
- Self-doubt gets in the way
- You don’t have the emotional energy to go there
- You feel guilty when you’re not writing which makes it harder to write
- You feel guilty for writing and not spending that time with your family
- None of your friends “get it”
- You have a particular health challenge (or lack good health in general)
- Poor eating habits are depriving you of energy
- You feel fatigue, restless, crave sugar or caffeine
- A personal life transition is keeping you from being able to focus
- You feel lost, alone, misunderstood
- You’re struggling to stay inspired
- You write in spurts, here and there, can’t seem to get a consistent daily practice going
- You have no idea how to balance your time between writing and everything else . . .
We draw upon Cathy’s training as a Holistic Health Coach, Dave’s experience as a Sports Coach, and our collective training and experience as Educators, Yoga Teachers, Creativity Consultants, and, yes, Working Writers, to offer you a variety of perspectives and insights.
Sign Up for a FREE 20-Minute Consultation by clicking here, or email us at thebestme(at)creativeandhealthy(dot)com if you have any questions.
Mentoring Services
Our Mentoring Services focus on YOUR WRITING, and they are modeled after our own experience in one of the Top MFA Writing Programs in the country (Spalding University). Our approach is nurturing and supportive, as well as challenging and creative. We’ll identify and focus on the things you do well with the intention of increasing your mindfulness of these strengths to help you develop them further. We’ll also examine any areas where you display a potential for growth so as to take advantage of the opportunity to turn any weaknesses into strengths. Whether you’re just starting out on your quest to be a writer or you’re a seasoned professional looking for support or fine-tuning, our Mentoring Services are designed to challenge you while also reminding you that what you do matters.
Sign Up for a FREE 20-Minute Consultation by clicking here, or email us at thebestme(at)creativeandhealthy(dot)com if you have any questions.
Editing Services
Our Editing Services are based on our experience working on National Literary Magazines, as well as on our experience as freelance writers, award-winning poets, and writing teachers. We have an eye for detail, but we’re also great listeners and our intuitive sensibilities allow us to offer you “deep listening” through our very close reading of your work.
In addition to a detailed critique letter (assessing how clearly your manuscript communicates its core message), we also offer line-editing and proof-reading services for revised manuscripts ready for submission to editors. (For more on our Editing Services, click here.)
Editing Services:
Single short story or chapbook collection of poems
Includes:
- Close reading of your manuscript with a detailed critique letter
- Margin comments and line edits throughout manuscript
- A 60-minute Skype/telephone conversation
- Maximum length up to 45 pages
Novel (including YA or MG), Collection of Short Stories, Creative-Non-Fiction or Poetry manuscript
Includes:
- Close reading of your manuscript with a detailed critique letter
- Margin comments and line edits throughout manuscript
- Three 60-minute Skype/telephone conversations.
- Maximum manuscript length 150,000 words.
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Let us know what you want and we’ll customize a service just for you.
Sign Up for a FREE 20-Minute Consultation by clicking here, or email us at thebestme(at)creativeandhealthy(dot)com if you have any questions.