Unpacking the Emotional Blocks to Writing

The Heart of the Writer Understanding your emotions on your literary journey is just as important as knowing how to write In ninth grade, one of my teachers, Mrs. Hentges, came up to me and told me that she was entering me in a statewide fiction writing contest. Only one person from each school was allowed […]

For Writers Looking for a New Approach

When you’re building a business, they’ll often tell you to get to the “why”. Why are you running this business at this time? What’s driving you? What’s motivating you? Why you? Why this biz? Why now? I’ve been a book coach for 20 years and have helped thousands of people write their stories, in workshops […]

Part 2: What is Book Coaching?

Yesterday, I posted a blog, What is a Book Coach?, where I talked about what makes a good book coach. Today I want to describe the book coaching process.  I’ve been coaching people on self help, memoir, and fiction for nearly 20 years, through my business Art of Storytelling. Often, people come to me not […]

Part 1: What is a Book Coach?

When I became a book coach nearly 20 years ago, I’d actually never heard the term before. I knew about life coaches and fitness coaches, but coaching on a book? I was teaching fiction writing in a university extension program when one of the students came up to me after class. Would I work with […]

Free book: Writers working in English as a Second Language

At Art of Storytelling we are passionate about diversity of voice. We work with writers of different nationalities, races, and ethnicities across the globe, and help them tell their stories. We’ve created this FREE BOOK: #Write: The Four Stages of Writing a Book for Writers Working in English as a Second Language. Sign up and […]

Our Lives as Art

Do you use your own life in your art? My books in the Elemental Journey series are semi-autobiographical. I’ve always felt I was trying to convey not just my life, but also the epic journey of all of our lives.

Your Book is Bigger than You; Stop Trying to Control it

I’ve been a book coach for two decades. I’ve worked with expats on novels, lawyers on self-help books, and acupuncturists on memoir, and I’ve written three novels myself. People often ask, “What is the biggest issue new writers face when writing books?” There are many, like: Writers need to learn to let go of perfectionism […]

You Don’t Fit (Anywhere); 5 Reasons That Might Just Be a Good Thing

I’ve never felt I fit. Anywhere. I grew up in rural Missouri, and as a young girl would obsess, “Where do I fit? Where do I fit? Where do I fit?” The phrase would ricochet around my skull like a pinball. I left Missouri as fast as I could; surely there were other places where […]

What is Your Personal Mythology?

What is your “personal mythology”? How can you tap into it, access the core of your beliefs, and unleash the energy to drive your novel or memoir? I came up with the term “personal mythology” when I was teaching writing workshops in Seattle. I found the easiest way to teach techniques like characterization, setting, and theme […]

Writing a Book: Overview

I’ve been a book coach for 19 years, working with people all over the world on memoir, novels, self-help books and even film scripts. I began my career as an international journalist (in newsrooms like London’s Financial Times). People come to my company, Art of Storytelling, wanting to write and publish a book. Few understand […]