Conference Coaching: A New Twist to a Classic Offering

Most writers’ conferences offer critique sessions or one-on-one sessions with agents and editors. Your conference can stand out as one of the first to offer one-on-one (or small group) creativity coaching sessions in addition to or instead of the standard conference fare. Creativity coaching focuses on the questions writers have about their writing process.

A surprising number of writers think they’re alone in their struggle with process issues like:

• Resolving writer’s block and other forms of writer’s resistance
• Consistently showing up for their writing
• Developing writing habits that sustain creative energy and output
• Identifying priorities and making time for what’s most important
• Planning and implementing large writing projects
• Completing projects on time
• Identifying missing skills and brainstorming ways to acquire those skills.

Thinking they’re supposed to have this all figured out, many writers are too embarrassed, guilty or anxious to raise these concerns in general Q&A discussions, manuscript critiques or one-on-one sessions with agents and editors. And few agents, editors and author faculty members have the time and expertise to respond effectively to process questions.

Creativity coaching sessions give participants a place to be honest about what they want to improve in their writing process. As an expert on creativity and writing process, I ask intuitive questions and make observations and recommendations. I’ve helped over a thousand novelists, short story writers, YA and children’s writers, poets, CNF writers, playwrights, screenwriters, journalists and business and technical writers design writing habits and techniques that work for them. Together we identify problem areas and brainstorm possible solutions.

Conference Coaching can be:

An extra value-added service your writing conference offers participants. Creativity coaching is a unique and respected perk that can induce writers to sign up for a writer’s conference, especially those who struggle with writer’s resistance and other process issues. An optional service participants elect to pay for because they receive a discount from standard coaching rates. The discount on creativity coaching can be one of the added benefits that influence writers to register for a given conference. A revenue generator. A portion of the fees participants pay for coaching during the conference can be retained by your organization. A fundraising opportunity. I’m willing to donate two 1-hour coaching sessions that can be used in raffles, silent auctions or other fundraising activities for non-profit organizations sponsoring writer’s conferences.

Want more details? Click here. Or contact me with questions or to schedule a sample coaching session so you can see how creativity coaching works.