Mentoring/Editing

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I have many years of experience mentoring writers in many different settings. I have worked with writers on building manuscripts, studying for exams, creating performances and writing about specific subjects. I have worked in schools, colleges, workplaces and community settings, I have run groups, courses and writing for wellbeing sessions. I am also a bacp accredited counsellor and have for some time been working on ways to bring all of my skills and loves together. I love working with writers on a one to one basis and I put a lot of care into creating sessions that hopefully feel both grounding and empowering. Whilst I can absolutely offer traditional editing and feedback sessions, I feel my skills are best placed to work with and nurture you as a writer. This means you as a person will be as much as a focus of our work as a specific piece of writing.  The structures below are a template. If you have s specific need or idea in mind – please do get in touch to discuss further or to book in a session. 

 

One off: £75

1-1.5 hour session online

3 x pages of writing to be read in advance if useful.

In our session we will discuss and explore your writing, why you do it, what you love, where you feel stuck and what you would like to achieve. We’ll aim to set some tangible things to work on/towards but more importantly we’ll try to reignite that love of writing and look at how to show up as authentically as possible at and on the page. I believe reflection and relationship can take a little time to build. I've often found myself just gearing up and feeling comfortable by the end of a session so I like to offer longer sessions where possible.

 

Holistic mentoring: £240

4 x 1 hour sessions  online (weekly,fortnightly or monthly)

3 x pages of writing to be read in advance of meetings if useful.

Sessions will be focussed on both your writing and you the writer – the whys and the hows. We’ll look at what you give to and gain from writing, any blocks you are facing, any challenges or questions you might have. We might look at what is and what is not coming up in your writing and why this might be. We’ll explore what you would like to achieve and where you would like to be, writing wise. We’ll also explore others’ writing to gain a better understanding of what is you love and enjoy.
I strongly believe our creative practice can often hold echoes, mirrors, fossils of all aspects of our lives. Whilst this is not therapy, it is possible to explore some life stuff that is coming up in or getting in the way of your writing or how you are perceiving it. This doesn’t just relate to intense stuff - of course we can explore your heartbreak and family dynamics (although probably not all of them?!) but I also believe your joy can be present and valuable in your work too.
Whilst I will bring my personal skills, opinions, views and knowledge to the table, I will be more focussed on exploring all of these things within you with the aim of building or reviving a sense of confidence and clarity when it comes to your own writing.

 

My personal experience and expertise is with poetry and prose. However, I am very happy to explore different forms of writing or indeed creative work of any kind. Whilst I will give lots of attention to your work – my main focus will absolutely be you. Your creative sense of self, expression, wellbeing, authenticity. I think this can be applied to any discipline so please feel free to get in touch if you would like to discuss something a little different.