The Writing Coach

"An Evening with The Writing Coach" in conjunction with "My Writers Circle" - Tuesday 17th November 2009

"Confidence, Productivity and Career Success for Writers" 

Come and meet Jacqui Lofthouse "The Writing Coach" and network with a group of committed writers at the lovely "Coach and Horses" Hotel on Kew Green. Jacqui will talk on "Confidence, Productivity and Career Success for Writers" and there will be a chance to ask questions about any aspect of writing, publishing and making a career as a writer.  This evening is also the first unofficial gathering of members of the online writing group 'My Writers Circle'.

Venue:  "The Coach and Horses Hotel"  - Kew, Surrey

Date:  Tuesday 17th November 2009

Time:  Networking and tea/coffee from 5.45pm, Talk at 6.30pm, Optional Dinner/drinks at 8pm

Price:  £12 (includes tea/coffee and talk but not dinner/drinks)

Limited to 25 participants.  Only 6 places remaining.

This evening is set up in conjunction with "My Writers Circle" a leading online forum for writers and is a not-for-profit evening.  

This is a one-off, unique event.  We will meet for tea and coffee in the lovely function room of "The Coach and Horses" a boutique hotel, close to London's beautiful and world-famous Kew Gardens. Rooms are available for those who are interested in staying the night - do contact the hotel direct. 

Jacqui will be speaking on all aspects of the writing process including:

• Productivity and Time Management for Writers 
• How to take yourself seriously as a writer and commit to your work
• Self-confidence for writers 
• The organic process of writing (or 'busting the myths around planning in advance')
• Self-care for writers
• The keys to high creativity and breaking through limiting beliefs
• Answering specific questions on your writing challenges including characterisation, dialogue and structure 
• The publishing process - how to get an agent and a publisher interested in you and your work   

There will be plenty of time to ask Jacqui questions and for those who wish to join us for drinks in the pub and dinner afterwards, you are very welcome.

If you are serious about your writing work or want to take it to the next level, this evening will be an opportunity to make new commitments to your work and to get support not only from Jacqui but also from other writers.  

Jacqui says:

"This evening is an opportunity for "My Writers Circle" members to meet with my current clients, my writing colleagues and many other serious writers who are looking to create a sense of community.  I'm really looking forward to the conversation and to getting to know many of you better over drinks and dinner."

If you would like to find out more about the evening, do contact Jacqui direct to book your place.  

Creative Vision Writer's Group

Build your Creative Vision this Spring and make 2007 the year your Writing Dreams become Reality.

Dates: Wednesdays at 8.30-9.30pm UK time (3.30-4.30pm EST) from 4th April to 23rd May

I'm really excited to announce the launch of the Creative Vision Writer's Group. At last, I'm going to be able to work with many of you closely, for a full eight weeks on my most affordable course yet! Whether you're longing to dive into a writing project, need motivation to finish or are looking for help on the process of writing a book, this is the perfect group for you.

Joining this group will really kick-start your writing life this Spring. I'll be working with up to 16 people who are ready to commit to their writing work . You will be supported by me, as your coach and the entire group - fellow creative individuals who are equally ready to make their writing dreams a reality. We'll meet on a telephone conference line once a week and explore themes such as 'how to be driven by passion not discipline', 'how to grow your work organically' and 'formulating a personal Action Plan and Schedule for success'. Rest assured, I'll be there helping you keep to your writing schedule as you take your work to new heights.

If you're ready to discover deeper self-belief in your artistic capability and be more productive than ever before, take a look at the course details now. There are only 16 places and you get a fabulous discount if you book early!

In addition, every member of the group gets a free 30 minute consultation with me, membership of an exclusive Yahoo group, the potential for sharing work with a writing buddy and even, if you're local to Richmond-upon-Thames a regular monthly coffee meet in Carluccio's. I can't wait to get to know you and your work... Click here to find out more.

Launch of Round Table Creative Writing Group

Daily Creative Writing Exercises from tomorrow to celebrate the launch of my 'Round Table Creative Writing Group'.  Send me the results of your daily exercise and I'll post the first I receive each day on the blog - together with constructive feedback!

I’m excited to announce the launch of the ‘Round Table’ Creative Writing Group which will begin on Tuesday 3rd October at 8pm UK time (3pm EST) and will continue every week for eight weeks, until 21st November. I so hope you'll join us in this really supportive group, limited to 8 members only.  The group takes place by telephone so is open to anyone in any part of the world!  If you'd love to get your book down, then I'd love to have you on the course.

In the two weeks leading up to the Round Table launch - starting from tomorrow -  I shall be posting a daily creative writing exercise here on the blog so do come back each day if you're looking for inspiration.

Remember, as a bonus to those who sign up by 21st September for this programme, I’m offering you the opportunity of submitting up to 20 pages of your work to me for a free three page literary consultancy report, with direct constructive feedback and editing ideas from me. There are only 8 places, so do reserve your place now.

Validating our creativity

My new website "The Writing Coach" launched on Friday.  It's fabulous to have the site out there at last- and thank you so much to Sarah my wonderful designer and Karen who encouraged me to change. In many ways, this is just the beginning...

I do hope that you like the new look of the site and I would of course love to hear any constructive comments and feedback, in particular with regard to what you would like to see on the site. I'm hoping to include a lot more free resources in the months ahead and it would be great to know what would be useful to you. Please do take a little time to look about the site. New features include the 'Courses' page which details my new teleclasses starting in October; the revamped 'Literary Consultancy' page which gives a full overview of my work in that sphere and the new online 'Bookshop' where you can pre-order my e-book "The Writing Coach: 30,000 Words in 30 Days" which will launch in October.

My newsletter has also had a makeover and the first full edition of "This Writing Life" will officially launch in mid-September.  I'm really looking forward to putting the newsletter together. My intention is to include many resources, ideas and inspiration for writers and artists, including creative writing exercises, interviews with industry professionals and useful articles, to keep you on track with your work. Whilst my focus is now primarily on working with writers, I continue to work with other creative artists and my intention is that the newsletter will be useful to anyone who is looking to expand and develop their creativity

To celebrate the launch of the new website, I'd like to republish, here, the very first newsletter I wrote as a coach, back in May 2005.  I do hope you enjoy it.

Validating our Creativity

Since becoming a Coach, I have been thinking a lot about creativity, what stops it from developing, what feeds it and most of all, what keeps it alive and flourishing. For a long time, I had believed that the core attributes of a creative individual were innate talent, hard work and determination. Like many people, I considered that in order to be successful as a creative artist, one had to be validated by the standards of the outside world. As a novelist, one had to be published; as an artist, one had to have exhibited; as an actor, one had to have been paid!

But I have changed my mind. If you like, I’ve seen the error in my thinking.

A fortnight ago, a close friend of mine secured a novel publication deal with a major publishing house. The six-figure deal and the attendant publicity will doubtless change her life. But it has not to date changed her as a person one jot - and knowing her, I doubt it ever will. Three weeks ago she was an unknown writer, with a few credits to her name; she is about to be lauded as the latest literary sensation. Is she now a better writer than she was three weeks ago? Was she, three weeks ago, barely a ‘real’ writer at all? Has the deal made her one? Naturally not. It is all a matter of perception. She was a writer all along.

New Creative Writing Teleclasses

“Commit to the Writing Life”  - An exclusive weekly teleclass to help you Get Inspired, Get Writing and Get Published!

Date:        Tuesday 3rd October – Tuesday 21st November 2006
Frequency:    Eight weekly classes every Tuesday
Time:       8pm GMT  (UK time)

• Are you seeking more confidence in your writing?
• Would you like to fully commit to the writing process?
• Would you like to write 60,000 words in the next 3 months?
• Would you like constructive feedback on your work from Jacqui and a group of supportive peers?

Many of us know we have a ‘book inside’ but we have kept it inside for too long!  Yet whether you are an aspiring novelist or a small business owner who knows a book would work as a key marketing tool – with the support of this group, you could soon be on track to having your book on the desk of agents and publishers.  A key aim of this group is to enable you to kick your ‘Writer’s Block’ forever and to get your book out there!

From Tuesday 3rd October, Jacqui will be running an exclusive 8 week Creative Writing Class, limited to 8 members only. If you would like to work with a group of fellow writers and be coached by Jacqui, this is a perfect opportunity.  The 8 week course is suitable for all writers, including those writing prose fiction and those writing business e-books.  The focus is on commitment, quality and productivity and there will be a chance for each member of the group to have direct feedback on their work.

Jacqui is committed to getting to the heart of your creative doubts and to giving solid practical advice about the writing process, as you begin to build on your strengths as a writer.  If you’re looking for the support of writing peers and you’d like individual attention from someone who has published books in 6 countries and sold 100,000 copies, then this class is for you.

Distraction free writing

Now, switch off your e-mail, get ready for a quiet place to write...

Check out 'Distraction free writing' here...

Write a Novel in a Month course

As a short digression from my own 30 day online course, I'd love to recommend a course running at Richmond Adult and Community College which will be run by my esteemed colleague Sara Bailey.  Sara is an inspirational teacher.  The course is called 'Write a Novel in a Month'; the idea is to encourage free-writing and get participants writing 1500 words daily for an entire month!   If you live in or near the borough of Richmond in the UK, do sign up!   The course will be at the Parkshot Centre in Richmond from Thursdays from 8th June to 6th July from 7-9pm.

The contact number for the college is:
020 8439 8929

I am also currently considering running small one-day or weekend courses/workshops for groups of 8-10 people, probably based in the Kew Gardens area.  If you'd be interested in the following, please do drop me an e-mail or post a comment, letting me know which course would interest you the most.  At this stage, I'm simply gauging interest, so you're not committing to anything.

• 'Writing a Novel' for beginners
• Freeing yourself from Writers' Block
• Preparing to send your work to Agents/Publishers
• The Secrets of writing Fabulous Plots

For those people who can't travel to Kew, I will also be running Teleclasses.  Equally, to register potential interest, do let me know - it will make it easier for me to inform you once I set these up.  And do sign up for the newsletter on the right if you want to be sure not to miss this information.  Watch this space...

Looking for a literary agent?

Last week's class focussed on finding a literary agent.  I had a little fun putting together a spoof letter full of mistakes.  'How not to approach a literary agent'.  For your amusement, take a look:

Elizabeth Hack
73 Main Avenue
Balham
London SW12

Tel:  0207 8451234


19th April 2005

Head of Literary Fiction
Curtis Brown Ltd


Dear Agent,

Re:  My Novel

I’m writing to ask whether you are currently looking for authors to represent.  I have recently completd the first chapter of my first novel ‘Something about Brian’ and am seeking representation.  Although I have not yet written a synopsis of this work, I am sure that the quality of writing in the chapter I enclose will give you a clear idea of my potential as a writer.

I have researched my market thoroghly and understand that ‘Teen Lit’ is an important new emerging genre and my novel is perfectly tailored to that genre.  I have a lot of experience of teenagers as I am a mother of a fifteen year old boy, who has gone off the rails with drugs a while back, which is exactly what happens to the boy in the story.  I am also a computer programmer.  Brian is a keen computer fan.  This story explores the theme of teenage drug taking from a very unique angle.  It is written from the point of view of Brian’s dog, ‘Puff’. 

I do hope, even if you can’t represent my novel, that you will be able to give me feedback on the work.  I'm sure you'll realise however when you read this that this work could be immensely profitable for you.  I plan to be meeting with several agents and interviewing them to check out who would be the most suitable agent for me.  I am certain I'd be an asset to your agency.

I have read on your website that you like to see full character biographys.  However, I’m sure you’ll find that Brian’s character comes through very clearly in this sample chapter.  And as Puff is a dog, not a character, I hardly need give him a biography! ;)

I should say that I have been attending class at Richmond Adult and Community College for the last year.  My fellow classmates have a high opinion of my work.  Indeed one of them gave the  work to his teenage son Pete to read and Pete devoured the chapter in one sitting!  I think you’ll agree this bodes very well.  Also, Pete said this book reminded him of ‘The Mysterious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’ so it might appeal to a similar market to that bestselling book I think.

I am aware that you receive very many useless manuscripts, but this one is different.  It will appeal to an American audience also because half the action will be set in the New York of Brian’s imagination.  Therefor, this book could make an excellent Hollywood film.   

I will telephone you in three days to arrange the meeting with you to discuss this further.  I hope you won’t mind me sending this letter and the chapter by e-mail, only my printer is broken at the moment and as you know I will be sending to a l ot of agents and the printer ink would get extremely expensive!

I do hope that you enjoy ‘Something Happened to Brian’.  I know you will regret it if you let this one get away!!!

I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Warmest  regards,


Elizabeth Hack


Hey - I KNOW you wouldn't make these mistakes.  Next time - how to do it right...

What's the cardinal sin an author might commit when writing to an agent in your view?

Notes for Editing a Novel or Memoir

Last week in class we did an editing exercise whereby students brought in a first draft of a chapter or story and swapped with their classmates for editing. 

My main note about editing is that it's a very personal thing and I wanted to show students that we won't always agree with every piece of criticism we receive.  When I studied at UEA on the Creative Writing MA there, Malcolm Bradbury told us, '80% of what you hear about your work will not be useful.  20% will.  Find the 20%'  I guess the relevant percentage depends on the critic, how experienced they are and how sympathetic to your work.  What matters is that you listen to the criticism and give it  time to filter through, trust your gut.

One of the best editing tips I can give is the importance of printing out the early draft and finding somewhere comfortable to work (like a cosy armchair is good!) and get out the red pen, scribbling on your own work as if it was somebody else's.  This gets you into the editing frame of mind.  It's like having somebody else's work in front of you and you can be harsh as you like.  (Note to readers:  do NOT be harsh on yourself when writing the first draft; I'll write on that shortly.  That's totally different; there you've got to let rip and not let the fear of getting it wrong stop you)

Here's my list of Points to consider when editing your work:

• Have you allowed enough time for the work to ‘settle’ and for you to gain objectivity?

• Have you printed up the work and are you working with a pen in a comfortable place?  Many writers feel that scribbling on the manuscript is far better than editing on-screen.  It’s a personal thing, but do try it this way… it can give a real objectivity – the feeling that you are editing someone else’s work.

• Have you looked at the story as a whole and thought about what is working and what is not?  Do you need to be thinking about a story-edit rather than a line by line edit?

• If it is a story-edit, consider whether every scene drives your main narrative or your sub-plot/s forward?  Are your characters developing in every scene?  Is there a satisfactory and consistent structure here? 

• Do you feel satisfied with your characterisation?  This links to plotting – how is character demonstrated through plot – do yours change during the story/what do they learn and grow?

• Is the Point of View consistent or if not consistent is there a structure to the Point of View?

• Are there scenes that need to be taken out altogether and are there any missing scenes?

• Have you asked another person to read your work and give detailed feedback?  Have you asked another person to do the same?  Feedback is subjective.

• When editing ‘line by line’, look out for dead description (‘hoopdedoodle’) but keep vibrant strong description that shows clear and original observation.

• Are there passages that would make the reader put the book down?  This includes dull description, scenes that take us nowhere, language that is imprecise and tells us little, points where the plot slows?

• How’s the dialogue?  If you read it aloud, do you believe that people would really say that?  Are the voices differentiated, not only by their choice of words but also by the subjects they focus on in what they say?

• Have you cut out every cliché?  Look out for phrases you have heard a million times before, unless you are making a point about a character who speaks in clichés (and even then, watch it…)

• Are you showing and not telling?

• Have you taken a look at Robert J. Ray’s ‘Operation Ratio’ (from ‘The  Weekend Novelist’) and checked out how often you use strong versus weak verbs/concrete versus abstract nouns?  Have you read the Elmore Leonard essay and taken out the unnecessary adverbs, speaking verbs other than ‘said’, exclamation marks etc? 

• And most importantly of all – what does your gut tell you about each sentence as you read it?  Is it the best and strongest sentence you can write?  Would you feel comfortable in the hands of this writer if you read this in a book?

This week's exercise?  If you have a work in progress and you've been avoiding editing it, why not try being your own armchair editor?  The first person to e-mail me a short extract (no more than 1000 words) from their recently edited work will receive constructive criticism (and a little more editing?) here...

Don't forget to sign up to be informed when I post, if you want to be sure to be the first to hear about the exercises.  Also, on my main website  you can sign up for my free newsletter 'Creativity Coaching' and also receive a copy of my article '20 inspirational and motivational tips for creative artists'. 

Tomorrow in class we're talking about two book's, Ian McEwans's 'Saturday' and Kurt Vonnegut's latest 'A Man without a Country'; I'll be writing about these over on Stubborn World later in the week...

 

Here we go...

Those of you who know my first blog, 'This Stubborn World' may have noticed there have been few postings of late.  I moved house in December and I'm beginning to get back into my novel, so it's been a busy couple of months.  But the time's now right for me to launch into blogging again.  And in particular, I'd like what I write to be more focused and useful to writers and creative artists out there.  'Stubborn World' is an arts blog and was never intended to be about coaching, and as coaching is a large part of my life these days, I've taken the decision to create this new and separate place where those looking for inspiration and motivation can come and gather both.

A perfect place to start is by directing you to the new regular column written in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper by my good friend the novelist Louise Doughty entitled  Novel in a Year.  In the year ahead, Louise will be tackling every aspect of novel writing which will be a fantastic resource for all writers.

It's going to be an interesting year for me.  Over the next four months, my main goal is to complete the first draft of my current novel, so I shall have a rule of blogging only once the daily word count is complete (!).  I'm also launching into an exploration of raw eating, inspired by coach Karen Knowler who reminded me of a much earlier attachment to the work of Lesley Kenton, who wrote 'Raw Energy': the bible of my early twenties.  Karen's site directed me to the work of Jason Vale, the Juice-master, so for the last few days I've been having 'green juice' for breakfast and living on salads and fish (I'm going 80% raw) (ok so I cheated and had a bean-burger and fries at Kew Gardens yesterday) ... I'll let you know how it goes. 

I continue teaching Creative Writing at Richmond College, so am hoping to share with you some of the exercises I do with my students as well as many other thoughts on what can inspire us to live creatively and do our best work as artists.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts.