Coaching

Creative coaching is for anyone who is seeking support, accountability, and guidance around a particular project, a creative obstacle, or any specific professional or creative goals. During an hourlong coaching session, we might  (among other things) discuss the evolving project, create a custom-made work and accountability plan, close-read a few of pages at a time, tackle any creative obstacles that come up, and generate tailored prompts and assignments to help you expand and find new possibilities. 

Every coaching session includes a review of up to 5 pages double-spaced material.

Here are some examples of topics that I’ve worked with coaching clients on:

  • Revising a manuscript or story: integrating editorial feedback; creating a revision plan; generating new and revising old pages.

  • Generating new material: drafting material as part of a larger project; experimenting with a new idea; writing in response to specific prompts; discussing a close-read of new material.

  • Polishing application materials: drafting and refining application materials (i.e. artist statements, project work plans) for artist residencies, fellowships, or other professional opportunities.

  • Regulating the nervous system around creative work: blending somatic trauma-informed principles with creative pedagogy to write through hard topics, expand the window of tolerance within the creative process, and discover pleasure and satisfaction from creating.

  • Creating an organizational plan for a book proposal: setting clear goals and developing a clear timeline and plan.

  • Writing blog posts, newsletters, or website content: coming up with content ideas; drafting and revising content.

  • Craft tutorials: focusing on a specific area of craft; writing in response to specifically tailored prompts; working together around a personalized reading list.

  • Coaching is for writers who are looking for consistent and specifically tailored support around a particular project or exploration. Coaching is typically offered as a series of 4 or 8 sessions, on a biweekly or monthly basis. Each coaching session includes an optional close-read of up to 5 pages to accompany every hourlong session.

    In contrast, editing focuses on substantive written feedback on a completed or in-process story, essay, or manuscript, along with a one-time follow-up call to discuss any questions about the feedback and next steps. 

    Many writers become both editing and coaching clients, and the two offerings can work in tandem. Writers often work with me through coaching to generate a new draft and then eventually request an editorial review on the completed draft. Coaching may continue from there, as needed. Alternatively, students who already have a  manuscript or story in-progress may start with an editorial review, and then decide to continue working together over a series of coaching sessions to integrate the feedback. My goal is to get these clients to the point at which they’ve successfully reimagined their story, and feel confident enough to spread their wings and fly — aka. finish the new draft on their own. At that point, these clients usually return for another full manuscript review (at a discounted rate), which allows me to offer even more meaningful high-level and specific insights on their project.

    If you’re still not sure which service is the better match for you, I offer a complementary 30-minute call where we can discuss your goals, questions, and where our work together might start.

  • Creative coaching is for anyone who is seeking support, accountability, and guidance around a particular project, a creative obstacle, or any specific professional or creative goals. During an hourlong coaching session, we might  (among other things) discuss the evolving project, create a custom-made work and accountability plan, close-read a few of pages at a time, tackle any creative obstacles that come up, and generate tailored prompts and assignments to help you expand and find new possibilities. 

    Every coaching session includes a review of up to 5 pages double-spaced material.

    Here are some examples of topics that I’ve worked with coaching clients on:

    • Revising a manuscript or story: integrating editorial feedback; creating a revision plan; generating new and revising old pages.

    • Generating new material: drafting material as part of a larger project; experimenting with a new idea; writing in response to specific prompts; discussing a close-read of new material.

    • Polishing application materials: drafting and refining application materials (i.e. artist statements, project work plans) for artist residencies, fellowships, or other professional opportunities.

    • Regulating the nervous system around creative work: blending somatic trauma-informed principles with creative pedagogy to write through hard topics, expand the window of tolerance within the creative process, and discover pleasure and satisfaction from creating.

    • Creating an organizational plan for a book proposal: setting clear goals and developing a clear timeline and plan.

    • Writing blog posts, newsletters, or website content: coming up with content ideas; drafting and revising content.

    • Craft tutorials: focusing on a specific area of craft; writing in response to specifically tailored prompts; working together around a personalized reading list.

  • Coaching is a great match for writers seeking consistent support, tailored guidance, and ongoing accountability around their writing process. Coaching is for writers who love talking out-loud about their creative processes, or who feel stuck in their own heads and know they’d benefit from an outside perspective. Writers who are in the process of drafting or revising materials often find coaching to be the perfect companion to the solitary writing life — offering enough constructive feedback to keep them aligned with their project’s goals, open to new possibilities emerging from the narrative, and motivated to keep making progress.

    Coaching is strongly recommended for writers who have completed an editorial review with Arya, and are seeking integrative and ongoing support throughout the revision process. Discounts on coaching packages are offered to writers who have completed a full manuscript review.

  • Please know that coaching packages are offered to editorial clients at discounted rates to encourage an integrative and supported revision process.

  • Contact me for a 30-minute call. 

Schedule a free 30-minute call

  • “Working with Arya, as both a coach and a teacher, has been such a joy! I have been writing a memoir for a couple of years, and Arya's coaching helped me excavate deeper layers of meaning and magic in the story that I'm not sure I would have been able to uncover on my own. Her writing courses have also taught me how to keep having fun with writing, even with stories that are hard to tell. I cannot recommend her enough!"

    — Mollie Fox

  • "I always leave Arya's workshops and 1:1 sessions feeling inspired. I always look forward to what she has to say about my writing, as she tends to see things that my conscious brain couldn’t see on its own. Because of our work together, I notice more patterns in my writings, themes, and opportunities for metaphor and trust myself more fully as an artist."

  • "Arya is the most impactful writing coach I have ever encountered."

    — Elisabeth Carruthers

  • "Arya has always made me feel so safe and welcome. She appreciated the strangeness and beauty of the story in my imagination and has helped me to finally express it. I so appreciated the balance I learned between concrete writing skills and heart-of-the-story/wisdom revelations."