After years of merely daydreaming about writing a novel, it was exhilarating to finally commit to it. I had a great idea, a detailed outline and high hopes, all of which powered me through the first four weeks.  But as the initial fanfare began to wane, it began feeling more and more like I was trying to paint a masterpiece with a pack of crayons — and not even with the good crayons, but those cheap, waxy crayons they give away with kids menus. Thirty thousand words into it, I convinced myself that my novel would always be perfect so long as it remained in my head. I did what all great writers do when they feel stuck and binge-watched Netflix during my self-assigned writing time. Clearly it was time to consult the experts.

Over a ten-session period, Jane Gassner taught me how to get out of my own way. She showed me how recognize and disempower the voice of self-doubt, how to clear a path for true creativity, and how to embrace those pesky, unplanned storylines that pop-up out of nowhere and threaten the whole outline.  After I got my groove back, she asked insightful questions about the story and its characters as it progressed, questions that made me think, gave me better ideas, and ultimately enhanced the story. She dislodged the “stuck” feeling and put me back at the easel with a proper set of paints. Today I’m nearly done with a solid first draft; a feeling that is absolutely worth the price of being behind on House Of Cards.

Jane is not the kind of writing coach who will give you writing exercises or hold you to weekly a word count; instead, she’ll hold you true to the story you’re telling.  She meets you where you are on any given day, she figures out what you need to move your story forward, and provides it – along with a lot of laughs – along the way.