Time To Finish That Book?

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At every course and workshop I’ve ever taught, individuals have arrived, plonked themselves down in a chair, glanced at the assembled group, heaved a relieved sigh, and said ‘you know, it’s just really hard to do it on your own’ (or words to that effect).

In my experience, it’s not mastering writing skills that’s the tough bit. We’re all natural storytellers, and techniques are relatively easy to learn. No, the really challenging things about being a writer are :-

- Carving out time in a busy life, to write.

- Feeling supported and motivated in the solitary task of writing.

- Keeping enough perspective and having sufficient, quality feedback to judge what’s working. 

- Staying focused and patient enough to get to the necessary level of detail.

What marks out a successful from an unsuccessful writer, is not that intangible ‘talent’. It’s two other things. Firstly, the ability and willingness to keep plodding on. The best writers are very hard workers. Secondly, knowing how to ask for help when it’s needed.

I find nothing more satisfying than helping a writer dust down that manuscript that they’ve been trying to complete for years, and get it to the point of publication.

There is nothing more conducive to confidence and happiness in life, than doing what we told ourselves we would do, and finishing that book. That’s the moment when we stick our flag on the summit of Everest.

 

The Details

The mentoring scheme runs from October 2016- September 2017. There is a limited number of places. It is composed of twelve hour-long sessions (one a month), via Skype/telephone or in person. The process will be tailored to individual needs, and will offer: -

-Writing skills

-Goal-setting/practical advice

-Support to manage any blocks that come up during the creative process

-Detailed handouts to support subjects covered

-A mid-month email 'hello' to check how you're doing

-Optional experiments (exercises) to undertake between the sessions

-Written feedback can be offered in lieu of meeting time, if appropriate


The fee is £1000, payable upfront, or in monthly instalments.

The scheme is aimed primarily at those who are serious about completing a longer fiction or non-fiction project. It's also for those who want to make an on- going commitment to improving their storytelling skills. I guide you to come up realistic goals, and to stay on a steady path to completing them. If you take a up a place on this scheme, I promise, I'll be with you all the way :-) 

I look forward to hearing from you if it's what you're looking for. bridgetholding@wildwords.org

 

Bridget Holding- Biography

Bridget spent six years as a screenwriter. She is a winner of the Sky Movies Short Film of the Year Award, with The Rat Trap, a film staring Emilia Fox. She has also read screenplays for Sky Television. 
She’s a former associate lecturer for The Open University, and has been a tutor of creative writing for The University of Exeter since 2008. She’s spoken or taught at the following festivals of literature: The Swanwick Writers’ Summer School, Uppingham Summer School, The Telegraph Ways with Words Festival, Winchester Writers’ Festival, Penzance Literary Festival, Swindon Festival of Literature, Chipping Campden Literary Festival.
She runs Wild Words online and real-world writing community.  Access the Facebook page here. 
She’s also trained as an integrative arts-based psychotherapist specialising in enabling the creative process in writers. Her articles have been published in Writing Magazine, and The Psychotherapist. She has featured in magazines including Saga Magazine. 
Contact: bridgetholding@wildwords.org