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Jessica Ferguson

Author, Writing Coach, Speaker

A to Z Reflections

May 14, 2016 By Jessica Ferguson 2 Comments

A-to-Z Reflection [2016]I missed the deadline for the A to Z Reflections but I’ll reflect anyway.

For me, the A to Z Challenge this year was better than ever. More challenging in some ways. More fun in others. I blogged about my passions: writing, coaching, and inspiring others.

I didn’t plan—I never do. And I still wrote each post the night before—sometimes as late as 10:00 pm. I’m a slow thinker, fairly uncertain until I actually start writing, so each April I purposely work under pressure, trying to teach myself to think and write fast, the way old time reporters did back in the day. One of my favorite movies is Teacher’s Pet with Clark Gable and Doris Day. Check it out. And remember Lou Grant?

I did one thing different this year. I shared on FB and Twitter. Mine and other people’s posts. Amazing how that adds another level of excitement to the challenge. And adds FB friends and followers.

In addition to daily blogging the challenge I was also writing a 20,000 word novella that will come out in a collection with three other writers, and coaching a writer who was trying to finish her novel. I’d love for you to read her story: Why It Took Seven Years To Write This Novel. I’m thrilled to say she accomplished her goal. Not only did she finish her book, but she submitted to Amazon’s Kindle Scout program and was accepted. For the past three days she’s danced around in Hot and Trendy and for an hour or two was #1. That alone tells you I had an exceptional client to coach: very capable, talented, and focused. Her writing is excellent.

My adrenalin surged during the month of April. Those three activities—writing, coaching and blogging—kept me organized and focused. I think that’s what we need to remember; we have to remember. The key to success is focus. Everyone who completes the A to Z Challenge each year knows and understands all about focus. We have to keep our eyes on our goal.

Now that A to Z has ended, I’ll concentrate on spreading the word about my client’s book. I can’t help but feel her success is mine too. 🙂 I invite you to read the the wrong first few chapters of  The Wrong by Heather K. Duff . If you enjoy it, consider nominating her for the Kindle Scout contract. You’ll get her novel free if she wins. If she doesn’t, it will have been a wonderful learning experience just to watch how things play out, one you might want to try yourself. Heather hopes to post about her experience too, so consider signing up to follow her blog.

All of you who popped in to read my posts during A to Z and left comments made me feel valued. I loved talking writing with you and reading your own posts too. I appreciate every comment and the dialogue we shared. I wish we could get together for coffee and chat in person. There’s nothing I like better than a three-hour coffee. Maybe someday. 🙂

In the meantime, what do you have planned for the summer? Where will your focus be? On a novel, novella or a book of poetry? Or maybe you’re taking the summer off to play with your kids?  Whatever your plans, be safe and have fun. Enjoy your focus.

Filed Under: A to Z 2016 Tagged With: coaching, goals, Kindle Scout, The Wrong, writing

X Marks the Spot

April 27, 2016 By Jessica Ferguson 6 Comments

XAn X on a map usually indicates buried treasure. I enjoy the visual of treasure hunters battling the elements, constantly studying their map, working their way to that treasure. Maybe that’s why I loved Romancing the Stone so much. It was about writing and buried treasure.

To me, X marks the winner’s circle, the finish line—the place on the other side of that goal I want to reach. I have to follow the guidelines to get there—publisher’s guidelines, as well as my own.

Whatever the guidelines and rules are, we all need to know them and follow them. They need to be listed on our pre-determined route to our X.

Long before I wrote and sold my first novel, I asked a couple of veteran writers for some feedback. Both ladies said they didn’t have time. They didn’t say it unkindly, but it wasn’t said with any encouragement either. I’ve never forgotten how much courage I had to conjure up to approach those two writers. I’ll never forget the embarrassment of the no, and wishing I’d never asked. I promised myself I’d always be an encourager–always!

That’s why coaching and mentoring writers is right up my alley. I enjoy helping new writers create a route to their X, or those who can’t seem to finish a project find their way to the end.

One of the writers I’ve been working with is drawing up a new plan. She’s published in short fiction, but these days her X is to finish a novella in three months. She doesn’t write fast or have a lot of time, but she wants to write a page a day, five days a week for three months. She’s never written a page a day before. She’s always been the paragraph-at-a-time type, editing along the way. She knows this new plan will be a challenge.

She’ll begin by answering some questions about her book, creating a short synopsis or an outline of the story, the way she envisions it now. Once she actually starts writing, of course, her story is subject to change. I know from experience that once we get to know our characters, our stories can evolve into something completely different. Sometimes our book becomes stronger, better. Sometimes not, because we lose our way, our focus.

I’ll be keeping her on track, providing resources, encouraging her in such a way that she doesn’t lose the integrity of her story, or her desire to write it.

From her synopsis, I’ll research publishers for her. Not everyone publishes novellas. At some point we’ll discuss traditional vs. indie publishing. There are some great small presses out there she might find appealing. I provide her with information; she talks and I listen. Her X is her X, if that makes sense. I won’t try to change her mind about her goal.

During the course of the next three months, she’ll email progress reports, ask questions, brainstorm with me if she has a need. If she becomes blocked or paints herself into a corner, I’ll help her determine the wrong turn she took, and how to get out of that corner.

I won’t be reading her book until she has a completed manuscript. I’ll read it, give her a ‘cold-eye-review’ or a detailed critique and we’ll discuss where she goes from there.

My job is to get this writer from page one to her winner’s circle, her finish line, her X, and I’ll do whatever it takes, whatever she needs, to get her there. It’ll be a fun, rewarding adventure for both of us. X marks the spot, and we’re on our way to finding her treasure.

What is your X and what are you doing to get there? Do you have a road map?

Filed Under: A to Z 2016 Tagged With: coaching, Finish Line, goals, Winner's Circle

C is for Coach

April 3, 2016 By Jessica Ferguson 20 Comments

CWe’re on our third day of the 2016 A to Z Challenge. For those who don’t know, my subject this year is anything that has to do with writing, coaching and inspiring others.

So, here it is ten-thirty on a Sunday night, and I’m trying to figure out what to write about coaching.

Yes, C is for COACH

Writing Coach, Creativity Coach, Wellness Coach and Life Coach

There are so many different kinds of coaches, my head spins, and I have to wonder… what’s going on? Why are we needing so much help maintaining our sanity, working out our problems, achieving our dreams and goals? I think it’s because we’re so busy with life that a voice of reason, someone to listen and just say yeah, you’re right, you can do it, you’ve got this, hang in there makes us feel (lets us know) we’re not alone.

Some say coaching has been around since the beginning of time—when older people taught the younger ones. Okay, that works for me, but now coaching is full speed ahead with certifications and licensing. And prices range from 95.00 to $2,000 a month–sometimes for a 30 minute phone call once a week. It blows my mind, yet I have no doubt being coached works. It’s always nice to have someone come along side us to encourage, brainstorm, read and give feedback; someone to nourish us while holding us accountable to our word count. Or even teach us to overcome doubts, fears, anxieties in our life.

I’ve been researching the coaching business (writing coaching, in particular) and reading everything I can about it. I’ve learned that coaches don’t have to be certified. It’s sort of like being an agent—if you know what you’re doing you can hang a shingle. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’ll eventually catch up with you and you’ll fall by the wayside.

I’m curious to know what you think of writing and creativity coaches. A valid profession or charlatans? Have any of you ever used a writing or creativity coach, and for how long? What caused you to hire one? What do you think a writing coach should do for their clients? How much should they charge?

Some of you may be a coach. If so, share with us how you got started and why.

Coaching seems like an interesting profession to me. What say you?

Filed Under: A to Z 2016 Tagged With: coaching, creativity, hope and encouragement

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