hope and encouragement Archives

We’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?

At this moment I’m at 5,279 words on my novella. I hope to write a little every day. Anyone interested can pop in and check my progress HERE.

Today I’m meeting friends who are driving in from Texas and other parts of Oklahoma to attend the Oklahoma Writers Federation Conference. This year it isn’t possible for me to attend. I’m disappointed. I’d really hoped to meet and talk with Chuck Sambuchino about my nonfiction book. I have so many questions. You might remember that I participated in Chuck’s blog tour when his book, How To Survive a Garden Gnome Attack came out.

Sometimes I feel I have way too many irons in the fire. I get tired, run down and sometimes feel overwhelmed. If it wasn’t for writer friends and writer groups, it would be easy to get interested in something other than writing–something that doesn’t drain the emotions on a continuous basis. Yesterday I visited an online group called the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. You can check it out HERE. I read a few of the blogposts and actually felt myself getting a little depressed. Some of these writer’s were really reaching out, bearing their soul about their insecurities. That seemed to feed my own insecurities so I had to quit reading. The point of this group is for bloggers, on the first Wednesday of each month, to blog about some problem, or need or insecurity or question they have, and comments are left to encourage. One person blogged about hope. She said she knew her present novel wouldn’t get her there and that her hope and belief are fading. Her post spoke to me and actually brought tears to my eyes. I’ve reached the point where I’m trying not to think about whether anything I write will get me there. In fact, I’m probably reaching the age that it’s a little too late to get there. But, her post made me look hard at the word hope. That’s when I saw a message to ME.

H – Have
O – Options
P – Print

(and/or)
E – Epub

We do have options: print publishing or Epublishing. There is always, always hope.

Do you ever find yourself dragging emotionally and losing hope in some of your favorite writing projects? How do you keep yourself pumped and positive?

C is for Coach

H. O. P. E.