Coaching for Writers Working with Difficult Material
Some writing is harder than other writing, not because of craft, but because of what it's about. Memoir, personal essay, and other forms of life writing ask you to sit with your own experience in a sustained way. That takes more than technique.
I work with writers who are trying to finish something that matters to them, get unstuck, or build a more consistent practice around their work. I bring a background in literary practice (published poet, CIIS Writing Fellow) and training in trauma-informed approaches to working with difficult material.
I work well with people who:
Are writing from personal experience and finding it harder than expected
Have a project they've been circling for a while and can't quite start or finish
Want accountability, structure, and honest feedback
Are processing something real through the act of writing
What we work on:
Getting unstuck and building momentum
Structure and form for memoir, personal essay, and narrative nonfiction
Managing the emotional demands of writing from life
Developing a sustainable writing practice
Manuscript feedback and revision support
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1. Embodied Writing Journey 🌿
Your Five-Session Transformation
Perfect For: Writers working with difficult material who need sustained support to develop a grounded, sustainable writing practice.
Overview: This personalized five-session coaching program helps you rebuild your relationship with writing from the ground up. Whether you're working on memoir, poetry, fiction drawn from lived experience, or simply trying to process trauma through words, this package provides comprehensive support for writing from embodied presence rather than unhealed wounds.
What's Included:
Session 1: Your Writing Story
Exploration of your relationship with writing—past wounds and present desires
Identification of somatic patterns that arise when you write
Clarification of what you want to write and why it matters to you
Session 2: Grounding Your Practice
Introduction to trauma-informed somatic tools for writing
Development of pre-writing rituals that create safety in your body
Practice with titration—learning to approach difficult material in manageable doses
Session 3: Voice & Authenticity
Distinguishing between writing from wounds vs. writing from wisdom
Identifying your authentic voice versus performative or protective voices
Exploration of what intrinsic motivation feels like in your writing practice
Session 4: Working with Difficult Material
Techniques for writing about trauma without retraumatizing yourself
Development of strategies for when you feel overwhelmed, numb, or stuck
Creating boundaries between your writing self and your wounds
Session 5: Sustainable Writing Life
Integration of everything learned into a personalized writing practice
Creation of accountability structures that honor your nervous system
Planning for continued growth after our work together
The Experience: Each 60-minute session builds on the previous one, with personalized writing exercises, somatic practices, and email support between sessions. This isn't about producing pages—it's about reclaiming your voice.
Cost: $750/5 sessions
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Writing Power Hour ⚡
Single Session Breakthrough
Perfect For: Writers who need focused guidance on a specific creative challenge or are unsure if longer-term coaching is right for them.
Overview: Sometimes you need immediate support—you're stuck on a particular section of your memoir, you've been avoiding a difficult chapter, or you need help deciding if a project is worth continuing. The Writing Power Hour provides concentrated, trauma-informed guidance for your most pressing creative concern.
How It Works:
Pre-Session
Complete a brief intake about your specific writing challenge
Submit relevant writing samples or project description (optional)
Identify your clear objective for our time together
During Your 60-Minute Session
Rapid assessment of what's blocking you and why
Somatic check-in to understand what your body is telling you about this work
Development of practical, embodied strategies to move forward
Creation of immediate next steps you can implement today
Post-Session Support
Written summary of key insights and practices
One follow-up email exchange for questions
Curated resources specific to your situation
Popular Focus Areas:
"I'm avoiding writing this chapter/section and don't know why"
"I feel overwhelmed/numb every time I try to write about [topic]"
"I don't know if this project is mine to write"
"I'm writing from anger/shame and want to shift"
"I haven't written in months/years and need help starting again"
"My perfectionism is paralyzing me"
Cost: $155/hr session
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Manuscript Intensive 📖
Deep Work on Your Project
Perfect For: Writers with a manuscript in progress who need comprehensive support in developing it with care for both craft and nervous system.
Overview: You have pages—maybe dozens, maybe hundreds—but something isn't working. Or maybe it's working but the process is destroying you. This package combines developmental feedback with trauma-informed process support to help you complete your project without sacrificing your wellbeing.
Service Options:
Developmental Manuscript Review
Read and comprehensive written feedback on up to 50 pages
Analysis of structure, voice, pacing, and emotional arc
Identification of where you're writing from wounds vs. wisdom
Specific suggestions for revision with attention to what will serve both craft and your nervous system
90-minute feedback session to discuss findings
Process + Pages Package(Best Value)
Everything in Developmental Manuscript Review
Three 60-minute coaching sessions to support your revision process
Somatic practices tailored to your project's challenges
Email support throughout your revision period
Second-round review of revised pages (up to 25 pages)
The Process:
Submission: Send your manuscript with specific questions/concerns
Deep Read: I read with attention to both craft and what your nervous system needs
Written Feedback: Receive detailed, encouraging feedback within 2 weeks
Discussion: Meet to explore the feedback and create a revision plan
Ongoing Support(Process + Pages only): Work together as you revise
Cost: Priced per project. Reach out to discuss structure and pricing options!
Working with Eli
“Eli’s coaching style really resonated with me, and I’d absolutely recommend her to anyone wanting to connect with their inner self—not just the external, visible side of things, but what truly makes you.
Our sessions always felt very expansive—like she genuinely cared about the process. I also really liked her tools and techniques, which she adapted easily to fit my style. If I asked for specific tasks or “homework,” she’d always provide something that worked for me. It was actually the first time in this kind of coaching that I felt I was making real, tangible progress. I could clearly see myself moving from point A to point B. After almost a year, I can confidently say that some of the most meaningful changes I made and implemented were thanks to our sessions. I would wholeheartedly recommend Eli to anyone willing to “do the work,” look inside, and make real changes. I also loved her holistic approach and her kindness. She never came across as someone who “knew better than me.” Instead, she worked with me as an equal, and that made me feel seen and respected throughout the process.” - Cristina