reclaim CREATIVE cOACHING program

THE INNER STORY WRITING CIRCLE

*monthly creative coaching and story work for heart-centered writers*

A guided writing community to support your healing, personal story work, and creative development

registration is ongoing

The Inner Story Writing Circle is a monthly subscription for people seeking creative
inspiration and community for the heart-centered work of writing about their lives.

Through weekly exercises, cowriting sessions, and monthly workshops, Inner Story offers you the opportunity to discover and give voice to your story
with the support of a compassionate creative coach and community. Each month members have access to a variety of virtual sessions to study, share, and celebrate personal storytelling.

What’s different about Inner Story?

I created the Inner Story Writing Circle to be a safe space for writers who are facing all kinds of creative challenges, based on the understanding that the journey is smoother with the support of community. The monthly workshops are designed for creatives who have stories to tell, and are seeking support for the emotional + strategic challenges that come with creative expression.

Inner Story is ideal for heart-centered writers.

Heart-centered writers are tuned into the deeper meaning of things and are driven by purpose. Inner Story members have an insatiable hunger to explore and express their life experiences. Does this sound like you? If so, you may also find yourself inspired one day and stuck the next, frustrated by creative blocks, self-doubt, and learning curves. Your desire to write can trigger perfectionism and self-criticism. Creative resistance and procrastination can lead to feelings of shame and inadequacy. Finding the right place and the right audience for your writing can be discouraging. I know these struggles all too well. Through the monthly bonus workshops, group coaching, and accountability sessions, members have the opportunity for mentorship and community support to work through creative challenges.

Inner Story is centered in self-care and community care.

All of my creative coaching programs are based on the idea that self-care allows the greatest expression of who you are to be released.

Before I learned this, I almost stopped believing in my call to write. My personal struggles with anxiety, overwhelm, and imposter syndrome had me convinced that I wasn’t capable of turning my creative visions into reality. By shifting my inner narrative from ‘What’s wrong with me?’ to ‘What do I need?’, I got curious about my inner conflicts and leaned into professional and community support. I discovered that many of my issues came from a lack of self-care, nervous system dysregulation, and a limited understanding of the creative process. Now I teach my clients how to integrate the process of writing to heal with the practice of sharing stories, ensuring that they have tools and strategies for managing the unique challenges that come with that integration.

Inner Story will help you reclaim your story.

Creative resistance doesn’t have to hold you back from doing deep story work and pursuing your creative callings. You can reclaim your story and build a fulfilling creative life without overwhelm and frustration. The Inner Story membership will give you tools to overcome limiting beliefs and patterns, get comfortable with vulnerability and visibility, and experience the personal and collective healing that comes from storytelling. The Inner Story Writing Circle is part of the Reclaim Creative Coaching Platform. You can learn more about the other Reclaim offerings here.

Read on to preview my approach to personal storytelling, and learn more about how this community can help you thrive as you do your own story work.

what is story work?

. . .

Story work is a process of reflection, unlearning, and reimagining that allows you to find new meaning in your life experiences.

Through the Inner Story Writing Circle, you are supported in building a writing practice
based on story work that allows you to reclaim your voice, values, and creative vision.

. . .

story work is…
Reclaiming your voice

By writing down your life reflections and observations…

thoughts + feelings
memories + experiences
fears + worries
beliefs + desires
triggers + obsessions
dreams + visions

story work is…
RECLAIMing YOUR VALUES

…you discover universal themes, lessons, and questions…

change + transformation
choices + challenges
themes + patterns
turning points
wisdom + life lessons
values + conflicts

story work is…
RECLAIMing YOUR VISION

…and develop a creative vision around the story of your life.

healing + expression
testimony + inspiration
family history + legacy
advocacy + social change
justice + exposure
education + information

WE INCORPORATE healing INTO THE WRITING PROCESS

. . .

One truth at a time.

The content and exercises support the inner narrative work that cultivates a healthy creative mindset, so you can become the courageous storyteller you are called to be.

I advocate for personal storytelling because it literally shifted the trajectory of my life and led me to my purpose, but the journey to deeper awareness and fuller expression wasn’t easy. I struggled with shame and avoidance because I didn’t want to face my painful truths, let alone share them. But when I started writing, I found that my unexplored memories held wisdom for me, and eventually, fresh insights and perspectives came to me through the process, my mindset became more flexible, and I started reclaiming my story, one truth at at a time.

Now I facilitate transformative workshops that show individuals, groups, and organizations how to unblock their creativity, reframe their stories, and imagine new ways to connect and grow.

You can reimagine your story through creative exploration.

Once you start looking at your life this way— as a story, full of turning points and transformations—you can observe your memories,
thoughts and imagination differently. You discover your ability to reshape the narratives that don’t serve you,
and with this awareness you uncover storylines for your life that inspire you to write.

Courage comes first, craft comes second.

What you don’t know about writing, you can learn. Inner Story writers come from all levels of experience. Some are professional writers and some have never shared their writing before. No matter their background, they value the written word and are committed to developing their craft. We meet you where you are providing opportunities to learn new writing skills, practice with literary devices, and discover a variety of ways to share and publish your work (if you wish).

As an Inner Story participant, you will:

Gain perspective on your storyteller type and motivation,
practice accessing and sharing your most authentic voice,
and learn how to take care of yourself as you do this courageous work.

core features:

All sessions (except for cowriting) are recorded and saved to the member area.

weekly creative inspiration

Delivered by email Sunday nights at 8 pm et

… life reflection exercises to inspire your story work

two cowriting sessions per week:

Tuesdays at 6 pm et and Thursdays at 12 pm et on Zoom

…60 minutes of quiet writing to get words on the page

one monthly storytelling workshop:

Second Saturday of each month at 10 am et on Zoom

…two-hour Zoom workshop for storytelling, discussion, and feedback

the practice: a monthly JOURNALING WORKSHOP:

Dates vary month-to-month

…90-minute writing session featuring community members
and invited guests

ONE MONTHLY OFFICE HOURS SESSION:

Last Friday of each month at 12 pm et on Zoom

…informal session for asking questions, sharing wins,
challenges and progress

plus these add-ons:

bonus resources:

Available in Member Area upon Registration

…includes self-study workshops, writing guides, and prompts

ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS + WRITING SESSIONS:

Added Throughout the Year

…includes selected pop-up coaching sessions, self-discovery workshops, guided writing sessions, and book club discussions

DISCOUNTS:

15% off all other AML workshops and products

…does not include workshops that I facilitate for third parties

Inner Story Writing Circle - Core

$44.00

Every month

This is a monthly subscription that can be cancelled anytime. As an Inner Story Writing Circle member, you get weekly Story Work exercises, access to weekly accountability and cowriting sessions, plus monthly group journaling sessions, monthly storytelling guides and workshops, creative coaching office hours, and monthly creative guest visits.

Your truth is your power

If you have stories you want to tell at home, in your community, at work, and beyond, it starts with self-honesty. Your truth is your power.
When you explore and articulate the questions, conflicts, discoveries and dreams that you’ve been holding inside, you can learn how to harness this power.

This is what story work is all about.

MEMBER FEEDBACK

“Everything GG creates, shares, facilitates and leads is pure gold! The Inner Story Writing Circle is, like all her offerings, INCREDIBLE!! Inner Story offers me structure and support, while still giving me the flexibility I desire to carve out my own creative journey. I'm receiving deeply meaningful & thoughtful guidance from GG, access to a beautiful & supportive community, and encouragement & accountability to work on my craft. This program is essentially my entire creative support wishlist wrapped into a single offering. Thank you, GG, for giving us gold yet again!! — Rolanda Findlay

“GG coming into to my life through the Inner Story Writing Circle and her other workshops has been an unexpected gift that I didn’t realize I was hoping for. GG is a gifted workshop leader who has a special knack for introducing topics, ideas, and lessons that are just what I need on any given day of my creative journey. The co-writing sessions of Inner Story are where I create some of my best work. GG’s warm and abundant style of leadership spills over into the cowriting sessions and monthly workshops, creating an atmosphere of peace, acceptance, and camaraderie. Inner Story also provides me with much needed structure so that I can get the words down on the page—a gift indeed!” — Cindy D.

STORYTELLING IS A PATH TO DISCOVERY, HEALING, EMPOWERMENT & SERVICE

Writing has helped me reframe old stories about mental illness and other struggles in my life, and my mission is to help others improve the quality of their lives through the power of the written word.
If you’re new to my work, my name is GG and I’m an author and creative coach who helps individuals and groups unravel creative blocks. I create workshops that center writing as a tool for deeper connection to yourself, to others, and to the world around you. I believe that a fulfilling life begins with self-honesty and writing is a creative and accessible way to practice truth-telling, particularly if you’ve gone your whole life being conditioned to do the opposite.
Many of us who have been conditioned to stay quiet and obedient are now consciously taking creative risks to live more authentic lifestyles. We’re learning how our stories can plant seeds of hope in ourselves and others. In addition to coaching and facilitating, I write self-help and memoir, mostly in the form of personal essays and blog posts. I’ve self-published three books, and traditionally published two guided journals. In July 2023, I signed with Ashley Hong at Gardner Literary, who is helping me bring my work-in-progress—a creative guide on the transformative power of story work—into the world. You can learn more about my professional experience here.
There are many ways to get creative with your life stories. Whether you are writing to heal, to make your truth known, advocate, document, or teach. Whether your preferred medium is journaling, essay, memoir, fiction, poetry or blog. Whether you are a beginner, seasoned hobbyist, or professional, this is an opportunity to commit to the story work you feel called to do.
In Inner Story, you are supported by a coach who specializes in helping blocked creatives become the storytellers they want to be in a healthy, intuitive, and sustainable way.

…

WHAT WILL WE LEARN AND PRACTICE THROUGH THE
WORKSHOP SESSIONS AND STORY ASSIGNMENTS?

Monthly workshops include creative development themes like idea generation,
content creation, and experimenting with storytelling styles.

INNER STORY IS FOR YOU IF…

You’re looking for a holistic approach to overcoming creative blocks and generating ideas for your personal story work.
You are looking for a way to maintain the creative energy that you feel after taking a writing workshop or attending a storytelling session.
You are interested in learning new pathways to authentic expression.
You want to develop your writing voice through practice and support from other writers.

INNER STORY IS NOT FOR YOU IF…

You’re looking for technical instruction on format and structure without an emphasis on self-discovery and inner work.
You’re looking for book coaching, self-publishing or editing services.
You’re seeking 1:1 personalized coaching outside of the group workshop setting.
You’re looking for a coach who you can access on a daily basis or a group forum you can interact with daily. (Participants often connect outside of the workshop group , and I do have a free private Facebook group.)
You’re not looking for a holistic approach that incorporates mindset work, mindfulness practices, and self-care strategies into your creative practice.

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

My workshops combine the practical insights of a writing workshop along with the radical acceptance and emotional communion of a support group. The following guiding principles create a safe, compassionate environment for writers to build courage and confidence:
**Vulnerability is Generosity**
When we share the truth of our creative journeys and life experiences through storytelling, we are offering up our humanity as a gift. This gift is honored and appreciated as a source of inspiration for the whole group.
**Magic in the Mess**
We value raw and unpolished reflections and open-minded curiosity. We encourage writers to embrace beginner’s mind, and to use this space to experiment with voice and craft.
**Examination over Exposure**
We reflect on our life experiences to discover themes and tell stories with purpose, not to expose our personal lives for shock value. Trigger warnings are offered to allow story listeners to make the choice to step away during any troubling topics.
**Confidentiality & Privacy**
No one is pressured to share, and the privacy of each writer is protected. Each participant agrees to the privacy policy when they sign up, which includes confidentiality.
Keep in mind that I’m not a mental health professional, and this program is for creative purposes only.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN I SIGN UP?

You will gain immediate access to the member area, where you can browse the bonus resources and workshop details for the current month.
The weekly reflection emails go out every Sunday evening at 8 pm et, and the cowriting sessions are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All the details you need to access these events are in the member area.
Inner Story workshop sessions take place on the second Saturday of each month. We spend the two hours giving writers the opportunity to share their work with the group. Sharing is encouraged but voluntary. Feedback is focused on helping the writer understand the impact of their writing and how it’s resonating with the audience. Everyone learns from each other.
After each workshop, members receive the replay and a writing guide for the next session. Members can adjust the exercise to make it complement their personal writing intentions and goals. Throughout the month we also have accountability sessions, office hours, and opportunities for members to get constructive feedback on their personal projects.
**Each month, the weekly exercises are guided by a life theme. The themes we have worked on so far this year are below.**

Truth and Fiction
In the January session, we shared the truth and fiction writing assignment that was given out in December. Writers were asked to practice how memoir and fiction writers can benefit from using elements of the other format to expand their creative material and write with more freedom.
Personal Story Arcs
We will explore seven frameworks for personal storytelling and how we can discover entry points to our personal narratives through universal themes. Our work will support writers in identifying the threads that tie their stories together.
Layers of Voice
This month is about affirming your unique writing voice through practice, experimentation and observation. Voice is not just about speaking the truth, it also involves nurturing the unique way that you express that truth. Voice is how your soul takes form on the page. When your personality, intentions and influences come through in your work, that’s what distinguishes your voice from all others and that’s what makes your writing flow sustainable. If you’re not being yourself, resistance will get in the way. This month we will experiment with different ways to discover and develop your writing voice.
Show and Tell
This month we’re looking at the familiar practice of show and tell in writing, along with the guidance of expressive writing researcher Dr. James Pennebaker who advises writers who are translating emotional experiences into words to write about both facts and feelings. Based on these concepts, you will learn pre-writing techniques that help you approach vulnerable topics in an artistic, and still self-nurturing way.
Roots and Origins
“How much of ME is my own and how much is stamped into my blood and bone, predestined?” Our theme this month is to explore this question asked by Thi Bui in her memoir, The Best We Could Do, along with more questions around roots and identity. We will experiment with different ways to write about our ancestral, geographical, and emotional roots, and the extent to which they influence who we are and the stories we tell the world.
Shadow Work
Carl Jung developed and pioneered the idea of the inner shadow. According to Jung, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Shadow work is working with the hidden parts of your mind to uncover the parts that you repress and hide from yourself. This can include trauma, shame, and secrets but also hidden gifts, passions and strengths. The purpose of doing this work is to explore and integrate every part of yourself to become a more self-aware person. As a writer, shadow work provides clarity around how your thoughts, emotions, and feelings lead you (and your characters) to act and react. We will use this topic to practice writing about hard things while taking care of ourselves and the reader.
Identity and Society
We will write about the roles that culture and society play in shaping our individual and group identities and discover what it takes to navigate the pressure of non-conformity as we put our differences on display in our writing. This includes breaking stereotypes and societal norms, and highlighting the conflicts that we (and our characters) face in contradicting the expectations of the outside world. We will explore different ways to approach these conflicts in our writing.
Morals and Values
Your moral vision is part of who you are—and when you are writing a story, it emerges as you write. As humans, we are constantly exploring questions like, “have I harmed anyone?” and “am I good or bad?” As writers, our stories and characters grapple with moral awareness and the conflicts, choices, and challenges that come with it. For this series, we will explore ways to write about moral dilemmas in our work.
Love and Grief
We can’t talk about grief without talking about love. We will ponder this connection and write about how loss affects the way we live and what we create. We will explore how memory informs grief, how death shapes life, and how we acknowledge the grief that doesn’t come from death but things like change, identity loss, and forgotten dreams. You will come away with ideas for how to write about grief for both personal healing and literary endeavors.
Detours and Pivots
Stories are driven by detours and choice moments. Sometimes the detours are unexpected and other times they are intentional. For the next few weeks, our theme will be Detours and Pivots, and we will explore this theme by looking for stories that reflect transformational moments in our lives and in our writing journeys. The stories we build around our obstacles, roadblocks, and detours communicate our values and life messages, and they reveal our truest selves.

MEMBER FEEDBACK

“My growth as a writer, my confidence in my work, and my courage to bare it all is, in large part, due to the writing community that I hold dear. The Inner Story community is a safe space of self-discovery, and I leave each one inspired and emotionally full. GG’s workshops and prompts have produced some of my most authentic and vulnerable pieces of writing.” — Ashleigh V.

“What I love about GG’s Inner Story community is that there is a lot of love and support and it’s a diverse group of women, which is different than other writing communities I’ve been in. A community where I feel a deep sense of connection is critical to my writing practice and Inner Story meets that need. Inner Story offers lots of flexibility, which has allowed me to give myself lots of grace as I develop my body of work. I love that GG is generous in sharing her own students' work. She provides excellent resources for deepening my understanding of the writing process and submitting my work.” — Rachel N.

"GG, I just wanted to tell you that I completed Section One of my book and now I'm on to Section Two. Thankful for this group and your energy!" — Joyice R.

"I don't share my personal story with anybody, much less my writing about it. But over the past few months, I’ve been able to practice vulnerability when I come to this group. I'm taking baby steps. This is a really safe place to do that and share whatever writing you have because the community is so supportive." — Stephanie D.

FAQ’s

Yes. You can unsubscribe and resubscribe according to your needs. When you cancel, you lose access to the member area.
No, however, if you have a concern about your purchase, I’m open to discussing unique situations.
You have access for as long as you’re subscribed to the group.
Please fill out this form with your availability and a note. If there is enough interest, I may add another monthly workshop session (with the same content) and I’ll make sure you are notified.
Yes. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a highly sensitive creative, if you have trouble with creative blocks, anxiety, focus, and consistency, this subscription offers tools to help you overcome the frustration and stay committed to your creative goals.
The weekly life reflection exercises cover topics related to creative courage, exploration, and development, through the lens of universal life themes. You can read two samples here.
In this group, courage comes first, craft comes second. The group is advised to offer feedback based on how your story impacted them and how your unique voice came through. We have separate, optional feedback sessions for those who are interested in constructive feedback on a work-in-progress.