supporting your journey
Whatever your writing goals and experience, I meet you where you are, with expert, insightful guidance. Click any box below to explore my offerings and see how we might work together, or schedule your complimentary 30-minute discovery call to see if we're a good fit.
writing coach & mentor
For beginners or for writers in the middle of a long-term project, individual coaching offers safety and support as you explore your creative voice. I provide compassionate, intuitive guidance tailored to your goals—whether you're writing to heal, reflect, or publish.
what it includes:
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One-on-one mentoring
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Personalized writing plans and goal setting
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Support with creative process, structure, and storytelling
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Build confidence and clarity in your work
ideal for:
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Beginners looking for direction and support
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Experienced writers seeking a creative partner and editor
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Anyone writing for personal growth, legacy, or publication
in my client's words:
"I have been working with Ellen for about two years and writing over half my life. What a gift she is! At 80 I feel rejuvenated, listened to, respected and valuable. I embrace writing as my savior as I grapple with the aging process and death. She is a woman of great substance and humility. She has helped me to gain confidence in my writing and look at my work with honesty and pride and to realize it’s never too late to live loud on the inside. She has taught me to be fearless as I put words to feelings and write poetry that highlights moments in my life that scream to be written. She has endless knowledge and a depth of feeling that is boundless. She is also honest with criticism and endlessly encouraging. We all have so much left inside…and there are no value judgements…ever. Ellen gets our truth. She honors it. She is totally present as a writing coach and her sensitivity is real. We have so much left. The door just needs to be open."
RETIRED PSYCHOTHERAPIST & GRATEFUL STUDENT
editing & manuscript development
Insightful, in-depth analysis and feedback on your project—from full manuscripts to essays and poetry. My editorial approach is collaborative and nurturing, helping you strengthen your voice and clarify your message at every stage.
what it includes:
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Big-picture editing and story development
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Content editing and detailed feedback
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Refinement of tone, structure, and narrative flow
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Support for fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, or hybrid work
ideal for:
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Writers preparing work for submission or publication
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Memoirists and storytellers developing book-length or short-form projects
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Anyone seeking supportive, thoughtful critique
in my client's words:
"Ellen’s knowledge and expertise is evident to the casual observer, but her ability to provide just the right amount of feedback at just the right time is rare and wonderful. Her expectations are high. If you choose to work with her, be prepared to exert the necessary effort. Writing is easy. High quality writing is an arduous task. If you are writing fiction, expect some restless nights as your characters haunt you. Ellen will help you determine when to concede to their demands, and when to challenge them to remain consistent in their flaws, so that you, as the writer, can mold and shape the story line as you see fit. With her help and a lot of hard work, I am now engaging beta readers and will soon be seeking an agent. I encourage anyone who wishes to improve their writing to work with this remarkable woman."
GREGORY L. NOONEY, MSW, LISW, LCSW
EXPLORE GREGORY'S PUBLICATIONS
workshops & group learning
Workshops offer inspiration, community, and meaningful exploration through writing. These interactive sessions blend skill-building, reflective prompts, and supportive discussion. Each group is carefully curated to ensure compatibility.
what it includes:
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Topic-based workshops and multi-week sessions
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Writing prompts and optional sharing
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Discussions on craft, voice, and creative resilience
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Opportunities for connection and growth
ideal for:
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Beginners looking for a warm and welcoming place to start
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Seasoned writers seeking creative community and inspiration
in my client's words:
"Ellen is a truly gifted teacher and writing coach. There’s a kind of magic in what happens in her writing groups. Although I am an artist and I work professionally in the arts, I had never had the desire “to become a writer”. I joined one of Ellen’s workshops because the start of the pandemic gave me the gift of extra time and I thought words might just be the next right medium to explore.
The experience of Ellen’s writing workshops demonstrated to me that everyone is a storyteller whether the stories are factual or imagined, and at the same time we can all become better writers no matter what level of skill we come with. Ellen welcomes everyone’s voice from wherever it comes and in whatever form the writing takes. After several years of workshops, I was able to see writing as an important medium for my own creative path and learning.
It takes a particular talent to curate groups of four individuals who will work well together while sharing personal work openly. My fellow writers in whatever group I was in came from diverse histories and professional experience, forming a mix of personalities and reasons for writing. Individuals might leave a group, with a new person joining. After participating in several combinations, I realized the extent of skill Ellen brought to facilitating feedback and conversations, supporting each writer, providing constructive comments and questions, and giving space for each of us to bring ourselves to share with others. Ellen always encouraged dialogue prompted by each person’s writing. It was always a wonderful surprise when Ellen gave me feedback that rang with a truth that was lying underneath the words on my page. I would think, ‘How does she know?'"
LILLIAN HSU, ARTIST
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC ART AND EXHIBITIONS
AT CAMBRIDGE ARTS COUNCIL
custom writing programs
For organizations, schools, and private groups seeking writing experiences tailored to their purpose and goals. Programs can focus on creativity, wellbeing, teambuilding, or social impact.
what it includes:
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Custom-designed workshops
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One-time events or multi-session series
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Focused themes (e.g. memoir, fiction, speculative fiction, wellness, grief, social justice)
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Flexible formats to fit your schedule and needs
ideal for:
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Fostering connection, healing, and inspiration
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Nonprofits, schools, human service organizations, corporate clients
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Community groups, friend groups and wellness programs
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Retreats, trainings, and special events
in my client's words:
"Ellen has a brilliant ability to encourage consciousness to show up on the page. Perhaps her insight and kindness come from her unique background in literature and social work, perfected over many years as a writing teacher and editor. She often spots golden threads in a story when I’m only beginning to awaken into it, resulting in countless “Aha!” moments. Working with her individually, I’ve completed projects quickly and successfully. In a group, she creates a space for safe and supportive sharing and revelation, respecting each person’s singularity. Her impact on my writing (and my life) has been invaluable."
CAROL DIRGA
writing for social impact & wellbeing
My innovative, research-informed approach combines narrative theory and creative writing to foster emotional resilience and social change. These offerings support both individuals and professionals using writing for healing, advocacy, and reflection.
what it includes:
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Specialized workshops and courses
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Writing as a tool for emotional processing
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Programs for caregivers, clinicians, and anyone facing life’s challenges
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Signature offerings like Creative Writing for Social Work
ideal for:
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Helping professionals and educators
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People navigating grief, trauma, illness, or transitions
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Organizations seeking holistic mental wellness tools
in my client's words:
"In July 2017, as a nervous 30-year-old, I found myself in one of the buildings on the campus of the University of Iowa in a small café for a creative writing workshop for social workers; Creative Writing for Social Work. This is where I first met Ellen, along with her fabulous shoes, and observed her love for writing. I was a shy first-time attendee who did not know what I was doing but I knew I loved to write. More than that, I wanted to learn what I could in four days to carry with me over time. I came out of the workshop with more than I ever realized at the time. I remember leaving that workshop believing in my ability to write. I have been writing ever since, and it saves me every time I pick up a pen. Ellen in both her technique and creative spirit is the person I have to thank for that.
Since that writer’s workshop in 2017, I began to visit Ellen’s website to consider reaching out to her over the years. In 2024, after a series of personal tragedies, I decided it was time. I have had the pleasure of working with her both in a workshop and an individual setting. Her insight, approach, wisdom, humor, empathy, and care for the material creates a passion for her craft that is soul-stirring. All of these qualities have encouraged me to face topics in my writing and myself that I would normally avoid. Now, I run toward the opportunities to tackle the topics that once terrified me. Sharing material with her has become the activity I look forward to most in my schedule. It’s an honor to work with her and hear her feedback. In one of the darkest times in my life, I believed the story wasn’t over and Ellen reassured me I had something to say. I am forever changed."
KATHERINE ZERULL, MSA, LSW, LISW
speaking & events
As a sought-after speaker and facilitator, I bring warmth, insight, and depth to every event. I invite my audiences to engage in real time with the power of writing as a path for empathy, connection, and transformation. People walk away knowing that their stories matter, and that words, experience, perspective and creativity belong to all of us.
in my client's words:
"Ellen’s inspiration and creativity were a beacon for our community. Ellen facilitated virtual workshops in Journal Writing, Memoir Writing and Poetry Writing for The Family Caregivers Center, Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She inspired us and nurtured us in every meeting. Those who signed up for her workshops with some skepticism and self-doubt were quickly drawn in by Ellen’s “no rules” approach. There is such kindness and trust that happens as the participants in Ellen’s workshops discover their superpowers and begin to hold themselves dear through the tenderness of the words they have found the courage to write, and sometimes even read aloud."
MARY ANN H. GROBSTICH, LSW
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FACILITATOR