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* First of all, what’s an Inspiration Pack?
An Inspiration Pack is a big, beautiful envelope, delivered to your door, packed with everything you need to start writing. It begins with a writing theme, such as NATURE or DECISIONS. It also includes a smattering of great ideas about ways to approach this theme, some amazing examples of writing on this theme, and a writing tip, to keep you on your toes.
You can think of the packs as a springboard. Wherever they take you is where you should go. If you’re part way through, and something brilliant comes up that has nothing to do with the theme, follow the instinct. You do not need to write about the theme each time. We’re here to take down walls, not put them up.
* What is the Online Meeting Place?
The Online Meeting Place is a private password-protected corner of my website, just for students of this class. At each two-week interval, participants can post their work — up to 2000 words — for feedback and love from each other! I simply ask that everyone who posts work comments on at least two other people’s work. It’s a beautiful opportunity to build a small, mighty community of writing love and support! All comments are moderated, of course.
* …And what is a Coaching Session?
If you sign up to have a writing coach in this class — either for three sessions or for the whole thing — you’ll develop a relationship with them
There are three coaches in the Firefly world — myself, Danette Relic and Betsy Walters. We all come from different backgrounds and have different coaching styles. Based on how you answer the questions in the sign-up form, I’ll match you with the best coach for your background and interests. I’m more than happy to chat to you about this to make sure it’s the best fit.
When you start with your coach, you’ll connect with them through email or on the phone to let them know a little more about yourself, and your writing history. They will be very interested in hearing about what kind of feedback will help you grow in the class. No matter what you ask for, the backbone of any Firefly feedback is love and support. Your coach will approach each of your stories with a wide-open mind and heart.
Feedback is generally about one page long, hand-written.
* Can I pick which coach I work with?
I’ll definitely take your preferences into account, but it does depend on volume.
* How do these different pricing options work?
If you sign up for the basic package, you will receive your Inspiration Packs in the mail every second week.
The first add-on is in order to post in the online meeting place. In order to post, you’ll send your work to me before the deadline every second week, and it will go right up. Deadlines — or “lifelines” as I like to call them— are every second Sunday at midnight.
If you sign up for a coaching package in addition, you’ll touch base with your coach at the beginning of the class, and then you’ll send your work directly to them for each deadline. If you’ve chosen to only have contact three times, you’ll be able to choose which three pieces you send them, but they must be received by the deadline for each pack.
If you don’t sign up for coaching, but you decide that you need a little extra support along the way, coached will be available for single sessions for $50. Simply send me your work at any point during the class and you’ll hear back from a coach within a few days.
* How much does it cost, again?
$125 ~ “Just Paper Please”: Seven inspiration packs delivered to your door.
+ $50 ~ “Paper Plus Friends” Add-on access to the online meeting place, where you’ll post work and receive feedback from others in the class.
+ $125 ~ “A Little More” Add on a personal writing coach to read and provide feedback on three stories of your choice.
+ $200 ~ “Hold My Hand” Add on a personal writing coach to read and provide feedback on all of your stories.
HST will be added for Canadian residents.
A $10 mail fee will be added for participants outside Canada.
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* Who takes the class?
There are many reasons why people sign up for Memoirs By Mail. Some sign up to connect to their loves more deeply, some to record their histories, some to process difficult life events, some to make a regular date with their creative selves. Everyone who joins has some desire to know themselves and to grow their writing practice in some way.
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* What will I get out of the class?
Good question! The main benefit of this class, of course, is to generate new writing. Over the time that we write together, you’ll come up with at least seven new, whole pieces of writing. Many participants find that this spurs all kinds of other new writing as well. Once there is fuel in the engine, you never know where it will take you!
Also, the class will also expose you to new forms of storytelling, helping you to find a voice that is uniquely yours.
Also, the class will provide you with a group of loving, supportive writers who are on the same path as you are.
And finally, if you sign up for the coaching add-on, you’ll receive feedback about how to expand and draw more out of your work. Once you start writing, the possibilities are endless.
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* How long will I have with each assignment?
You will have basically two weeks. Mail can be tricky, but I always aim (and mostly succeed) to have the packs in your mailbox 14 days before the due date.
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* What kind of feedback can I expect?
One word: Loving.
If I thought for a second that I – or anyone else – had the authority to tell anyone that their writing was “wrong”, “bad” or needed to be fixed, then I should be looking for another career path. Not only is that unkind, it’s simply not useful.
Pat Schneider once said: “What is genius made of? Safety, self-confidence, focus and practice.” Note that safety is first on that list. As I said: We are all born writers. Our job here is to help one another feel safe and self-confident so that we can get down to our work.
With your first assignment, I will ask you all to send me a couple of paragraphs describing what kind of feedback you crave. Some people function best with warm-hug-from-gramma-style feedback, and others are only satisfied by the feeling of wolves running after them through the forest. The best feedback is the feedback that makes you want to keep writing.
No matter what you ask for, your writing will always be approached with love, care and support. This isn’t high school English class. This is more like a playground.
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* How long should my pieces be?
You have a friendly word limit of 2000 words per assignment. This lets all the pieces have some uniformity, and it puts a fence up for those of you who tend to get lost in the enormity of your creative process.
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* Can I pay on line?
Sure thing! You can start the sign-up process here. This will lead you to the payment page.
*Wait! I have another question which you haven’t answered yet!
No problem! Just drop me a line below.