Specialties
Editing, writing coaching and writing workshops with a caring, compassionate touch.
I specialize in working with writers of all experience levels whose writing is part of a healing journey. Whether you are writing fiction, poetry, memoir, or some combination thereof; whether you are addressing themes of trauma, loss, illness, or recovery, I approach your writing with sensitivity, care and compassion. I believe that writing is a healing act in and of itself, and that our stories have the power to heal others.
I also work on fiction and memoir of all types, including genre fiction.
My editing and coaching services are personalized and tailored to meet your needs. I can help you figure out how to structure your book, how to solve difficulties with plot, pacing, and form, and work with you on making your sentences the best they can be. I also provide coaching to help you set realistic goals and stay on track so that you can finish that book that you are burning to write! I can also provide assistance with identifying the right way to bring your book to publication.
I am supportive and positive, but also a discerning critic--always with the goal of making your writing the best it can be.
If you simply want to explore the experience of writing, my small, intimate creative writing workshops provide the perfect setting to get in touch with your voice and get the creativity flowing. See my website to register for upcoming workshops.
History
Established in 2013.
I am a writer who's been living with an autoimmune disorder since childhood. My academic work in literature focused on the intersection of literature and medicine; much of my published writing deals with themes of illness and healing.
In 2013, I wanted to return to working with people after having taken several years off from teaching. I decided to combine my passions for writing, working with people, and healing to create the Heal Write workshops. Helping people get in touch with their inner voices and creativity - sitting in a circle and writing together - is one of my favorite things to do! The workshops led naturally to expanding my freelance editing and writing coaching practice. I love working with individuals to make their stories, thoughts, feelings and visions come alive on the page.
Meet the Business Owner: Deborah S.
I am a writer whose fiction and prose poetry explore themes of illness and healing in surreal, metaphoric ways. I hold a B.A. in Creative Writing and Literature from Bard College and an M.A. in English Literature from the Université Michel Montaigne - Bordeaux III, where my thesis explored the intersection of literature and medicine. I spent seven years teaching English in France, and since my return to my native San Francisco, I have served as Director of Artist Services at WomenArts, Founding Editor at Red Bridge Press, and Fiction Editor at Rivet: the Journal of Writing that Risks. My writing is published in print and online journals, and I am seeking a publisher for my first novel. I also serve on the board of the literary reading series Bay Area Generations, sing in the San Francisco women's a cappella ensemble Conspiracy of Venus, and enjoy live music, good food, books, travel, and cats.