Are you a writer or an artist that sometimes struggles with self-belief? As in, “I love creating artwork/stories/paintings/photographs/novels but are they any good?” Or maybe you have a million ideas and you can’t decide which one to focus on? Or perhaps you’re facing the opposite dilemma; the blank page, the unmarked canvas; will you ever have another good idea again? Welcome to the world of being creative. You are not alone in any of these thoughts. The most successful artists and writers face these thorny issues regularly, but they work through them and come out the other side. Of course, established artists have their past success to encourage them, how do emerging or mid-career creatives clamber over this rocky path?
There are many different methods, but a peer support group is a great way to reduce your isolation, talk over your issues with those that know them intimately and be bolstered by the knowledge that you are not facing these challenges alone. And whilst it’s true that a tea or coffee with a fellow creative can do you a world of good, a more structured support group, using coaching methods, can really develop your creative work and your personal self-development.
This spring, with the support of Creative Future, I will be establishing peer coaching groups for writers and artists in Brighton, Crawley, Hastings and Horsham. Drawing on many years of supporting artists and writers as the Director of Creative Future, and recent training as an accredited coach, I will be teaching coaching techniques to participants, enabling them to establish a peer coaching group that can support them through tricky dilemmas and personal growth.
These groups will not be workshopping, creating or critiquing, we will be learning what makes us tick; how to access and maximise our creative flow. How to achieve our goals by using the resources we already have and how to create a peer coaching group that can support us long after the initial sessions are over. If you participate, you may choose to share a creative dilemma or explore how to find more time for your creative work. You choose the issue; the group will help you find the solution – not by advising you, but by asking astute questions which will get you thinking how to resolve the problem. Coaching, whether 1:1 or in a group, is an empowering process – the person who brings the issue gets to work out the solution – via a safe space with structured questions and attentive listeners. By being part of a group, participants also get the chance to learn from each other, network with creatives and learn key coaching skills – valuable for all life relationships, not just creative ones.
I’ve seen magic happen in the coaching process. I’ve experience it for myself too, breaking through years of ‘stuckness’, creative blocks and personal dilemmas. But don’t just take my word for it, here’s what some of the creatives I’ve worked with have said about being coached;
The sessions have really helped me focus my priorities and to finally get to grips with my work/life balance. Dominique’s very warm, sensitive approach and her ability to help find the right tools from within to get that clarity is just amazing – the sessions helped to unlock my own ideas and also helped me to realise my own potential. Having the space and support to reflect and refocus has been a very empowering experience. I now feel that I am finally on the right track moving forward, and for that I will be eternally grateful.
Jenni
Dominique’s coaching changed my mind set; from blocked and stuck to open and lateral thinking. I went from pure frustration to excitement! Through her coaching methods I was able to identify what was holding me back and work on a plan of action. I have achieved breakthrough already.
Maria
If this sounds like something that would benefit you, book your place on the Creative Future peer coaching groups, there are limited places available, so act fast! Normally, coaching costs hundreds of pounds but this amazing opportunity is available for FREE. We’ve no idea whether it will get funded again, so grab the chance now. I guarantee it will change your life for the better.
For more information see the following links:
Peer coaching group for artists, Brighton, starts 8th March, 5 sessions
Peer coaching group for writers, Brighton, starts 22nd March, 5 sessions
Peer coaching group for writers, Horsham, starts 1st April, 3 sessions
Peer coaching group for writers, Hastings, starts 8th April, 3 sessions
Peer coaching group for writers, Crawley, starts 29th April, 3 sessions
To find out more about me, coaching and what others say about how coaching has helped them, see my website. And if you’re so inclined, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
I look forward to working with you soon.
Keep up the great creative work!
Dominique De-Light
www.dominiquedelight.co.uk
