Writing your book will be a joyful experience
From concept to manuscript to publish-ready
Community, Story Coaching, Writing Skills Training, and Wrap-around Support for Writers, Authors and Creatives.
Our Process is Generous
We see writers as artists. Our process is an adventure of inquiry-based draft development using simple and modular story structure principles, followed by impact driven editing for a comprehensive writing experience that honours the unique individuality, voice and message of each writer.
We know what it takes to write a book that is authentic to the writer, accessible to the reader, and sellable to the market.
Meribeth Deen and Tina Overbury helped me write my first book, a book that has been inside of me for a number of years but which I struggled getting onto the written page. They helped me transform the words and content into something amazing, that is me, but I could not do on my own. They did not help me get it done in record time, because the process is one of digging deep, uncovering more of what was within me and they guided me at every step to pull out ‘more’ from ‘me’. They don’t take over. They guide. They coach. They ask. They listen. They challenge. They understand. As a team, there is this intersection of gifts, talents, experience and personality that dovetail beautifully. I am a more confident writer because of these two. They are loyal and supportive. They are with you every step of the way. Without them, I would have had a book. That’s it. With them, I have my life work, my words, my creation in a beautiful format that is now ready for the world to see. Know this! This is the team you want to have walk beside you through the process of writing and completing a book because they honor ‘you’ and your work. I highly recommend Meribeth and Tina. I will hire them again for Book Two.
L to R Spiritual Misfits by Shahar Rabi, Becoming You by Wendy Turner Larsen, Love is Not Pie and Songs for my Father by Katherine Lazaruk, Ride Alchemy by Hana Weinwurm, and All in with Love by James Gardiner
A Personalized Approach
Every writer is unique, and every book asks different things from the author. Sometime manuscripts come fast and furious requiring a nice, tight 14 month process. Others are loose, wild and unweildy needing 3 months bursts of attention, still others are hesitant and careful asking for deep listening and one on one support.
Whatever your process looks like, or is becoming, we’re here to meet your writing needs and process with care, enthusiasm and generative accountability.
Four Ways to Adventure with Us
Join our Community
Adventure #1 – $35/mth
If you are a writer who wants a friendly place to develop or continue your writing practice, for $35/mth you can join our Hop on Hop Off Adventure.
This Adventure Includes:
- Weekly Writing Prompts with multiple applications of how to use the prompt to increase your word count, structure your writing, and inspire your next 1500-2500 words.
- Monthly 2 hour Writing Group live via zoom (third Thursday 5:30pm PDT of each month), with a mini-writing workshop (20 min), writer/artist check-in and 75 minutes of writing time followed by a check-out.
- Monthly Writing Community Gathering live via zoom (first Saturday 9am PDT of each month), with a mini-writing workshop (20 min), introduction of new members, and group conversation with an opportunity for accountability (if desired).
- Seasonal Story Salon (Feb/May/Aug/Nov) live via zoom (last Saturday of the month 5:30pm PDT), opportunity to read (or send to be written) up to 20 minutes of your work and ask for specific feedback.
- Seasonal 30 Day 8-minute/day Writing Challenge – (Jan/April/July/Oct) – This 30 Day Writing challenge is kicked off by our 5 day Writer’s Block challenge, and is designed to create a daily writing habit.
- Seasonal 30 Day Messy Draft by Writing Prompt Writing Challenge (March/June/Sept/Dec) – this 30 Day Writing Challenge was created to support writers to get their messy draft out onto paper. We call this the ‘collecting’ stage of your writing which sets up your first draft.
Write & Publish Your Book
Adventure #2 – $375/mth
The Writer’s Adventure All Inclusive – Cohort
If you are a writer who has completed the 30 Day Messy Draft Challenge, or you are well on your way on your 1st or 2nd draft and are ready to bring your book to publish-ready in 14 months, you are ready for The Writer’s Adventure Cohort.
Four Quarters of Focus
1 – Draft 1 & Engine Room
- Sessions: Core Story Session with Tina, Preparing to Write Coaching Session with Dori, Inquiry Session with Meribeth, Draft of Outline (or updated outline) with Meribeth and Tina. – 5 hours
- Bootcamps: The Engine Room, Climbing the Mountain of Conflict. Two weekend writing bootcamps (goal of 7500 words/bootcamp total of 15,000 words) – 30 hours
- Writing Groups: 12 weekly hosted writing groups (choose between Tuesday nights or Friday mornings) – 24 hours.
- Writing Prompts: 12 weeks of writing prompts (from the Hop on Hop Off Group) – 6 hours
- Manuscript Read: One manuscript read by Meribeth and Tina, with audio notes and written notes, followed by a joint session. – 5 hrs
- Yoga: Weekly Yoga with Dori begins (optional) – 12 hours
2 – Draft 2 Storyline Draft and 3 Act Structure
- Sessions: 3 Act Structure with Meribeth & Tina, The Unanswerable Question with Tina, Opposing Opinions with Meribeth, Getting it done session with Dori. – 5 hours
- Bootcamps: Three Act Structure, The Realm of Myth. Two weekend writing bootcamps (goal of 7500 words/bootcamp total of 15,000 words) – 30 hours
- Writing Groups: 12 weekly hosted writing groups (choose between Tuesday nights or Friday mornings) – 24 hours. – 24 hours
- Writing Prompts: 12 weeks of writing prompts (from the Hop on Hop Off Group) – 6 hours
- Manuscript Read: 2nd manuscript read by Meribeth and Tina, with audio notes and written notes, followed by a joint session. Finish draft 2, begin draft 3 – 5 hours
- Yoga: Weekly Yoga with Dori continues (optional) – 12 hours
3 – Draft 3 Research Draft and Character & Credibility
- Sessions: Tension & Tone Story Session with Meribeth & Tina, Meribeth’s Killer Questions Story Session, Tragic Flaw Story Session with Tina, Overcoming Roadblocks with Dori. – 5 hours
- Bootcamps: The Monologue, And Then Plot Happened. Two weekend writing bootcamps (goal of 7500 words/bootcamp total of 15,000 words) – 30 hours
- Writing Groups: 12 weekly hosted writing groups (choose between Tuesday nights or Friday mornings) – 24 hours.
- Writing Prompts: 12 weeks of writing prompts (from the Hop on Hop Off Group) – 6 hours
- Manuscript Read: 3rd manuscript read by Meribeth and Tina, with audio notes and written notes, followed by a joint session. Finish draft 2, begin and complete draft 3 – 5 hours
- Yoga: Weekly Yoga with Dori continues (optional) – 12 hours
4 – Draft 4 Voice & Draft 5 Polish – Impact & Musicality
- Sessions: 3 Big Sessions with Tina & Meribeth 1) Merging and Clarifying the Voice 2) Beat Tracking for Impact, 3) Final Story Session, Being ready to go publish with your story with Dori. – 10 hours
- Bootcamps: Story Tracking, Impact Editing. Two weekend writing bootcamps (goal of 7500 words/bootcamp total of 15,000 words) – 30 hours
- Writing Groups: 12 weekly hosted writing groups (choose between Tuesday nights or Friday mornings) – 24 hours.
- Manuscript Read: 4th, 5th & 6th manuscript read by Meribeth and Tina, with audio notes and written notes, followed by a joint session. – 15 hours
- Yoga: Weekly Yoga with Dori continues (optional) – 12 hours
- Send Manuscript out to Readers and notes – 2 hours
Retreat with Us
Adventure #3 – $1475
Weekend Getaway March/June/November
If you are craving an immersive experience with wrap around care of rest, retreat, beaches, good food, yoga, and massage, you are ready for our 3x annual writing retreat at Enso Learning & Retreat Centre on Saltspring Island. Join our Weekend Getaway Adventure.
Join us for an immersive writing experience for up to 10 writers on Saltspring Island at Enso Learning Retreat Centre.
Enjoy:
- 4 Days & 3 Nights
- Local, Healthy Meals
- Oceanfront Accommodation
- Kayaks & Paddleboards
- Daily Meditation & Kundalini Yoga
- 3 – 2 Hour Writing Workshops
- One on One – Story Coaching
- Self-Publisher on site
- Story Salon
- Private Massage available upon request
Offered 3x/year
March & June & November
The Writer’s Adventure FAQ
How do I know where to start?
Of the four ways to adventure with us, only The Writer’s Adventure cohort experience requires that you have some preliminary work done in order to fully enjoy the fourteen month process. We recommend a conversation with us so we can learn more about what your needs are and how we can help.
How many people am I writing with?
Our community is approx. 30-50 people strong with a core group of 20 who check in regularly either on retreat with us, or in our weekly and monthly writing groups.
What time zone is most of the events scheduled in?
Pacific Standard Time, but don’t worry, if you’re in Atlantic Time (or something else!), our community also uses WhatsApp to check in daily with each other.
Where do the bootcamps happen?
All of the content for the program lives on our learning platform, and the group engagement happens in a private facebook group, that way, when we post a video as a tutorial, you can listen in as it works for you.
Where do the writing groups happen?
These are held on zoom because we want to see your lovely face when we’re working together.
Can I sign up for a portion of the cohort experience?
No, but if you would prefer a more personalized approach, reach out to us and we can talk about what you have in mind and see if there is another way we can take care of you and your book.
