Writer, Life Coach, Mentor
I believe creativity is healing but we don't always make time for it. Writing is my healing art. I coach writers and other makers to release creative blocks and move forward with their projects. I also work with people in the charity sector on how to achieve their goals for themselves and their organisation without burning out. I am currently working on a memoir about childlessness, and a historical novel set in Walsingham, Norfolk.I have a daily writing practice and live in Norfolk with my husband, our dog, two cats and many goldfish.
Work with me
I am a coach and mentor who believes work should be joyful. I help my clients find within themselves the key to what they want to achieve, whether it is an author wanting to write a book or someone in the charity sector wanting to write a strategy for their organisation.I work on zoom and face to face here in North Norfolk.I charge £50 per hour. Please get in touch if you would like to book a 'chemistry call' or have any specific questions.What people say about me:Writer - M: 'I felt very heard. You were a very good listener and I liked it when you reformulated what I said to you- that was helpful. It was good to talk through things that are important to me and for those things to be taken seriously! It was helpful to work through thoughts and make sense of them. Finally, it’s valuable to have a goal or a plan to work toward.'Director of a charity - H: 'Breaking down tasks into more manageable blocks is helpful – going step by step for blocks of work that otherwise seem impossible to get done.'
About
I have been in twelve step fellowships for over 10 years and my work is informed by this.I write a substack on the writing process called Living Writing.I am Chair of Save Europe's Heritage and have been involved in campaigning for buildings and architectural history for over 20 years.I am an experienced public speaker, journalist and campaigner.In 2025 I completed coaching training with 1st Relational Dynamics.2020- ongoing, freelance author, journalist, public speaker, life coach and writing mentor.2016-2020 Director of Pushkin House, London2012-2016 Director of SAVE Britain's Heritage2004 co-founder of the Moscow Architecture Preservation Society2001-2004 Moscow Correspondent for The Times
Testimonials
Writer - M: 'I felt very heard. You were a very good listener and I liked it when you reformulated what I said to you- that was helpful. It was good to talk through things that are important to me and for those things to be taken seriously! It was helpful to work through thoughts and make sense of them. Finally, it’s valuable to have a goal or a plan to work toward.'Director of a charity - H: 'Breaking down tasks into more manageable blocks is helpful – going step by step for blocks of work that otherwise seem impossible to get done.'
ResourcesHere are some of the things that are supportive to my writing practiceOnline writing:[The London Writers Salon] (https://londonwriterssalon.com/||blank) organise regular writing hours (a choice of three per day, starting with an 8am UK time) when about 300 writers get together to write online for 50 minutes. The sessions are brilliantly organised and it is amazing how much more I get done when I am writing with other people.Write & Shine is a wonderful resource. Another online writing platform, run by Gemma Seltzer (who also has a great newsletter https://substack.com/@gemmaseltzer) is a mixture of early online morning workshops on different themes or run by different writers and poets,, writing retreats, and an online library of creative courses that you can access anytime for a small monthly fee. https://write-and-shine.com/BooksThe Artist’s Way - yes I’m a Julia Cameron junkie, I think she’s brilliant. When stuck or scared, I read the Basic Principles and the Affirmations before I start writing. I journal regularly and try and go on Artist’s Dates when I can. https://juliacameronlive.com/book/the-artists-way/Aimee McNee, otherwise known as Inspired to Write on Instagram, is a champion advocate of journaling and recent author of the galvanising - We Need Your Art https://amiemcnee.substack.com/Write It All Down by Cathy Rentzenbrink is a book I often recommend as is https://cathyreadsbooks.com/write-it-all-down/
Bird by Bird by Anne Lammot. https://www.themarginalian.org/2013/11/22/bird-by-bird-anne-lamott/I also recommend:
How to Write by Anthony Anaxagorou, and https://anthonyanaxagorou.com/how-to-write-it
I Didn’t Do the Thing Today by Madeleine Dore https://extraordinaryroutines.com/book by the brilliant Madeleine Dore, whose substack I love. https://substack.com/@madeleinedore
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Contact
If you would like to work with me as a life coach or writing mentor, or contact me for any other reason including public speaking engagements, please drop me a line.
Thank you
Clem Cecil