Archive | May, 2010

On The Road with Head Coach Gwendolyn Alley

24 May

My family and I love to travel. As often as possible, we hit the road for camping trips in our VW Westfalia. On this trip, we will be doing lots of hiking, biking, fishing, and exploring.

I find these getaways very important to clear my mind: open roads and open sky invigorate and inspire me. I always come home with so many ideas for what I want to do in this world to make it a better place. Too often our lives are so crammed full and hectic that we don’t allow our creativity a chance.

Getting out and stretching your legs and your lungs stretches your mind and allows you to find new and sometimes surprising answers to wicked problems. This is one reason why we at The Write Alley facilitate “Walk & Talk Networking and Writing Workshops” where we walk and talk along the Ventura Beach Promenade at least once a month on Wednesday mornings from 8:30am-9:30am. We’d love to have YOU join us! Subscribe to this blog and you’ll get all of our latest news about events and workshops.

I’ll have my laptop with me and I expect to do some writing too on this trip! I might even get a chance to do some posting while we’re on the road. I’ll be back here at The Write Alley on June 1.

In the meantime, please email me at gwendolynalleyATyahooDOTcom if you have any questions about how we can help YOU improve your writing, your business and your life!

How To Get Going On Your Writing

23 May

In January, I worked with someone in the wine industry who wanted to improve his writing. He was going to start a blog, and was going to be taking essay tests to get his certification to become a Master of Wine which is like getting a doctorate in wine.

So I sent him an email full of ideas and I turned that email into a blog post for my blog, Whisper Down the Write Alley, which mostly has content I put up for my college students and which is enjoyed by writers and bloggers as well as students and teachers.

The blog post is titled “My Best Advice For Writers” and you can find it here. I hope you find it at least as valuable as he did.

How Head Coach Gwendolyn Alley Became A Blogger

22 May

On a whim, and with encouragement from friends, I started my first blog, Art Predator, in November 2007.

I was quickly hooked on blogging.

Art Predator grew out of a newspaper column. You can read where the name Art Predator came from here and about how the Art Predator column evolved here.

I loved blogging so much that immediately I saw applications for my college teaching, and so in January 2008, I began my second blog, Whisper Down The Write Alley (more…)

The Difference Between A Coach & A Copy Editor/Writer

21 May

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COACHING & WRITING SERVICES

The first step in working with The Write Alley Coaching and Writing Strategies is a free initial consultation where we discuss your needs, time line and budget then come up with a plan to meet those exact needs. After a consultation and an analysis of what results you wants to achieve, we create a plan of action to move forward on specific writing projects in order to get it done in a timely fashion and to achieve your goals.

The difference between a coach and a proofreader/copy editor/copywriter is simple. This may require coaching, various editorial and writing services, or a combination of both.

A writing coach helps clients understand how and why you write the way you do, help him or her to determine what’s keeping them from you from writing properly, and guide the client as he or she works on a writing project.

A coach doesn’t edit client content; instead a writing coach offers feedback on word usage, grammar, organization, and clarity.

A coach acts as a personal trainer for writers, helping them set goals, stay with their project over the long haul, to meet deadlines. A coach helps a client to work hard and smart and get results.

For the small business owner, a writing coach brings out the best that’s already there by focusing on what you need to write and to create. The Write Alley coaches figure out what will keep you motivated to move forward on your dreams, goals and tasks. The Write Alley coaches encourage, support, applaud, and empathize with the struggles of writing for clients and help them discover the “writing wisdom within.”

In contrast, a editor or proofreader will correct or identify mistakes without telling the client why and often without telling the client what consistent, incorrect patterns they might have in order to change them.

Sometimes we need a coach. Sometimes we need an editor. We at The Write Alley can help you no matter what you need.

Wandering Down the Wrong Alley?

20 May

Writing is tough. Sometimes it feels like you’re wandering lost in the dark, down the wrong alley. Wouldn’t you like to have help so you took the right alley?

I’m Gwendolyn Alley (aka the blogger Art Predator!) and I’m head coach at The Write Alley Coaching & Writing Strategies. I’ve got 20 years of college teaching experience.

Instead of outsourcing your writing problems, we’ll show you how to write it yourself. With coaching from The Write Alley, you’ll gain skills and confidence, and get it done right.

Meet The Write Alley Head Coach Gwendolyn Alley

19 May

Meet Head Coach Gwendolyn Alley

An accomplished, published author and  blogger with graduate degrees in English and Education plus undergrad degrees in Literature/Creative Writing and in Environmental Studies, Gwendolyn Alley has 20 years college teaching experience.

Known as a skilled, sensitive, inspiring, unconventional, and passionate teacher, Gwendolyn has taught graduate and undergrad classes in writing, literature, education, and environmental studies as well as yoga and mountaineering.

Gwendolyn has been successful in grant writing, public relations, and marketing for individuals and large institutions. In 2005, Gwendolyn served as a Literary Fellow for the City of Ventura.

A third generation Venturan, Gwendolyn lives in Midtown with her family.

Learn, Connect, Transform Your Business with TWA

18 May

The Write Alley offers coaching and writing strategies which educate and transform you, and increase accountability and connections for you and your business.

EDUCATION A writing coach teaches you how to be a better writer by offering you individualized tools and techniques you can use on a daily basis whether it’s writing an email, a business letter, a blog post or a brochure.

ACCOUNTABILITY A writing coach develops an action plan with you to tackle even the most difficult writing projects—and keep you motivated to follow through on the plan.

TRANSFORMATION A writing coach can help you transform an idea into words: a brochure, a mission statement, a novel, a website.

CONNECTIONS Because The Write Alley coaches clients in a variety of fields, we can help you connect with each other. The Write Alley also facilitates client connections by hosting workshops.

A Pep Talk

17 May

On Wednesday, May 19, I will graduate with honors from the Women’s Economic Ventures Self Employment Training class where I have been learning how to transform my dream of being a writing coach into reality.

I guess as I was the resident writer in the class, the class had the confidence in me to vote for me to give the class speech at the graduation ceremonies which combine seven classes in two counties–nearly 100 graduates plus their families and other dignitaries would be in attendance.

I wasn’t sure what was expected of me but I had a concept that I thought would be fun and funny, get people’s attention, maybe make them laugh, and certainly make them think a little and remember me and the speech.

If someone makes a video of graduation, and specifically of my three minute speech, I’ll put it up on here on The Write Alley. In the meantime, your imagination will do a great job! Keep in mind it was written to be read, and read a loud and fast and like a high powered coach!

Ok, Team Thousand Oaks, Stand Up! It’s time for a little Pep Talk for the WEV High Rollers Roller Derby Team before the Big Game tonight! First let’s see who’s here: (more…)

The Write Alley Coaching & Writing Strategies

4 May

* Is writing one of your biggest fears or challenges?

* Do you want to learn how to do the writing and to use the tools necessary to compete in today’s “social” world of online networking and marketing?

* Is your writing ability holding you back professionally?

* Do you want to start or finish a major writing project like a book?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, we’re ready to help you find the light and coach you down The Write Alley!

Subscribe to our blog for writing tips plus the latest ideas in marketing as well as news about national and local networking events.

What else can The Write Alley Coaching and Writing Strategies do for you? (more…)

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