Introduction: "Hi! My name is Mike. I've called myself a writer since I was 15--about 30 years. I've done a few things since then: raised a family, had a few other jobs, learned to cook... but most importantly, I've studied the art and craft of writing, I've helped friends and family develop their own stories, and I've developed stories and written for myself.
I want to briefly chat about how I can help you, and why I'm qualified to do that, then I want to chat even more briefly about what I can't help with, and why that's okay.
I want to help any and all writers to develop and create the best story that they can, get that story out of their heads and onto the page, and love the creative spark along the way. I want to emphasize that I'm trauma-informed, an LGBTQIA+ ally, neurodivergence and mental illness friendly, kink and ENM friendly, and maybe just all around friendly. What that means is that I know the difficulty of trying to write with executive dysfunction, anxiety, depression, and any other struggles you might be encountering, and that I'm in the process of working through that struggle every day for myself.
And I want to help! I love working with people on the ideas and stories they are passionate about, and to help them reach the level of self-confidence and comfort needed to create. I have worked with a group of writers locally for many years: reading their work, providing useful and compassionate feedback, and helping all of us to grow together as artists. I've also spent several years mentoring students at the coding bootcamp I attended.
On the other hand, I cannot guarantee that the work we do will help you get published. I don't have any experience in the publishing industry. I've never really had my own work published. I've never written a query letter, and while I can read yours and tell you if there are spelling and grammar errors, I can't tell you whether it will get you an agent or a deal. I don't have "insider information" or "tips and tricks".
I have very little of my own work that I would consider finished and/or publishable. My friends in my writing group, other friends who've read my work, and my wife tell me my writing is good, but no one who could give me a publishing deal or advocate for me there has. For 30 years, I've struggled with my own trauma, mental illness, and executive dysfunction to try and do what I love and put it out into the world for others to read, and I'm still on that journey. What I'd like to do is help you on that journey as well."
