ideasmyth.com

• CREATIVITY/LIFE/CAREER COACHING
• WORKSHOPS, CUSTOM CLASSES & EDITING
• MANUSCRIPT EDITING
• PRODUCTIONS

IDEASMYTH workshops focus on development of craft, professional writing habits, editing skills, communication skills, marketplace savvy, career development, and life/creativity management–in that order.

IDEASMYTH clients’ successes, quantified in their articles getting placed in dozens of excellent publications, prestigious jobs scored, books sold (and well reviewed!)–constitute IDEASMYTH’s performance rating. Also see BUZZ.

IDEASMYTH cultivates a positive atmosphere in its workshops–while still being rigorous about constructive criticism.

IDEASMYTH’s rates are competitive (or significantly cheaper) than many programs. Clients often desribe IDEASMYTH’s workshop as “tougher–and more useful–than any course [they] took in grad school.”

Word of mouth has delivered fantastic clients to IDEASMYTH–most are already successful creative professionals, generally 20- to 60-something. IDEASMYTH coaching clients are those who want to create extraordinarily rewarding lives. IDEASMYTH has worked effectively with a great variety of people including: media professionals, editors, TV producers, lawyers, performers, entrepreneurs, boutique retailers, career changers, homemakers. All of the workshop clients bring a professional commitment to their writing, even if they are not yet published. Students consistently report that they were impressed by the insightful critiques of their workshop peers.

Because there’s nothing like the positive peer pressure of a great group to help you realize your fullest potential. Even if you’ve already gone to grad school, greatness and growth only comes with continual challenge. A lot of staffers use the workshops to develop portfolios of new work and hone their skills without risking their reputations on the job.

Creativity/career/life coaching are issues that are addressed in all IDEASMYTH workshops, but when you hire IDEASMYTH privately, we look at your specific career and life ambitions from a holistic perspective. After going over IDEASMYTH’s extensive questionnaire, we focus on shifting your efforts to accelerate the realization of your goals, be they a career change, a book proposal, column development, or more personal time etc. It is not therapy, but it is effective, pragmatic, empowering and results-oriented.

Victoria C. Rowan has dedicated her career to cultivating and celebrating creativity. She has written for dozens of publications, websites and Public Radio including: The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Moscow Times and NPR. For eleven years she curated a reading series entitled, “Beyond Words: Stories on Stage,” which was recognized in 2003 by New York Press as the City’s “Best Live Reading and Performance Series.” Founder of Mediabistro.com’s nationwide school for media professionals (2001-2002), she has taught and coached privately over 500 clients in New York City and internationally as well as created special programs that she delivered at Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA) and The Bard Graduate Center (NYC). Most recently, she served as the Artistic Programmer for the 92nd St. Y/Unterberg Poetry Center’s 2006-7 literature series featuring the world’s greatest living writers.

Wondering whether you are better suited for workshops vs. private study? I have found that most writers flourish and accelerate the development of their work faster in workshops than in private study alone, but after reviewing the below arguments, you be the judge of what you believe would be best for your life goals, your lifestyle, project and/or career. Generally, the more time we can afford to spend together, the more likely it is that you can achieve major project/career/life results faster. Clients are also welcome to combine workshop and private study-which is the approach that I believe is most successful.

WORKSHOP Pros

Success depends not only on having good support systems but having accountability systems in place. In a workshop, weekly deadlines support writing self-discipline and make it less likely that you will kid yourself that you’re “working on it” when you’re not producing any results that any witnesses could read.

Feedback from many vs. one editor.

You are stretched and educated by others’ examples. For instance, it’s often easier to learn from the strengths-and weaknesses-in others’ work you may be blind to in your own because you’re too close to it. For instance, another’s mastery of humor or structure may be very instructive to you.

By critiquing others, you develop your critical reading and editing skills, which in turn accelerate your ability to self-edit and therefore produce higher-quality work–more polished, more focused–faster.

Getting early positive response to one’s work by a small crowd can be motivating.

Getting a tough critique in a supportive environment can toughen up one’s muse and prepare one for braving the scrutiny of the marketplace. Think of it as helpful inoculation so that in the future if you are ever rejected by editors or receive a negative review, it may sting but not be a debilitating blow.

Excellent practice for developing one’s eloquence, a skill that will be very helpful in cultivating respect from literary gatekeepers (editors, publishers, agents) as one embarks into the marketplace.

Other people become invested in your work and urge you to keep at it even when you’re feeling disenchanted with it.

Workshops allow one to share one’s creativity, which is very intimate. The friendships forged out of workshops can be profound.

A workshop can often provide helpful networking of ideas and career-advancing connections.

A bunch of artists in a room is inspiring, stimulating–always surprising!

Depressive funks and writing blocks defuse faster with the reminder that you are not alone and that your smart peers struggle with many of the same challenges.

Healthy competition with your peers can spur you on.

WORKSHOP Cons

Schedule is fixed-which can be unworkable for those with late professional/evening entertaining/childcare obligations and/or daytime scheduling conflicts. We meet on Tuesday evenings, 7-10pm, Thursdays, 2-5pm.

Different feedback from many people can be confusing at times.

If you are easily influenced by others’ feedback, you may find multiple points of view impedes your ability to gain clarity with your work.

If you are very pressed for time, reviewing others’ work may feel like a burden you resent, diminishing the time left to work on your own writing.

If you have problems receiving criticism, leaving your work subject to group scrutiny can feel stressful.

Less time is spent directly on your work per week than can be arranged privately.

You may encounter personalities that are challenging for you to be with.

If envy/jealousy/competitiveness of others’ talents easily trigger toxic paralysis in your muse, workshops are not for you.

PRIVATE STUDY Pros

Private study sessions are created around your schedule, custom-tailored to your work, life and creativity rhythms; plus, our sessions can be conducted by phone or video/Skype teleconferencing.

Ideal for reviewing longer works that exceed the length of weekly upload limits-say, a whole manuscript to be reviewed at once.

For some, personalized attention can accelerate advancement better than in a group setting.

No obligation to read others’ work, which leaves you more time to work on your own.

Coaching can be more holistic to address the individual’s and project’s needs.

More time for brainstorming.

PRIVATE STUDY Cons

Requires more self-discipline. Without having to be accountable to an audience greater than one (the coach/editor) and despite pre-payment, many individuals find it difficult to remain committed to their projects and to a schedule.

More costly.

Can trigger resistance in those who have issues with authority figures (which the inherent camaraderie of workshops often defuses).

Miss out on the support and intellectual/inspirational expansion that comes with a supportive community.

Private Coaching for Career- & Life-Altering Results:

Because I have seen confirmed again and again that commitment is the best way to guarantee the results my clients seek for their work and their life, I require a three-month/quarterly commitment. For an agreed-upon minimum ($200 per hour as part of a $1,000/5 hour minimum per month or $3,000 per quarter), the client will receive regular scheduled appointments. If someone pays for the three months in one lump sum up front, I also am happy to provide an extra two hour session to be used as client wishes for editing/brainstorming/coaching (usually as an add-on for our first appt when we discuss my holistic incoming questionnaire). If the client is working on a book or another project that requires a lot of editing, I am also willing to negotiate a reasonable project fee or an average monthly minimum. The benefit of this model is that the client gets more support for their money. I’m also willing to discuss other retainer models that serve the clients’ lifestyle best. This approach, which I consider analogous to targeted personal training, is best for clients working on long-term projects, wish to change careers, a life makeover or those who know they thrive best with ongoing personalized support.

Private Study Short-term:

Should the client feel that they only need a few hours for a specific challenge or project, I also will work on a non-retainer basis by the hour. For this type of agreement, the $1,000 minimum will provide the client with 5 hours (@ $200 per hour; plus email check-in support; and all of VCR’s craft support materials) of my time to be used as we agree suits them best. For example, this amount of time is usually sufficient for a client to apply the use of my craft handouts to the preliminary mapping of a novel, a non-fiction project or book proposal. It also is probably enough to complete a graduate school application or to revise a few article pitch letters. This approach is also best for clients whose work/life schedules are completely unpredictable or first-time clients who are starting between workshop semesters.

Private Study Manuscript Fees:

Preparation of a manuscript for agent submission or for advancing one’s craft.

NOTE: Rates are approximate; all rates include at least two hours of in-person or phone consultation time

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50 page manuscript–start at $1,000

100 page manuscript–start at $2,000

200 page manuscript–start at $3,000

300 page manuscript–start at $4,000

Group Study:

Workshops are $600 for eight, 3-hour weekly sessions (depending on holidays, each semester is usually completed within 10 weeks) + a performance. For every seminar, each client is entitled to 3 half-hour private conversations with me: a pre-class conference, a mid-term conference and a closing conference; plus email check-in support and all of VCR’s craft support materials. If clients pay a month in advance, they receive a $100 discount. Payment secures one’s seat in the workshop and from that date, VCR will also provide the pre-class conference and email support-even a month in advance. Minimum deposits are $100 (no discount offered) and payment in full is expected by the class’s start date. If clients refer other clients who register into the class, the referring client receives a $50 thank-you from me (which can be used for future tuition discounts or can be received as a $50 thank-you check from me). Because I want to make education available to all who want it, other payment plans can be discussed.

Custom Seminar, Retreat & Event Development

Have developed custom retreats and special seminars for Stanford University and The Bard Graduate Center. Will create something practical and/or spectacular for your small business, corporation or group of friends. Can source excellent locations and caterers as needed.

General Policies Around Services + Payment

Ideasmyth strives to go above and beyond in personalizing its services for every client and to be reasonable and fair in all transactions. For workshops: since they are intimate groups of a limited size, Ideasmyth (consistent with all other professional writing workshop institutions) cannot refund tuition for classes unless you contact Ideasmyth the week BEFORE the first day of class. However, if the student must withdraw from a workshop for some exceptional unexpected circumstances–at Ideasmyth’s discretion–the equivalent of remaining class tuition may be commuted to the equivalent amount of services in private session work. For coaching: All services and appointments will be made only on a pre-paid basis (credit card or cash). All services and payments must be used within the time parameters mutually agreed upon. Every effort will be made to accommodate the clients’ schedule and keep the client informed of their remaining balance and schedule, however if the client is also responsible for using up their hours within the time agreed. If you need some immediate coaching, any call/Skype session over 10 minutes will be drawn from the client’s escrow account. If you give Ideasmyth less than ONE WEEK NOTICE for a coaching session cancellation, it is at Ideasmyth’s discretion whether or not Ideasmyth will reschedule the session within that week or if the client will be held financially responsible for that missed session.