Free Your Voice, Fuel Your Motivation
A 12-week Mindful Memoir Writing Course
What If You Could Write More, Say What Matters, and Stay Motivated Over the Long Haul?
What is Free Your Voice, Fuel Your Motivation?
Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation is a 12-week course designed to help you reconnect with the creative spark that brought you to the page in the first place.
Instead of chasing perfection or white knuckling your way through blocks, you’ll learn to regulate your nervous system, tap into your inner wisdom, and create from a place of grounded joy.
This course isn’t about pushing for productivity. It’s about gently uncovering the vibrant, capable writer you already are – and creating the conditions where your creativity can thrive.
Just imagine a writing life filled with more…
Authenticity
You’re deeply connected with what you truly want to write.
Curiosity
You’re ready to play, explore, and rediscover the fun in writing, regardless of the topic.
Flow
You have easy access to creative flow and write abundantly and with ease.
“Lisa creates safe and generous spaces in which to grow, while also providing the right nudges and guidance to advance. I went from a lonely writer blindly pressing towards a dream to a confident memoirist with a clear vision for the road ahead.”
“Lisa Ellison is very knowledgeable about the craft of writing and teaches from the heart. I felt very safe sharing my work in the online space she created and made valuable personal connections. I look forward to taking more classes with her in the future.”
Free Your Voice, Fuel Your Motivation Will Help You
01
Learn what works in storytelling
02
Trust your creative intuition
03
Build a sustainable, fun writing practice
04
Write with greater authenticity
05
Capitalize on your strengths
06
Generate lots of new material
How Does It Work?
This is a hybrid program with a self-study component.
The live program will meet on Thursdays from 1:00 PM ET to 3:00 PM ET starting on September 18, 2025, and ending on December 11, 2025.
During the live coaching program, you’ll meet with a cohort of dedicated, enthusiastic writers where you’ll write in a safe, supportive environment, practice proven strategies that will supercharge your creativity and motivation, and receive feedback and insights from both your cohort and seasoned writing experts.
In addition to live sessions, you’ll receive eight video modules that guide you through:
- Somatic and nervous system regulation techniques to reduce writing-related anxiety.
- Strategies for developing a holistic self-care plan that supports long-term, sustainable creativity and motivation.
- Practices for accessing your inner wisdom and building your creative intuition.
- Playful writing strategies that help you see your work—and yourself—in new ways.
- Prompts that spark curiosity and (re)ignite creative momentum.
- Tools for cultivating curiosity, compassion, and embracing imperfection.
While the content is valuable, this program includes the most priceless gifts of all: Membership in a supportive, energetic cohort of writers who just might become lifelong colleagues and friends. Because space in this intimate program is limited, applications are required. Applicants will be chosen based on:
- Strength of their writing samples
- Commitment to their writing lives
- Ability to work through the program
- Having an identified project
- Experience in two or more writing courses
- Willingness to prioritize their well-being, including their mental health
- Self-awareness around their writing struggles and limitations
“Lisa’s feedback is brilliant, and her workshops come with loads of valuable supplemental material. I highly recommend Lisa’s courses for writers of every experience level.”
“If you are looking for no BS coach, who’ll be a stand for you and your work, hire Lisa immediately.”
About Me
I’m a trauma-informed writing coach and writer who’s working in the trenches alongside you. With over 20 years of teaching experience and nearly a decade dedicated to refining this process, I’ve helped hundreds of writers find their voices and bring their stories to life. My clients have published memoirs with Hachette, St. Martin’s Press, and Motina Books, and placed essays in outlets like The New York Times, HuffPost, Brevity Literary Magazine, Months to Years, and Points in Case, to name just a few. But what matters most to me is witnessing the quiet transformations that take place when writers reclaim the voices trauma once silenced, pursue their dreams with confidence, and finally feel at home in their own skin
Introduction
Two weeks before class begins, you’ll receive access to the first module of this
program. Additional modules will be released each week.
During our coaching calls, you’ll practice what you’ve learned as you write in a supportive environment that will help you generate new material, receive feedback on your strengths, and propel your projects forward.
Module One: Cultivating Your Resources
Before you begin, it’s important to identify your strengths and build an arsenal of
resources that will help you write sustainably and compassionately. Learn what works, why it’s important, and how to create a comprehensive self-care plan that enhances every aspect of your life.
Module Two: The Power of Being Gentle
Society pushes us to strive more and ignore our needs in favor of achievement and productivity. Discover how you’ve been conditioned to work against yourself and learn how to (re)build a passion-driven, compassionate writing life.
Module Three: Activating Your Internal Wisdom
We are all wise beyond measure, but many of us have divorced ourselves from the
intuitive part of us that knows what’s best. Learn how to re-engage with and refine your creative intuition and use it to express the truest version of your stories through your most authentic writing voice.
Module Four: Choosing Wisely and Keeping Your Work Contained
To write sustainably, you must develop a system for recognizing your feelings, establishing boundaries between yourself and your work, and advocating for your most vulnerable parts. Learn proven strategies to help manage your energy, enabling you to write effectively while caring for yourself.
Module Five: Exploring with Curiosity and Compassion
One of the hardest parts of writing a memoir is confronting the pain you’ve experienced due to life circumstances or the actions of those you trusted and loved. Learn powerful tools to emotionally distance yourself from your story, explore various entry points into your work, and discover the humanity in yourself and other characters without shying away from bad behavior or glossing over difficult topics.
Module Six: Building a Playful Writing Practice
Writing the tough stuff—or anything at all—doesn’t have to be serious. By stepping
away from the events themselves and allowing yourself to play with language, form, and even ideas, you can uncover the story you want to tell and discover new ways to express it. Learn not only how to experiment with new forms but also why doing so will deepen your work and enhance its marketability.
Module Seven: Rolling with Resistance and Handling Setbacks
Writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint. Fatigue, waning motivation, and hitting brick walls are normal parts of the writing process. The difference between writers who persist and those who quit lies not in whether these challenges occur, but in how they are handled. Uncover your personal “Achilles’ Heels,” understand their role in your writing process, and learn to work with them rather than against them. If they knock you down, find out how to get back up and finish your project.
Module Eight: Integrating What You’ve Learned
In a world that values constant activity, we rarely take the time to pause and reflect on
our growth. In this final module, you’ll break that cycle by identifying your achievements, claiming your growth, and mapping out your next steps.
Don’t miss out on:
- Twelve weeks of accountability and writing support
- Membership in a cohort of dedicated writers
- Regular feedback from writing experts
- Lifetime access to eight self-study modules
- Increased confidence and motivation
- A freer writing voice
- Enhanced creativity
- A more authentic life
- Bonuses
Pay in Full
$1,500
Live Coaching
Expert Feedback
Lifetime access to videos
Safe, Supportive Environment
Membership In Cohort
Pay in 3 Installments
$525
Live Coaching
Expert Feedback
Lifetime access to videos
Safe, Supportive Environment
Membership In Cohort
FAQ
When are applications due?
The application period opens on 8/1/2025. Applications are due by 8/31/2025. Rolling admissions will begin on 8/22/2025.
What’s required in the application?
Please include the following in your application:
- Your name and email address
- A 100-word maximum description of your project
- A 500-word maximum writing sample
- A bulleted list of the classes you’ve taken, indicating whether they were webinars, seminars, or classes with a workshop component
- A 50-word maximum description of how you care for your wellbeing*, including your mental health, as you write—especially if you are tackling difficult topics or writing about highly traumatic events.
- A 50-word maximum statement about any personal challenges** you might face completing this program, such as classes you might be unable to attend, struggles with writing motivation, or past health challenges associated with working on your project, such as an exacerbation of physical symptoms when writing about certain events.
*I care about your privacy: Please do not share personal health information in your description, such as mental or physical health diagnoses or deeply personal details about traumas you’ve experienced.
**Sharing honestly about your challenges will not exclude you from this program. However, if you already know that you might miss two or more classes, it may not be a good fit for you.
Must I have a book project to participate in this program?
No, a book project is not a requirement; however, priority will be given to writers who are actively working on a project.
When will I hear whether I’ve been accepted to this program?
Acceptances will be rolling after August 22, 2025. Notices will be sent to all applicants by September 5, 2025.
How much does this program cost?
The cost of this program is $1,500 per student.
What are the dates for this program?
You’ll receive access to the first module by 9/9/2025, or on the date you register for this course, if you register after the release date. The live coaching program will take place on Thursdays from 1:00 PM ET – 3:00 PM ET starting on 9/18/2025 – ending on December 11, 2025. You will have lifetime access to the video modules for this program so you can complete them at your own pace and review them whenever you want.
What will I receive as a member of this program?
You will receive access to all eight modules, a comprehensive workbook, all live coaching sessions (including recordings in case of absences), in-vivo feedback on pieces written during our live coaching sessions, access to a Facebook Group for networking and sharing materials with your peers, as well as bonus content.
How do the live coaching sessions work?
We will begin with a trauma-informed meditation or grounding activity, followed by a writing exercise. Writers will then be divided into small groups led by me or one of my T.A.s, where they will have the opportunity to share their work in a safe, supportive environment and receive feedback on what’s working and their writing strengths. During these sessions, instructors will use student examples to highlight the elements of good storytelling and writing. We will conclude with a Q&A.
What makes this program trauma-informed?
During the first class, we will establish our group’s norms and collaborate to create a safe and affirming environment. All writing exercises, meditations and grounding activities, and forms of feedback will be delivered in a trauma-informed manner that incorporates the six principles of trauma-informed care: safety, trustworthiness, choice, empowerment, collaboration, and respect for the unique backgrounds and experiences of all students.
How is this different from therapy?
Therapeutic programs focus on improving your mental health. This is a program for writers whose goal is to help you improve your writing and work toward your writing goals. While we will talk about mental health as it pertains to your writing life, this is not therapy, nor is it intended to diagnose or treat mental health issues. It’s also not a replacement for any mental health treatments you may be receiving.
Do I have to write about traumatic events or be a trauma survivor to participate in this program?
Trauma-informed practices help us all engage more effectively in our writing lives. You do not need to be a trauma survivor or write about traumatic events to participate in or benefit from this program.
How much time will this program take?
Classes are two hours in length. Please allocate an additional sixty to ninety minutes per week to complete the video modules along with any writing you plan to do outside of class. We will have two integration weeks during this program to ensure you have ample time to work through everything.
Are refunds available?
I’m a hell yes instructor, and I want you to be a hell yes student. Refunds are available up until the first live coaching session; however, no refunds will be issued after the program begins.
Ready to take the next step?
If you’re ready to align with your truest story and step fully into your creative power, I’d love to walk beside you. I’m currently welcoming new clients—let’s begin your next chapter together.