Hi, I'm Kathryn Kay, the founder of A Writer Within. As a personal writing coach and editor, I help women writers who struggle to define and meet their writing goals. I offer support and inspiration in getting started, organizing ideas, overcoming the inner critic, and completing projects. Creative solutions are my forte.
It's not a question of whether you have a writer within—it’s a question of how to set her free.
How To Know If You Are A Writer?
You don’t have to be born a writer; you can learn to be a writer. Writing isn't necessarily a talent; it's a craft you can master with practice, just like anything else.
March 6, 2023 / Craft
How To Stop Feeling Overwhelmed – Hold It Lightly
Having too many great ideas can be as stressful as not having enough. Holding them lightly can help you find balance in both your creative and daily life.
February 6, 2023 / Inspiration
25 Great Creative Writing Exercises To Awaken The Senses
These writing prompts are designed to help you develop your understanding and use of sensory imagery. Write from the senses and engage your readers.
January 23, 2023 / Craft
5 Easy Steps To Create Attainable Writing Goals
Want to make your writing dreams a reality? Without goals, it's unlikely that will happen, and having attainable goals is key to making that process successful.
January 9, 2023 / Craft
What Do You Want From A Writing Retreat?
If you've ever considered going on a writing retreat, you probably have a lot in common with these women. What do you look for in a writing treat?
December 12, 2022 / Retreats
6 Favorite Excursions in Tuscany
When I take a group of writers to Tuscany for a week-long writing retreat, I tend to take them on excursions to my favorite places. That doesn't mean we don't visit the must-see sights, like Siena and San Gimignano, because we do, but I often include lesser-known, out-of-the-way gems.
November 21, 2022 / Retreats
How To Rediscover Your Beginner’s Mind
Cultivating a beginner's mind allows you to see the world around you with fresh eyes, and it engenders joy, playfulness, wonder, inspiration, and creativity.
November 7, 2022 / Craft
Favorite Quotes To Inspire You
I've been collecting quotes for years on various topics including, but not limited to, life, love, contentment, creativity, nature, and of course, writing. I'm sharing some of my favorites to inspire, enlighten and comfort you as you go the way of life.
October 24, 2022 / Mindset
6 Great Tips for Writing Engaging Dialogue
In my previous blog, How to Format Written Dialogue, I covered the traditional approach to formatting dialogue and the general rules to keep your dialogue flowing smoothly and clearly. T...
October 10, 2022 / Craft
The 7 Best Books On Creative Writing
Perhaps I think of these as "the best" books on writing because they are my favorites. These books are the top picks from a longer list I give to my coaching clients and retreat participants and are the ones I always recommend first.
September 26, 2022 / Craft
How To Start A Writing Practice (that will last)
We all have busy lives, and it's essential to be realistic about how much time you can consistently devote to your writing. Consistency is critical, so decide on a goal that you can maintain—whether it's 2 or 3 mornings a week or every Sunday afternoon.
September 12, 2022 / Craft
How to Format Written Dialogue
Good dialogue is essential to most stories; you want it to help develop your character and move the story along. However, the most natural and engaging dialogue will only be effective if formatted correctly, allowing the reader to follow it and keep track of who’s speaking.
August 29, 2022 / Craft
How to Create Compelling Characters for Your Stories
To create characters that capture your reader's attention and serve your story well, you need to know your characters inside and out.
August 15, 2022 / Craft
A Day at A Women’s Writing Retreat in Tuscany
I recently returned from Tuscany where, after an absence of more than two years, I resumed my week-long writing retreats for women. The only way I can think to describe to you how wonderful it was to ...
August 1, 2022 / Retreats
How to Use the Sense of Sight in Your Writing
Showing how your characters see the world and how they feel about it will go a long way in capturing your readers’ attention.
July 18, 2022 / Craft
How to Use the Sense of Hearing in Your Writing
Sounds enrich our environment; we depend on them to help us interpret, communicate with, and express the world around us.
July 4, 2022 / Craft
How to Use the Sense of Taste in Your Writing
Taste might be the least used sense in writing but think of all you can learn about your character through her taste buds.
June 20, 2022 / Craft
How to Use the Sense of Touch in Your Writing
Think of all the tingling, scratching, banging, fumbling, kissing, and nudging a character might feel. Explore how to use the sense of touch in your writing.
June 6, 2022 / Craft
How to Use the Sense of Smell in Your Writing
One of the most remarkable aspects of the senses is how they span time. Our senses connect us intimately to the past in a way our ideas cannot, and the sense that does this more powerfully than any other is the sense of smell.
May 23, 2022 / Craft
Use The Five Senses and Bring Your Characters to Life
Using the five senses in your writing will draw the reader in and bring your writing alive. Learn how and why we use sensory imagery in our writing.
May 9, 2022 / Craft
10 Tips To Support Your Writing Practice
Here are 10 great tips to inspire and support your writing practice. All genres will benefit from any one of these motivating tips.
April 25, 2022 / Craft
How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Writers
Comparing ourselves negatively to others doesn't help us as writers. Here are some steps you can take to help you stop comparing yourself to other writers.
April 11, 2022 / Mindset
How to Create an Inspiring Writing Space
Wherever you go to write, having an inspirational space will make your time spent writing more fun, and you’ll see the benefits in the quality and quantity of what you produce.
March 28, 2022 / Mindset
5 Short Writing Prompts To Inspire and Keep You Going
Short writing prompts work with both fiction and memoir. The more you do, the faster you will find the flow and discover your authentic voice.
March 14, 2022 / Craft
How to Accept Your Inner Critic and Write Freely
We spend far too much time trying to deny the critic, ignore it, or bargain with it, and it's exhausting. We're using precious time and energy better spent on our writing—so, let's accept it.
February 28, 2022 / Craft
6 Reasons Why You Should Attend A Writing Retreat
I’ve been running workshops and holding retreats for many years and am excited to share my top 6 reasons a writing retreat could be just what you need to take your writing to the next level.
February 14, 2022 / Retreats
How a Writing Coach Can Help You Achieve Your Writing Goals
A writing coach is a guide who can help you develop a writing practice, define your goals, structure your projects, polish your prose, improve your mindset, and who will hold you accountable.
January 31, 2022 / Craft
How to Sustain Your Writing practice and Produce Solid Work
Okay, you've started that short story, essay, memoir, novel, or blog, but how do you keep going? Have goals!
January 17, 2022 / Craft
How to Organize and Prioritize Your Writing Ideas
Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the great ideas you have for writing projects? Are they swirling around in your head, so you’re too distracted to sit down at your desk? Let me help you get organized.
January 3, 2022 / Craft
Say “Yes” To Your Dreams!
Recently, a new friend asked me how I came to be giving writing retreats in Tuscany, and without giving it a thought, I replied, "I just kept saying yes."
January 1, 2022 / Mindset 1 2