
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.

6 Great Revision Tips For Polishing Your Prose
In this post, I offer six essential tips to help guide you through revising your creative work. Whether you're crafting a short story, novel, poem, or memoir, these tips will serve you well through yo...
September 18, 2023 / Craft
5 Tips To Get You Writing Everyday
Writing every day is ideal; if you can do that, it will serve you well, but many of us find it challenging to achieve or sustain a daily writing practice. Use these five tips to help get you into a daily writing practice.
May 29, 2023 / Craft
10 Great Writing Prompts For Creating Captivating Characters
We all want to create memorable characters that our readers will remember long after they've finished reading our story. You'll be well on your way to creating captivating characters with these uniquely crafted writing prompts.
May 1, 2023 / Craft
The 5 Biggest Hurdles That Keep You From Writing And How To Overcome Them
Here are five of the most common hurdles that keep writers from writing and some suggestions for surmounting them. I’ve included links to blogs that will give you additional insights, tips, and solutions to some of the most common hurdles to getting started and sustaining forward momentum with your writing.
April 2, 2023 / Craft
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
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
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