You have a personal growth, business or thought leader book waking you up at 3 a.m. crying, “It’s time! Write me now!” - and the sinking feeling you can’t create it alone. (Secret: You can’t; nobody can.)
Your computer and notebooks are bursting with fantastic material you endlessly try to shape into a coherent, compelling whole narrative but aren’t quite getting there. (That’s so normal.)
You’ve been writing for months, or even years now, and you are wondering, “What does it all mean?” and “Why should a reader care?”
(Great questions which we will carefully kindly address in this mastermind!)
Your body of professional work is begging to be shared with - and to help - a wider audience, but you aren’t sure in what form or how. Is it a blog? Or maybe a course? Or perhaps it’s even a podcast? Or is it all of the above? Or...or...or…? (I know how to help you choose.)
There may be lots of things you don’t know about your project just yet, but one thing you do know is that you must heed your call to write it and you must share you work or you will forever regret it.
To take your writing where you yearn to go - where your readers cry in recognition, constantly share your ideas, experience a spiritual renewal, or print your blog post for twenty friends - requires a high level of support, learning, and, most importantly, fierce devotion that relatively few people are willing to commit to.
Crafting a project (book, blog, series of articles, a course or a podcast) that others want to read and share is incredibly hard work, but will be one of the most rewarding things you will do in your life. And it’s impossible to do it alone.
I’m delighted to announce
The Non-Fiction Writer’s Mastermind
January 4, 2021 - June 21, 2021
We will begin again in September 2021. You will receive an invite to apply in late August. Being on the waitlist does not ensure a spot. Thank you for your understanding that there is often more demand than spots available.
This mastermind is the right fit for you:
Here are results from past Writer’s Masterminds:
Here's How It Works
Starting January 4th, we meet every Monday (exact dates below) for group accountability, writing time, and every other Monday for group coaching, brainstorming, and courage building . You bring your writing, platform, and confidence issues, I coach you, offer prompts, resources, exercises, and love. I’m very good at taking what one person is struggling with and using it to help the group.
On accountability Mondays, allow 30 minutes for check-ins and then stay to write if you wish.
On coaching call Mondays, add 90 minutes for the coaching calls.
All calls are optional but highly fantastic.
In-between calls we check in as often as you like (daily!) using an easy to use platform. (Take a social media break and spend time somewhere ad and politics free!) I can coach you there as much as you need and you can support each other!
PLANNING AND EDITORIAL FEEDBACK
A big reason projects don’t work is the writer doesn’t know how to focus on who the project is truly for, how it serves, and what the point of the project is - why should someone care? Another big reason projects fail is they lack structure and organization -- and the writing process is disorganized as well.
I will give you exercises and feedback to discover your point and reader, and stay true to them. I will review what you come up, along with your Table of Contents, as often as needed.
I will also read to 2 pieces of your project (5 pages each) and give you brief targeted overall feedback (no inline editing) to help you be sure you are meeting your goals and connecting with your reader. The point of this feedback is to keep you on point
WRITING LIBRARY
I share with you my best resources for writing all kinds of nonfiction. You will find an existing library of resources when you join on our site, ones I’ve created and ones culled from other sources, and we will add to the library as your needs and questions arise. You can download what you want to keep and ask me to create or find further resources.
FOUR PRIVATE WRITING RETREATS JUST FOR OUR GROUP
Deep dive of group writing, prompts, and craft Q & A. You will get so much done! (Value $995)
Retreat dates are:
January 6 and 7th: 8 am - 11 am MT / 10 am - 1 pm ET
February 23 and 24th: 8 am - 11 am MT / 10 am - 1 pm ET
April 6 and 7th: 8 am - 11 am MT / 10 am - 1 pm ET
May 4 and 5th: 8 am - 11 am MT / 10 am - 1 pm ET
You do not have to attend every day or stay for the entire session but it’s amazingly wonderful if you can set aside this time for a true retreat with your writing and the group.
OPTIONAL PEER READING
Using a method developed by Peter Elbow with my additions, you will swap up to 7 pages each week with a different peer. You must elect this option when you join and you MUST meet this commitment every week. You cannot elect to join after January 14th or quit as creating the sharing schedule is a logistical feat and it messes with everybody if we delete or add someone. Thank you for understanding and thinking hard about what you want to do.
We can discuss in more depth how it works on our first call and you can decide then if you are on the fence. Past members have found this an incredibly valuable extra.
When you join the mastermind (which does not involve a writing sample but does involve saying “I’m all in, I’m ready to show up consistently and bravely, and my writing deserves this!”), I’ll send you a detailed questionnaire to fill out so I and the group understands your goals.
Coaching calls start at 9 am MT
(8 am PT, 9 am MT, 10 am CT, 11 am ET)
and will be recorded. Please allow up to 90 minutes for coaching calls.
All accountability calls start at 8 am MT
(7 am PT, 8 am MT, 9 am CT, 10 am ET)
and will be recorded. Please allow up to 60 minutes for each call.
Deep dive of group writing, prompts, and craft Q & A. You will get so much done!
Retreat dates are:
January 6 and 7th: 8 am - 11 am MT / 10 am - 1 pm ET
February 23 and 24th: 8 am - 11 am MT / 10 am - 1 pm ET
April 6 and 7th: 8 am - 11 am MT / 10 am - 1 pm ET
May 4 and 5th: 8 am - 11 am MT / 10 am - 1 pm ET
You do not have to attend every day or for the entire session but it’s amazingly wonderful if you can set aside this time for a true retreat with your writing and the group.
COACHING AND INPUT FROM ME
In addition to everything I’ve just described (wow!), you‘ll receive coaching and input from me via the forum, via your project vision sheet and table of contents, and up to two pieces of writing.
To join the Writer’s Mastermind, fill in the application & pay
your deposit of $400 to hold your spot.
The application doesn’t ask for a writing sample. Please don’t allow questions of talent to enter your head. This has nothing to do with talent. It’s about you being willing to step up and do what you really want. Thoughts of “I’m a fraud, what if everybody is a better writer, I won’t fit” are actually a sign you’re willing to stretch and get what you want. That’s who belongs in this group.
I will accept writers on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Your spot is held only after you apply and your deposit has been processed. Then, you'll have the option to pay the rest in full or monthly installments.
While I don't anticipate this happening, please know that if you are not a good fit for the mastermind, I will refund your deposit immediately.
Sara Taylor
Writer, Leadership Coach, and Editor
"There’s a whisper from down deep in your soul that urges you to take a chance, jump at the opportunity of carving out time solely for you and your writing. I’ve been a part of many mastermind groups as an Executive and Leadership Coach, but nothing compares to a circle of writers expertly led by Jen. As a life coach I’m constantly urging my clients to covet their creative space and nourish it with intention and time. Jen’s Mastermind was exactly what I needed most, but I was always afraid to truly honor my instincts and jump in. The million excuses cluttered my brain, “’but my memoir isn’t finished yet’ or ‘I’m not a real writer’ or ‘everyone else belongs in this group, just not me.’ Jen created a safe and loving space where all my fears and limiting beliefs were supported. She believed in my story, along with the other talented writers who took the plunge. Her joy and authenticity shone through, not only as a gifted teacher, but also as a vulnerable writer herself. The beautiful structure of check-in calls, private coaching with Jen and curious and supportive peer comments each and every week, held my vision high. I was able to create very doable deadlines that seemed realistic and achievable. More importantly, I developed a practice of writing that felt natural and unstrained. Even on those frustrating days of writer’s block, our group virtually held my hand and told me it was going to be okay. There was a credible intimacy with such a sacred space, a true feeling of sisterhood. As a tribe member of Jen’s Mastermind, we were all in this together and boy did we SHINE! Hands down THE best thing I ever did to jump-start my memoir! I’m forever blessed in the magical light of Jen Louden."
Tracy Beckerman
Syndicated Columnist, Author & Speaker | LostInSuburbia.com
"Jen Louden is a magician, or maybe a witch, I’m not sure. But if she is, she’s a very good witch. After attending one of her Vermont retreats, I decided to plunge into the Mastermind to help me hold myself accountable for finishing my third book which had been languishing for several months. All of the elements of the Mastermind were exactly what I needed to develop my narrative and write a story I was proud of in the time frame I had set for myself. Between the group reviews, and the one-on-ones with Jen (who by the way, is the most fascinating, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic writing coach I have ever had the pleasure to know), I faced down my fears about failing and learned places I didn’t even know needed more dialogue, less dialogue, story structure, and so much more. I definitely feel like I got a Master’s degree in book writing from the Mastermind and would certainly recommend it to anyone who is in the throes of writing, at any point in your project, who needs a group of knowledgeable cheerleaders and a team captain who is just profoundly good at what she does.
Kenyatta Sinkler
Muriel Rukeyser wrote: “What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open.”
Participating in Jennifer Louden’s Writer’s Master Mind split open my writing life to a deeper honesty, courage and trust in my process. One of Jen’s most precious skills is to teach and model the power of being a steady companion to your creativity, so that through ebbs and flows you learn to stay with your project. I also learned to give feedback to other writers that was supportive and encouraging - based in curiosity not criticism- and then found myself being able to do the same thing for myself as well. Jen is gifted at creating a container for writers to write the most true versions of our work and to know that our stories matter to our world. There is a quickening that I witnessed not only in my project, but in the projects of the others in the mastermind. I came out of the mastermind more clear about and committed to the completion of my memoir. Jen’s intentional way of creating layers of support through the group calls, virtual gatherings and written feedback adds up to an exceptional experience. I highly recommend working with Jen.
Helen Morales
Classics Professor USCB and Author
"I am an academic who is writing a book for a broad non-academic readership - the Mastermind Group was hugely helpful to me. It gave me regular feedback on my writing from a diverse group of committed readers, as well as from the brilliant and wise Jen. It also held me accountable and gave me support which meant that I was able to prioritize my writing even during a busy teaching term. I will finish my book by my publisher’s deadline, and it will be a much better book (less stiffly academic, better written, more of my voice, and more fun) for my time spent in the Mastermind course"
Sarah Flick, M.D.
Author of Desire, Mystery, and Belonging
"Dear Jen, thank you, thank you, thank you. I can’t begin to tell you what my experience has been like from the very first time we shared pages in the Mastermind group until now. As we finish this wonderful year together, I am filled with gratitude and amazement. The whole experience has been transformational, honestly. Please please know that I am so grateful. My biggest struggle as a writer has often been my doubt, thinking "Is this real?” and “Can I be seen?" Working with you in the Mastermind group has taught me yes! I am a happy writer. There is no way to tell you how much difference you and this group have made in my writing and in my life. You are a true sign of hope in these times. I count myself so lucky to be in your tribe and I will always be thankful for this experience."
Kim Amadore
Writer, Speaker, Business Woman
"I began Jen’s writer’s mastermind course having a story to tell but not confidently knowing how. I’ve had a lifelong passion for writing, but I’ve never felt comfortable calling myself a writer. Through Jen’s encouragement, resources, and thoughtful guidance, I completed the first draft of my memoir and developed a hunger to learn how to tell a better story. It wasn’t easy, and at times I wanted to quit, but luckily Jen’s cheers were louder than the doubting whispers in my head. Her gentle yet butt-kicking way of guiding a writer is attuned to what the writer needs for improvement and also sprinkled with a lot of love."
Dr. Lara C.C. Pence, MBA, PsyD, CDWF, CEDS-S
"A few years back I stepped into the Jen Louden world holding just a seed of an idea. Barely even that. One visit to the Taos Writer’s Retreat left me with a planted seed. Then came Jen’s MasterMind program and my seed grew into a full fledged story with flesh and substance. The MasterMind group not only gave me structure in my writing schedule but it gave me support. Two S’s I learned that my writing couldn’t live without. Not only were Jen’s prompts and inquiries incredibly helpful in fleshing out my story, but the support from the other women was invaluable to my sense of self - writing and otherwise. I will be forever grateful for the group, including Jen, in seeing me through to the near-end of my novel, but more in debt to the process which changed the fiber of my being as a writer."
Sonya Joy
writer and women’s circle leader | sonyaJoy.com
“Perhaps the reason I’ve always resisted writing a memoir, even though I wanted to, is that I knew deep down how much writing one would change me. Change can be hard. But this is where Jen’s gift is—guiding writers through the tumultuous territory of bravely becoming themselves through true soul writing. The writing resonates because it’s real. It matters because it’s real. It changes you because it’s honestly who you are. Jen saw it before I did, and gently and patiently guided me through my own discovery of this realization in her Mastermind class.
I don’t know how Jen came to realize that taking care of yourself while writing was a thing, but I’m sure glad she figured it out for us. She helped me transform my loose first draft into something with a real heartbeat and lots of potential. We’ve talked story, and structure, and how to back the hell off when I needed room to breath so I wouldn’t become lost in it. I’ve kept myself to a schedule, consistently shown up for both myself and others, and discovered that I really do believe I’m writing a memoir that matters.”
Natalie Serber
author of Community Chest and Shout Her Lovely Name | NatalieSerber.com
"Working with Jen and the wonderful women who formed our MasterMind cohort was just the creative, supportive, call to action that I needed. Weekly check-ins, video calls, an ongoing honest and open (yet private!) conversation via a FaceBook group, plus the weekly exchange of pages kept me going and made me feel less alone in this lonely business of writing! Man, it's hard to expose yourself on the page! Jen and the MasterMinders gave me courage and inspiration. I can’t wait to go to one of Jen's writing retreats but this extended format of working with Jen and peers was a huge gift. We all have a story to tell. Jen’s MasterMind inspired me."
How to Join
To join the Writer’s Mastermind, fill in the application & pay
your deposit of $400 to hold your spot.
The application doesn’t ask for a writing sample. Please don’t allow questions of talent to enter your head. This has nothing to do with talent. It’s about you being willing to step up and do what you really want. Thoughts of “I’m a fraud, what if everybody is a better writer, I won’t fit” are actually a sign you’re willing to stretch and get what you want. That’s who belongs in this group.
I will accept writers on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Your spot is held only after you apply and your first payment has been processed. Then, you'll have the option to pay the rest in full or monthly installments.
While I don't anticipate this happening, please know that if you are not a good fit for the mastermind, I will refund your deposit immediately.
FAQs
My Wish For You
I want to support you to make your biggest, juiciest, most important writing and creating goals a reality.
I want to offer you my highest level of knowledge, commitment, and energy.
I want to nurture you, push you, and cheer you to go farther, make more progress, and to see your voice beautifully, truthfully expressed more than ever before.
I want to help you take all that is inside of you and share it with your corner of the world.
Over my 29 years of being a professional writer, I have cobbled together so many resources and so much knowledge to support myself and other writers in thriving and succeeding. I cannot wait to draw on all that I have paid to learn - in money, confusion, and time - to help you flourish faster, farther, and more than you can possibly imagine now.
That is what happens when you work with me and this group. You will look back and be amazed, proud, and glowing with accomplishment.
I so wish someone had offered me a group like this when I was writing my first book or my last one. I cannot wait to see the genius that this group will create together, for one and for all.
Decide with care, but don’t delay. Spots will fill quickly and then, we are off!
Love,
Jen
© 2020 Jennifer Louden | Photos by Be Boulder Photography | Privacy Policy
