Praise for April workshop in Diamond:

"I had high expectations and they were vastly exceeded. You put together such a perfect program with just the right mix of group and individual activity. I learned so much from the two of you and found your comments and insights both about my work and about the art of writing in general so helpful. And of course the first thing you did so perfectly was finding Diamond and the hotel for us to meet in. Such beauty, such fascinating characters and such stories . . . ."

Jenni Gainsborough

"The workshop in Diamond was not only an immersion in quiet, luxurious time for reflection and writing but also an immersion in nurturing feedback, the delights of nature in the Oregon outback and lots of laughter. It was a wonderful experience I treasure."

Renee Soasey

"When I heard about the retreat at Diamond, I was dubious about going to a location without internet and sketchy cell service. I was worried I would feel cut off. When I arrived and couldn't send a text message, I realized I was cut off. But I learned I was only isolated from the distractions that made it difficult for me to hear what I wanted to say in my writing. Once I settled in to the Diamond experience -- the delicious made-from-scratch meals, the great horned owl outside my window cooing me to sleep every night, and the bucolic beauty of the surrounding landscape -- I relaxed enough to treat my project as the most important thing in the world. Along with Debbie and Charlotte's supportive critique and instruction time, my focus was renewed and I've experienced a writing jag that revived my anemic project."

Holly-Marie St. Pierre

 

Praise for Debbie:

“She knows her subject and teaches it with love, warmth and enthusiasm.”

Herb Stokes (student for 8 years)

“Her classes are inspirational, educational and a lot of fun.”

Helen Cartales (student for 5 years)

Debbie's students in her Spring 2011 class created this art piece as a token of their appreciation for all she had taught them:

 

Praise for Charlotte:

I can't say enough about Charlotte Dixon's coaching abilities and style. My inner editor, that pesky little voice, was interfering with my ability to draft anything. I thought it was normal--until I talked to Charlotte. During a fifteen-minute session, she talked me through several exercises. One of them hit the jackpot! Among the wonderful suggestions was this one—have a discussion with your inner editor. Now not only am I able to draft freely, I also got a great short story that is currently submitted to a magazine for publication. Charlotte is warm, personable, and real. Her ideas work.

 

Zan Marie Steadham

 

I am a first-time book author that was shy and overwhelmed by my aspirations. But, I was delighted to find that Charlotte treated my ideas with as much love and respect as if they were her own. Because of her openness to possibility and her consistently, warm, and practical guidance, I just attended the local writers conference and pitched my book proposal with confidence to eight literary agents. She is truly a Shaman of Creativity.

Holly Marie St. Pierre, Author of The Journey from Holeness to Wholeness

 

 

I’ve never thought of myself as a writer. I’m a coach. However, after doing a complementary session with my friend and colleague Charlotte I learned so much that will help me with my business anyway! There’s a lot more internal emotional pieces to writing than I ever realized. She immediately asked me WHY I never thought of myself as a writer and child hood emotional memories instantly surfaced. She offered several powerful exercises such as a strategic way to have a dialog with your inner critic, how to make a deal with that inner critic and for all of you perfectionists out there that aren’t writing because you think it needs to be perfect first, Charlotte can help you to really believe that with writing, “there’s always another chance.” She also helped me to format a letter to my clients by helping me with the basic structure. How to start, how can I present the story so the reader can understand it, what’s in it for them (the reader) and how to provide them with what they want and need, and how to end with a strong close. I can’t believe I learned ALL THAT in a simple complimentary session! If she can help this much for someone who isn’t a writer, just imagine how much she can help those of you who are!!

Gwen Orwiler, Emotional Freedom Coach, Your Strongest Life