Advance Your Skills
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Evolve Your Ideas
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Master Your Self
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If you want publish and grow an audience, then you need craft skills that set you apart. I've helped hundreds of writers at every level of experience take theirs to a higher level, and I can help you, too.
Scene EngineTHIS POWERFUL TOOL HELPS YOU CREATE AND OUTLINE FULLY-ARCING, STORY-DRIVING SCENES
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To excel as a writer you have to reach into your heart, brain and gut and pull out the truth. Let's drill down into your material and take your story or concept into fresher, deeper, more creative territory.
Cloudburst BrainstormSOLVE CREATIVE PROBLEMS, DRILL INTO YOUR MATERIAL, GENERATE NEW IDEAS AND MORE
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Want to get your body, mind, spirit, life aligned with writing and finally get out of your own way? Coaching can help you break personal barriers, focus your energy and bring your full power to the page.
Clarity InfusionCLEAR OUT CHATTER AND DISTRACTIONS, FOCUS YOUR MIND AND GET INTO THE FLOW
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I first heard Doug on a podcast and, liking his attitude, decided at once I wanted him as my coach. Since I was in rural Wales, this was probably a slightly unconventional choice and all of our sessions were by Skype. Yet how much I looked forward to them - and how useful they were! Doug is wonderfully attentive, perceptive, personable and encouraging. At a time when writing felt to me like an almost impossible task, he was brimful with constructive suggestions and much needed optimism. He is flexible and open and caring of his clients. I recommend him with warmth and gratitude.
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Doug has helped me every step of the way through establishing myself as an award-winning author. He very gently guided me in discovering my voice and learning to focus my point of view in a completely different way from my experience writing screenplays. He helped me flesh out characters and plot points by getting me more excited about the story I was creating -- he always seems to be as excited about my stories as I am. His coaching is positively-focused and nurturing, and I cannot imagine writing a novel without his guidance.
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From helping me maximize tension and conflict on every page, to asking the right questions that unlocked necessary plot and character changes, Doug was such an integral part of my novel's journey. He encouraged me, inspired me, and wasn't afraid to give me a swift kick when I needed it. I'm certain his guidance led to me securing an agent.
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Doug helped me navigate a first novel with patience and skill. When I was ready to give up on a complex plot, two first-person narrators, and too many flashbacks, he encouraged me to keep going. His experience, knowledge, enthusiastic personality, and teaching skills were such a gift. I enjoyed every session with Doug and learned more about the craft each time. Many thanks to my coach, a true professional and friend.
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Doug is one of the finest instructors I’ve ever had - including undergraduate and graduate school.
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Doug's comments on my novel were tremendously helpful, providing me just the sort of insights and motivation I needed to plunge into another revision. He pointed out which scenes were working and which weren't, and his thoughts on the big picture—structure, plot and subplot—were especially perceptive. Doug showed me where to heighten the subplot during moments when the main plot was quieter, and helped me think of ways to deepen character motivation. Writing and revising a novel can be daunting, but Doug's comments gave me a map that guided me toward success.
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"Everything is more focused, more flowing and readable, and more descriptive to the point that scenes and settings are close to three-dimensional. You’re a damn good teacher, man..."
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I’m an introvert, through and through, and to step into a classroom to have my work scrutinized is akin to torture, no matter how often I’ve done it. With Doug, though, there was an immediate sense of trust. He is, as my East Coast colleague would say, “wicked smaaht.” He has an uncanny ability to zero in on trouble spots in my work, and with perceptive questions, has guided me to dig deeper and find those light bulb moments when things come together. He respects you as the writer and trusts your ability to do the necessary work. As a teacher and coach, Doug is that rare combination of support, intelligence, creativity, and kindness. Under his guidance, I’ve just had my first story accepted for publication.
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"I come away with so much encouragement, direction and motivation; I have a sense of purpose about my project that gets stronger each time we talk. He is a terrific coach."
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My project would not be where it is today without Doug's guidance. His grasp of literary constructs and tools, his knack for divining what the author is trying to say is truly unbelievable...
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I recognized immediately that Doug was a perceptive reader, able to pinpoint the exact location where my writing was stuck, and to offer steps for moving forward. I was so amazed by his abilities that I signed up for coaching. But before our first session, my life turned upside down. My wife announced she wanted a divorce, and I quickly lost everything that I loved, other than my passion for writing. Doug offered heart, unwavering support, and a whole series of tools to help me cope, while also encouraging those first few tentative steps forward. He has shown me a new way of living based on honoring the person I am, allowing the universe to provide opportunities rather than trying to force life to conform to my demands, and having the courage to step out of fear into the wider beauty of the world. Less than two years later, I have finished my debut novel, built a new community of friends, found love again, and feel more alive than I have in years! Doug is a truly a special person, a gifted coach, and I am honored to call him a mentor and friend.
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Doug's sessions are well-structured yet flexible, providing everything I need to develop my writing skills. His critiques span a wide spectrum: from large scale issues such as theme and story arc to a sharp focus on details such as character development, dialog and grammar. He has helped me understand the relevance of beats, scenes, chapters, events and character goals, and how they advance the narrative. He has an amazing ability to zero in on obstacles I've accidentally placed on my writing path. His easy-to-understand descriptions, complete with diagrams and dramatic acting out of scenes, provide me with the exact tools I need to move forward. After working with Doug, I know where my story is taking me, and my creative process is strengthened.
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The first draft of my debut novel consisted of 300 pages of empty dialogue with no character development. I tried a few classes and writing workshops, but ended up more confused by all the conflicting advice I was getting. Then I met Doug. To be honest, at first I didn’t want to put in all the work he was demanding—outlines, free writes, revisions, etc. But I trusted him and I trusted the process. As it turns out, it was the best decision I ever made. You see, I was writing a novel about a very dark period in my life—one filled with addiction, debauchery and isolation. And because I was still ashamed of all my past transgressions, I did everything I could to avoid telling the story truthfully. But Doug challenged me to dig deeper and deeper. Through months of hard work and revision after revision, he helped me drill down to the heart of what my story was really about—Me. My own self-forgiveness. His laser-precise critiques and thought-provoking questions helped strengthen me, not only as a writer, but also as a human. I wouldn’t be half the person I am today—the son, the friend, the brother, the writer—had I not put my faith in Doug.
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I recently had the privilege to work with Doug Kurtz as a writing coach. The advice he provided was crucial to improving the structure of my manuscript from a hodge-podge of scenes to a story that follows a plot line. He was also able to guide me in developing the full dimensions of my characters, and in resolving problems with the POV. Doug helped me work a debut author’s draft into a workable manuscript.
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