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Valerie Ihsan, Story Analyst and Author Coach specializing in Memoir.

I've been working in this field, helping authors, for seventeen years. My favorite thing to do for writers is a story analysis, and I love coaching. I run a small writing retreat every summer in Oregon, and I podcast with author Erick Mertz on the Writer Craft Podcast.

Featured Post

EMBODY - a new video series

Hello my friends, I wanted to let you all know about a new video series that I'm running on Patreon, starting next week. https://patreon.com/valerieihsan It's called EMBODY, and it's all about living a more fit and intuitive life. My personal goals for this project: lose weight, gain strength, balance, and flexibility. To feel connected to spirit, expanding my intuitive practice with tarot and oracle cards, with channeling through automatic writing, seeing signs in the universe, like...

Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop Hello Writers! The retreat is coming up in just two weeks. We still have a few three-day tickets left, and there are Day Passes, as well. You can get the final details HERE, and buy the tickets HERE. One last announcement: In case you were on the fence about coming to the retreat, I've decided I will not be hosting one next year. Our Costa Rica move is finally slated to happen next year, and I'll be focused on coordinating that. (It sounds like a...

... That's what my MoonX app affirmation said this morning. A perfect reminder to both treat and nurture yourself, but also to invest in yourself and do things a little out of your comfort zone. This year, not only have I opened the writer's retreat up to non-writers, I've also heard the need for Day Passes. Introducing: Day Passes Sometimes, we can't get away for three days. (We can't get the time off, child care would be too hard, and who would stay with the dogs?) I get it. Totally. The...

I'm happy to announce that the summer accountability group coaching cohort starts NEXT WEEK! (How did June happen already?) Every Wednesday at 4 p.m. Pacific, six fabulous people will be meeting up for an hour to celebrate their weekly wins, encourage each other to success, and set up goals for the coming week. We take turns with the "hot seat" -- bringing a question or challenge to our cohort colleagues that we can hash out together, giving others the chance to share their wisdom and provide...

feet up and white wine by the river

Hello Creatives! I have a special announcement, and it's going out to all of you--Writers, Readers, Students, Alumni, Friends, and Family. Many of you know that I host an annual writing retreat on the Mckenzie River in Oregon. THIS YEAR, I'm opening up the remaining tickets to non-writers, as well. Here's why. The retreat theme this year is Aligned Action. The workshops reflect that. And while we'll be talking about: character development, marketing, and writer's block, we also will be...

Hello! I'm happy to announce I've just published another book. It's the first in a new series for writers. The Focus and Finish series will have books on the business mindset for writers, like: Goal-Setting and Strategic Planning for Writers Strategies for Authors and Other Entrepreneurs Checklists for Authors Accountability for Authors As a gift to my writing community (and as a marketing tool--let's be honest), I am offering the first book in the series for free. It's available right now on...

Breakfast Workshop at Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshop I listened. Some of the feedback I got from last year's retreat was the desire for more workshops! Click Here for Updated Retreat Info Behold! Here are the workshops scheduled for this year's retreat. Transforming Your Limiting Beliefs and Fears to Address Writers Block Writers block often is a product of mindset. Fears that it won’t be good enough, that writing is too hard, uncertainty about word choice, character development...

Hello Writing Friends, I just wanted to make sure that you knew that the monthly payment option for the 2024 writing retreat (https://valerieihsan.com/retreat) ends on January 31st (next week!). The regular price of $999 (or $166.50/mo for six months) gets you: three days and nights alongside the Mackenzie River in Marcola, Oregon; gourmet meals for all three days and nights; four workshops; optional scene analysis; two 30-minute coaching sessions (taking place before and/or after the retreat...

I had great plans for this weekend. There was going to be yard work (we had bark delivered on Thursday) and a reading with a reception afterwards to celebrate the publication of the anthology—Bookstore Clerks and Significant Others—who published my essay, Eye Contact. But No. But it did slow me down enough to remember that I wanted to tell you about my Focus and Finish Group Coaching program that’s starting on Tuesday. Group coaching is brilliant because, not only is it an affordable option...

Hello Creatives! I wanted to send a quick email reminding folks that the Early Bird pricing for the 2024 Writer Craft Writing Retreat and Workshops will end this weekend. And the opportunity for monthly payment option will end as well (on December 31st). This year's retreat will be our best ever! Included in your tuition price: all meals lodging two 30-minute coaching sessions (before or after the retreat via Zoom) open mic night three breakfast workshops one luncheon workshop scene analysis...