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Creative work can feel pretty lonely sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be. Having a creative community working alongside you, cheering for you and commiserating with you is a key…
3 FREE Workshops in October. REGISTER NOW!
Saturday October 18, 2025, Jessica is presenting 2 FREE workshops for the Johnson County Library Writers Conference. No Such Thing As A Solitary Writer: Building a Comprehensive Creative Support System…
AI Lawsuit. Did you publish a book before 2002?
My agency reached out this morning regarding the Bartz v. Anthropic copyright class action lawsuits brought by authors against AI companies. My agency is recommending authors whose books were published before…
Save the Date – 2 FREE workshops in October
Saturday October 18, 2025, Jessica is presenting 2 FREE workshops for the Johnson County Library Writers Conference. Registration details to come. No Such Thing As A Solitary Writer: Building a…
Author Bios – They’re Not All About You
While your author bio is about you, it’s not for you. Your bio is really for readers who want to get to know you and promoters who want to sell…
It’s time to jump.
You know in your creative project when you’re at the edge of a new level in your work, and you know you’re supposed to take the project there—but you’re scared…
Buy back your time with RSS feeds.
Last month I changed my email service provider for one reason alone—RSS feed functionality. I don’t like having to do things more than once, and RSS feeds on my website(s)…
FREE Query Class this Saturday
There’s still time to register for OWNING THE QUERY PROCESS. When: Saturday, May 31st, 2025 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. CST Who should attend: Writers who feel disenchanted or burned out from the…
Reminder to Back Up Your Subscribers Lists!
Are you collecting & backing up your email lists? If you are counting on creative-work income to help cover your expenses, are you backing up your list from subscriber platforms?…
2 Free May Classes!
Join our founder, Jessica Conoley, for these FREE upcoming classes! The Business of Writing & Authorship When: Thursday, May 22, 2025 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. CST Mid-Continent Public Library’s Story…
Dream Enabling – It’s a Relationship Thing.
“Do you have any trips planned?” the Dream Enabler asked. “I want to go to Vermont to see this pair of mediums, but I’m only going to do it if…
Grow Your Creative Career Workshop Series
Are you ready to unlock your full creative potential & gain momentum in your creative work? Great! Join Jessica for an empowering, enlightening, and expansive workshop series where we focus…
Do You Recognize the Spark of Your Creative Guidance?
The 8 is Great challenge has been in swing for a few weeks now. (There’s still time to join. Full info can be found here.) One unexpected outcome was the…
Eight is Great. Do You Want to Play?
January isn’t about New Year’s resolutions for me. It’s about getting through the coldest, darkest (often loneliest) part of the year with my mental health intact. And I have to…
Deconstructing the creative misbelief: This is a solo career.
If creation was a solo act there wouldn’t be orchestras, or comic books, or restaurants. Some things are impossible to do on our own, and living a creative existence is…
Misbeliefs – Are You Ready to Blow Your Inheritance?
Most people think they’re coming to coaching to learn; in reality they’re coming to unlearn. They sign up for coaching because they feel “stuck,” “blocked,” or “need to learn more.”…
November Workshops with CE Coaches
Join our founder, Jessica Conoley for these upcoming workshops! CE Coaches Saturday Workshops Session 2: What: Owning the Query Process: How to Find Your Agent from a Place of Empowerment…
Workshops Coming Soon! Save The Date!
Join our founder, Jessica Conoley for these upcoming workshops! CE Coaches Saturday Workshops Session 1: What: Critique Partner Collaboration: How to Level Up Your Critique Relationships When: October 5, 2024 at…
100 Rejections. Let’s Celebrate.
I wrote the following in 2016, when I was deep in the querying trenches trying to find an agent.There is something to be learned from all that rejection. So to…
Meet the editor: Natasha Hanova
I never thought of myself as a coach. The first time a friend suggested that I’d make a goodcoach, I brushed them off. Told them that’s outside of my area…
We are now The CE Coaches!
I love a good plot twist, and my company has thrown me a big one this year. It’s time for a new name and some major tweaks at the foundation…
Lurking – That’s What Hobbyists Do, & You’re NOT a Hobbyist
Introverts tend to be social media lurkers. We’ll scroll endlessly, without parceling out a single like. No comments. No shares. And definitely no posts—because if we dared to do any…
Introvert Marketing for Uninitiated* Creatives
Don’t worry about marketing until you know who you are as a creative. For marketing to be effective it needs to be authentic. It’s impossible to be authentic if you…
A New Experiment—Introvert Marketing
In May we’re beginning a new experiment over on Instagram. It’s such a serious face experiment I hired a virtual assistant to help with the logistics and keep me accountable…
JOIN US AT THIS YEAR’S NEBULA AWARDS!
We’re excited to announce Jessica has been invited to be a panelist at this year’s Nebula Awards conference in Pasadena, CA. When: June 6-9th, 2024. Her specific panel is at…
Monthly coaching + ALL of our On-Demand Classes
This month we updated the benefits of joining our monthly membership program! If you’d like to join this fantastic group of individuals and receive monthly coaching at our most affordable…
Deepen Your POV by Chopping Filter Words
Writing sounds simple. How hard can it be to make stuff up, right? That’s the easy part. Keeping readers engaged and/or the word count from spiraling out of control is…
Workshops – March 2024
Join our founder, Jessica Conoley, in our TCA Saturday Pilot Workshops! When: Every other Saturday. Noon – 1:30 p.m. CST Cost: Symbolic Pricing a/k/a Pay What You Can Afford. (Suggested…
6 Upcoming Events – Feb & Mar 2024
Includes 2 FREE workshops! Join Jessica and the writers’ of CIWA for: Beta Reader Basics When: LIVE Monday February 19, 2024. 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. CST Cost: $FREE How…
Want more dedicated time to work on YOUR projects?
We’re adding a 4th weekly co-working session to the calendar to kick of the new year. For those of you not familiar with co-working, it is also known as body…
Saturday Workshop Series Coming Jan 2024
Start the new year with new energy and new perspective on your creative career by joining our Saturday workshop series! Join us for one or all of the workshops. Ignite…
FREE Writers Conference this Friday
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 20239:30-10:30 a.m. Central TimeOur founder, Jessica Conoley, is presenting a workshop with Dawn Downey. Developmental Editing: What, Why, When 2023 Writers Conference, Johnson County LibraryJohnson County Central…
Pay Yourself to Create
If you want to be the person who supports yourself with your creative career, then it’s time to take a good look at money and how you are going to…
FREE June Workshop
Join our founder, Jessica Conoley, and the writers’ of CIWA for: The Most Important Choice of Your Creative Career–Mindset When: Monday, June 19, 2023. 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. CST Cost:…
Why Asking for Feedback is a Crucial Step to Getting Paid for Your Work
Owning your identity as a creative is the most important level-up you can make in the early stages of your career. This article breaks down how to own your worth…
Upcoming Events – Spring 2023
April, May, & June workshops. 2 FREE upcoming events! Join Jessica Conoley and Jane Friedman for: Finding & Working with Beta Readers When: LIVE Thursday, April 27. noon CST or…
Recommended Reading – Shirzad Chamine: Positive Intelligence
Positive Intelligence is an immediately impactful, simple, mindset and habit change system. Every creative I have ever worked with has loads of motivation to get their creativity out into the…
Quiet Dream Assassin Brain Chatter.
Your brain wants to keep you safe. Which means keeping you in your comfort zone. When you start giving yourself credit for all the baby steps in your work you…
Recommended Reading – John Cleese: Creativity
Creativity: A short and cheerful guide is a must read for Creatives. This quick read (103 pages) by Monty Python’s John Cleese reminds you of everything you forgot about creativity,…
Are You Giving Yourself Credit?
You know when you’ve had a really good creative day and you feel all that positive energy as you wrap up your work session? When you get up from your…
Business Boost – January Reminders
3 reminders for January. This month is the perfect time to set your creative business up for success. 1) Renew your company’s annual filing with your state. If you’ve already…
Receive the Gift of CLARITY with a FREE one-on-one Coaching Session This Month!
Do you know what you want for your creative career? Are you confident of the next steps on how to get there? Do you know how to keep the creation…
Blog Post Roundup
Our blog content covers craft, mindset, business, recommended reads, and more. Catch up on past posts with this quick reference roundup! Creative Life & Well-being Building Your Creative Support Triangle…
3 Steps Out of Overwhelm
Paralysis due to overwhelm is one of the biggest emotional hurdles creatives encounter; but don’t worry you’re just three steps from inspired action and getting your project back on track.…
Slay Your Dream Assassins Launch!
Want to boost your productivity, creativity, and happiness while improving your relationships? TCA has the perfect class for you and we want to gift you a FREE coaching session today!…
Celebrate-An Interview With Our Founder
Johnson County Library interviewed our founder, Jessica Conoley. Jessica loves presenting at this local writers’ conference every year, and she had a blast sharing her Most Important Choice of Your…
Creating Through the Impossible
If you’re having a hard time creating because of personal crisis or chaos, Jessica has step-by-step guidance to help you move forward. One of the most phenomenal (and underrated) parts…
UPCOMING EVENTS – October 2022
FREE Writers Conference, Slay Your Dream Assassins, New On-Demand Class Launching, Group Author Coaching now open for enrollment! Thursday, November 17th– Sunday, November 20th | TCA is offering sessions as…
How TCA Can Help You
Curious about working with TCA? Here are all the ways we would love to help you. Newsletter We deliver craft, business, and mindset articles to your inbox. You also receive…
UPCOMING EVENTS – September 2022
Saturday, October 1st, 2022. 11:00 a.m. CST | The Most Important Choice of Your Writing Career: Mindset | FREE Virtual Workshop as part of WriteHiveLite. Registration Required. WriteHive Lite is…
Upcoming Events with TCA Coaches-April 2022
Thursday, April 21st. 7:00 p.m. CST. FREE Critique Partner (& Groups) Virtual Workshop. Registration Required. The right Critique Partners and Critique Groups can boost your writing to the next level…
The Places Your Creative Work Will Go Without You – Creative Stewardship In Action
This week’s guest post from Dawn Downey is proof that our creative work is NEEDED in the world. Proof that your creative work has a life of its own. Proof…
First 5 Steps After You Get Paid for Your Creation
A client asked if we had TCA classes in the works about how to set up business structures. I assured her, yes that class is coming, (So many classes are…
Upcoming Events with TCA coaches – March 2022
Thursday, March 3, 2022. 7 p.m. CST FREE Querying & The Agent Author Relationship Virtual Workshop. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. For writers seeking traditional publication the right agent is key. Our TCA coaches cover…
The Creativity Support Triangle At Work
Do you know why we’re always talking about our Creative Support Triangle? Because it’s the foundation of leveling up in your creative career. Today’s post is by author Shannon A.…
Imari’s Take: Beta Readers
Okay, so you’ve written your manuscript. You’ve typed it letter by letter, word by word, paragraph by paragraph and now it’s finally done. Congratulations! That is an accomplishment and a…
Upcoming Events with TCA Coaches – February 2022
Thursday, March 3, 2022. 7 p.m. CST FREE Querying & The Agent Author Relationship Virtual Workshop. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. For writers seeking traditional publication the right agent is key. Our TCA…
Join a Virtual Co-working session!
Did you know we run virtual co-working sessions three times a week? Think of them as scheduled dates with your creative work. We chat for the first 15 minutes, work for…
Mindset: What Your Writing Is Training You For
I had a coaching call this week with a client who was living the creative dream. A highly anticipated book launch with great reviews, support from the publisher, deals in…
Marketing – Why Does It Make Creative’s Cringe?
Marketing is the most cringe-worthy thing for our clients. They love creating something amazing, but the thought of telling people about it or *gasp* asking for money makes them want…
We’re crazy about 22! Refer a friend & get a credit on your next class!
Have you already taken one of our On-Demand learning classes? If you found it helpful, refer a friend through your Teachable account. You’ll get a 22% credit to apply to…
Upcoming Events with TCA Coaches – January 2022
Did you know we run virtual co-working sessions three times a week? Think of them as a scheduled date-night with your creative work. Co-working sessions run: Mondays 10 a.m. –…
We’re kicking off 2022 with $22 On-Demand TCA Classes!
Do you want to launch your website this year? Or do you feel like Mindset issues have been holding you back from reaching your writing & creative goals? TCA can…
The Social Media Experiment – Part 1
At TCA we’re all working creatives. We know expectations are high, time is short, and the workload feels unbearable. Which is why we’re always looking for realistic, high impact ways…
Your Final Responsibility to Your Story: Creative Stewardship
As writers, it can feel daunting, vulnerable, and impossible when we contemplate sending our own stories out into the world. So when end stage paralysis strikes you, it’s time to…
Launch Announcement: Author Websites 101
As an author, it is essential to have a web presence to launch your career, and The Creative’s Apprentice is ready to help you take off with Author Websites 101!…
Upcoming Events with TCA Coaches – December 2021
Tuesday, December 14th, 2021 – 7 p.m. CST. FREE Beta Reader Basics workshop. Join Jessica Conoley via Zoom as we cover everything you ever wanted to know about getting the most…
Productivity: Your Analyzer Switch & How to Use It
Every writer’s brain contains an analyzer switch. The switch regulates analytical thinking, which is the part of brain that dissects drafts and figures out how to improve projects during revisions.…
Applications open for January 2022 Group Apprenticeship Coaching!
We’ve spent years refining a coaching system that: helps you build a writing support system, demystifies the business side of publishing, and provides personalized guidance through the next steps of…
It’s time to Celebrate! Lora Senf’s The Clackity
Congratulations to Lora Senf on her upcoming middle grade horror novel–The Clackity. Lora’s a graduate of the first class of our Group Apprenticeship Coaching program, and we are so happy…
Upcoming Events with TCA Coaches – November 2021
Friday, November 5th & Saturday, November 6th, 2021. Johnson County Library’s Virtual Writers Conference. This FREE conference is 100% online, & Jessica Conoley is hosting after-hours book discussions on both Friday…
Craft: Drawing Readers Into Your World
I love when authors create a place so well that I’m tempted to add it to my Place To Visit list, but then remember it’s only a fantasy world. When…
Upcoming Events with TCA Coaches
Save the date for two FREE virtual conferences where you can connect with our TCA Coaches. Natasha Hanova is teaching at the Write Hive Lite Retreat- Saturday, October 2nd, 2021.…
Building Your Creative Support Triangle
Every writer I know who has lasted in the publishing industry for more than five years has one thing in common: a support system that functions on multiple levels. Everything…
Launch Announcement: Mindset & Your Creative Career
We’re launching our On-Demand learning series July 9, 2021, with: Mindset & Your Creative Career! We chose to launch our On-Demand Courses with a mindset class because the decisions you…
The Most Significant Choice Of Your Writing Career
The most significant choice of your writing career happens long before your story makes its way into the world. This choice impacts every single aspect of your career, and it…