Welcome! I’m Lauren… 

A writer and writing teacher

My mission is to create deeply and help others deeply create. Sign up to receive news about writing process and the writing life – and get a funky infographic I made called How To Write. 

 

WHAT’S NEW

Write With Me!

If you have a novel draft and want to dive deep into revisions with assistance from someone who’s *been there* successfully, I am now offering Novel Coaching. Combining ZOOM calls, substantive edits on a chunk of your book, and weekly email support, this three-month program can help you make real progress on your manuscript. 

If you’re looking for less of a time commitment, my workshop Deep Character: From People To Plot will help you understand how character leads to plot and get you thinking about your own compelling story arc.  

 

“We work in the dark – we do what we can – we give what we have.”

– Joyce Carol Oates

Discover my work

Read

“Beautiful and emotional” (Publishers Weekly). “Somberly melodic” (Booklist). “Stunning” (the Canadian Book Review Annual). Discover my books.

Write

Want to finally finish that novel? Craving a writing retreat in the woods with supportive community?

Write with me online or on retreat, and I’ll help you improve your craft, set goals, tackle revisions, and build faith in your writer self.

“Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences.”

– Sylvia Plath

My Blog

Languishing

Languishing

Apr 22, 2021 | 3 Comments

I’ve been using my phone timer a lot lately. Twenty minutes to load the dishwasher. Twenty minutes to work on editing my printed out manuscript. Twenty minutes to walk the cat around the yard. Twenty minutes to learn some French. Answer e-mails. Go on Twitter. Repeat....

Raising the Stakes

Raising the Stakes

Apr 9, 2021 | 4 Comments

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com J. read through the latest draft of my new novel last week. He gave me a lot of notes. My favourite scrawl in the margin: “next couple of chapters don’t feel right – WTF feeling – not in a good way.” This note is my favourite because...

Patience

Patience

Mar 26, 2021 | 2 Comments

Early this week, I finished the latest draft of a new novel. When I reached the end, after days and days (and days) of slow, plodding progress, I felt surprised. It was like thinking you've got a couple of hours left to drive then spotting the sign marking the city...

TESTIMONIALS

Praise from clients

 

I am so very grateful to you for your editing suggestions and your ongoing encouragement. I didn’t have the confidence to send writing off for publication last year, but your help this year built my confidence, strengthened my writing, and gave me courage to begin submitting my pieces - and now one is being published in an anthology! Thank you for these gifts!

Tabatha Nordby

Lauren Carter
2021-06-01T21:47:47+00:00

Tabatha Nordby

I am so very grateful to you for your editing suggestions and your ongoing encouragement. I didn’t have the confidence to send writing off for publication last year, but your help this year built my confidence, strengthened my writing, and gave me courage to begin submitting my pieces - and now one is being published in an anthology! Thank you for these gifts!
Before I did my blue pencil critique session with Lauren I wasn’t sure if I’d ever finish my novel. My revisions weren’t going well and I had encountered several structural problems I didn’t know how to resolve. After meeting with Lauren I feel excited about it again. She was incredibly insightful and helped me build confidence in my creative process. She provided me with the tools, knowledge and resources I need to restructure my novel. Lauren also helped me create a clear plan I can follow to accomplish my goals without feeling so overwhelmed.

E. B. Page

Lauren Carter
2019-03-19T19:50:27+00:00

E. B. Page

Before I did my blue pencil critique session with Lauren I wasn’t sure if I’d ever finish my novel. My revisions weren’t going well and I had encountered several structural problems I didn’t know how to resolve. After meeting with Lauren I feel excited about it again. She was incredibly insightful and helped me build confidence in my creative process. She provided me with the tools, knowledge and resources I need to restructure my novel. Lauren also helped me create a clear plan I can follow to accomplish my goals without feeling so overwhelmed.
Lauren is a wonderful coach! She was always thoughtful, supportive, insightful and ready with just the right readings and resources. These days, the fact that I’ve committed to keeping my writing time [when faced with childcare challenges], rather than just throwing up my hands and losing steam (as has happened in the past) says a lot about how far I’ve come in the two months I’ve been with her! I really *feel* like a writer who is actively engaged in her practice! I am so excited about what is to come, and I’m so grateful for all she’s done to help me along the way!

Tara Borin, author of The Pit

Lauren Carter
2018-05-06T15:42:43+00:00

Tara Borin, author of The Pit

Lauren is a wonderful coach! She was always thoughtful, supportive, insightful and ready with just the right readings and resources. These days, the fact that I’ve committed to keeping my writing time [when faced with childcare challenges], rather than just throwing up my hands and losing steam (as has happened in the past) says a lot about how far I’ve come in the two months I’ve been with her! I really *feel* like a writer who is actively engaged in her practice! I am so excited about what is to come, and I’m so grateful for all she’s done to help me along the way!
I’m writing regularly on my own stuff now. This is something I’ve been wanting to do for 20+ years, but I’ve always had reasons why I couldn’t keep it up: the year-end is due, I have freelance writing deadlines, I have a 10+ item list of admin tasks; I’m a Mom; I’m busy! Lauren, very patiently, supportively, and non-judgmentally, gave me resources that spoke to my situation, put up a mirror to my “crazies”, and encouraged me to kick them down one by one. It was quite a journey and I’m eternally grateful!

A.G.

Lauren Carter
2018-05-06T15:43:19+00:00

A.G.

I’m writing regularly on my own stuff now. This is something I’ve been wanting to do for 20+ years, but I’ve always had reasons why I couldn’t keep it up: the year-end is due, I have freelance writing deadlines, I have a 10+ item list of admin tasks; I’m a Mom; I’m busy! Lauren, very patiently, supportively, and non-judgmentally, gave me resources that spoke to my situation, put up a mirror to my “crazies”, and encouraged me to kick them down one by one. It was quite a journey and I’m eternally grateful!
I was stuck, and just could not make myself get to my desk and start working again even though I had projects waiting. Lauren's course really kick-started me. I found the connection with the other participants and the conversations triggered by the course material to be enormously helpful and inspiring. I am back at my desk, committed to a regular writing practice again. Thanks, Lauren, this course was exactly what I needed to get working again.

Nancy Hall

Lauren Carter
2019-03-15T20:46:42+00:00

Nancy Hall

I was stuck, and just could not make myself get to my desk and start working again even though I had projects waiting. Lauren's course really kick-started me. I found the connection with the other participants and the conversations triggered by the course material to be enormously helpful and inspiring. I am back at my desk, committed to a regular writing practice again. Thanks, Lauren, this course was exactly what I needed to get working again.
Lauren is a personable, astute listener-teacher who gives thought-provoking challenges and exercises.

M. Guymer

Lauren Carter
2019-03-19T19:46:54+00:00

M. Guymer

Lauren is a personable, astute listener-teacher who gives thought-provoking challenges and exercises.
I’m feeling really great about the writing; thank you so much for helping me get my practice back!

E.C.

Lauren Carter
2018-05-06T15:43:50+00:00

E.C.

I’m feeling really great about the writing; thank you so much for helping me get my practice back!
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Lauren Carter

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