Find Clarity. Build Momentum. Finish Your Project.
Most writers know what they want to write. What they don't always know is where to start, how to push through the middle, or what to do when the whole thing starts to feel too big to finish. That's exactly what these sessions are for.
One-on-One Coaching with Brad Smith is personal, flexible, and built entirely around your project. Whether you're staring at a half-finished manuscript, sitting on an idea that's been waiting for years, or just feeling genuinely stuck, Brad will help you figure out your next move and actually take it.
What Makes This Different From the Group Workshop
The Bright House Writers workshop is built around community, shared feedback, and the energy of writing alongside other people. One-on-One Coaching is something different. It's just you and Brad, focused entirely on your project, your challenges, and what it's going to take to get your work done.
These sessions are a good fit for:
- Writers with a specific project or book idea they want to develop
- Anyone who feels stuck or isn't sure where to begin
- Writers who want focused feedback without a group setting
- Busy professionals trying to fit a creative life into a full schedule
Brad focuses on the writer first and the writing second. Before anything else, he wants to understand your vision, your habits, and what's been getting in the way.
How Sessions Work
Sessions are 50 minutes, available in person or online, and scheduled as needed. Some writers book a single session for a focused consultation. Others meet regularly to stay accountable and keep a larger project moving.
You don't need to prepare anything in advance. If you have notes, questions, or a sample of your writing, bring them. If all you have is a vague idea, that's fine too. Brad will help you figure out the rest.
A typical session starts with a conversation about where your project stands and what kind of support would be most useful. From there, Brad asks focused questions, offers direct feedback, and helps you leave with clear next steps, whether that's a writing exercise, something to read, or a practical goal to work toward before you meet again.
- Format: One-on-one
- Length: 50 minutes
- Location: In person or online
- Scheduling: As needed, no commitment required
What You Can Expect
Writers leave sessions with:
- A clearer picture of their project and concrete next steps
- Specific, honest feedback from an experienced writer and teacher
- Practical strategies for getting past creative blocks
- A realistic sense of what it will take to finish
- Encouragement from someone who has been through the process himself
The goal is simple: help you finish your book and become a stronger writer along the way.
Pricing
Monthly Workshops
$100/workshop (first one is FREE)
- Includes: access to the private message board for submitting and reviewing work
- Ongoing support and connection within the Bright House Writers community
1-on-1 Private Coaching
$150/hour
- Includes: step-by-step collaborative building of your project, including reasonable deadlines and a practical schedule
- Written feedback
- In-person conversation about your project
Packages
The Kickstart
Duration: 2 months
Included:
2 Monthly Workshops
2 1-on-1 Private Coaching Sessions
Price: $500 $400 (20% off)
The Momentum Builder
Duration: 3 months
Included:
3 Monthly Workshops
3 1-on-1 Private Coaching Sessions
Price: $750 $600 (20% off)
The Author's Circle
Duration: 3 months
Included:
3 Monthly Workshops
6 1-on-1 Private Coaching Sessions
Price: $1200 $960 (20% off)
About Brad
Brad Smith has a PhD in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Missouri (Columbia) and an MFA in Creative Writing from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas (Austin). His work has been published in journals such as New American Writing, Colorado Review, and Ninth Letter, as well as the Best New Poets anthology. He is the author of Diorama of a People, Burning from Ricochet Editions (2012) and a winner of the Academy of American Poets College Prize.
Brad has taught literature and creative writing courses at the University of Missouri (Columbia) and Truman State University, including Introduction to Creative Writing, Intermediate Poetry, Advanced Fiction Workshop, Introduction to Literary Genres: Short Story, Applying Literary Theory, American Literature: Romanticism-Modernism, and an interdisciplinary course on Rock Music. His book reviews have appeared at THEthe Poetry, and he served as an Artist-in-Residence at BetterFarm Education Center in Redwood, New York.
Testimonials
COMING SOON
If you've worked with Brad and want to share your experience, send him a few sentences by email. It helps other writers understand what coaching can offer.
Common Questions
- Do I need a completed manuscript to start? No. You can come in at any stage, a few pages, a rough outline, or just an idea. Brad will help you figure out where to go from there.
- What types of writing do you work with? Fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, memoir, and academic writing. Brad has experience across all of these and can adapt his approach to wherever your project lives.
- How is this different from the group workshop? Bright House Writers is built around community feedback and shared growth. One-on-One Coaching is entirely focused on your project. Many writers do both, using the group workshop for community and one-on-one sessions for deeper, more personal work.
- Do you give feedback on actual pages? Yes. Brad can offer line-level feedback, big-picture structural notes, or both, depending on what your project needs at that point.
- What if I just want to talk through my ideas before I start writing? Completely fine. Sessions can focus on brainstorming, outlining, or just figuring out what you want to write before a word hits the page.
- How do I schedule? Email BrightHouseWriters@gmail.com
A Note on Scope
One-on-One Coaching sessions with Dr. Brad Smith are intended for creative development, skill-building, and project support. They are not a substitute for licensed therapy, medical care, or psychological treatment.
For more information, visit the full Disclaimer page.