GROUP Coaching

Weekly Group Coaching for Writers

Writing is not a solitary act. Yes, we write alone, but the true magic happens when our words are witnessed, when our stories are reflected back to us in ways we couldn’t have anticipated, when our meaning-making is met with curiosity instead of correction.

My weekly group coaching sessions are built on this principle. Instead of harsh critique or isolating perfectionism, we grow through admiration, encouragement, and collective witnessing. Writing is a potent tool, and mastering it requires dedication and effort, but it does not have to occur in abusive or isolating environments. These groups provide a space where you can take creative risks, refine your craft, and deepen your voice while being supported by a community that is committed to both artistry and personal evolution.

While my groups are not explicitly therapeutic, they are fertile ground for growth, healing, self-challenge, radical vulnerability, and self-empowerment. The heart of powerful writing isn’t just in what happened—it’s in what we make of it. As a writer, you are not just recounting events; you are shaping meaning, and that is a process best done in community.

For over a decade, I have seen firsthand how members of my feedback groups blossom—honoring their unique voices, embracing creative risks, and thriving not only in their writing endeavors but in their lives as a whole. Yes, we are serious about crafting the best stories, poems, and essays possible, but at our core, we are a collective of individuals who support each other and are committed to the journey of becoming more fully and boldly ourselves.

If you’re ready to deepen your writing practice in a space where your voice is heard, your perspective is honored, and your words are met with curiosity and care, I invite you to join us.

Here’s why joining my group coaching sessions can be transformational, no matter what kind of writer you are:

Memoirists & Personal Essayists

Memoir and personal essay require a balance between storytelling and reflection—between what happened and what it means. In group coaching, you will refine your ability to develop a strong reflective narrator, ensuring your work resonates on both an intellectual and emotional level. Through feedback from me and other writers, you will gain clarity on your story’s core themes and refine your voice in a way that makes your experiences deeply impactful.

Creative Nonfiction Writers & Journalists

The best nonfiction doesn’t just inform—it evokes, compels, and lingers. Whether you’re writing long-form journalism, investigative pieces, or personal essays, this group helps you bring a vivid sense of storytelling to your work, balance factual accuracy with a strong narrative presence, and ensure that your voice remains distinct while engaging your audience in complex ideas.

Poets

Poetry is about precision, rhythm, resonance, and emotion distilled into language. In group coaching, you will receive feedback on how your words land, experiment with form and structure, and refine your work with an audience that is committed to both craft and emotional depth. This is a space to explore, refine, and push your poetic boundaries.

Personal Development & Self-Help Writers

If you’re writing a book to guide, teach, or inspire others, your ability to connect with your reader is everything. Group coaching offers a place to test your ideas, refine your messaging, and ensure that your insights are expressed in a way that is engaging, accessible, and truly transformative for your audience. You will receive feedback on clarity, engagement, and emotional resonance, ensuring that your work is both deeply personal and widely impactful.

Journalers, Diarists & Those Using Writing as a Personal Healing Modality

Writing is one of the most powerful tools for self-exploration, meaning-making, and personal transformation. Whether you are journaling as a daily practice, using writing as a way to process your emotions, or creating a private archive of your life, group coaching can help you deepen your practice.

Here, you will learn how to shape personal writing into something that serves both you and, if you choose, an eventual audience. You will explore new ways of engaging with your writing, receive encouragement in developing a sustainable practice, and learn how to witness yourself with the same depth and curiosity that fuels all great writing. This group is not therapy, but it is deeply supportive. It offers a space where your words—and your experience—are met with care, insight, and the power of collective witnessing.

Fiction Writers & Novelists

Even though my primary focus is nonfiction, fiction writers I work with gain immense value from group coaching. Storytelling is storytelling, and whether you are working on a novel or a short story collection, this space helps you refine your narrative arc, deepen emotional resonance, and ensure that your themes and messages emerge naturally from the story rather than feeling forced. You’ll receive feedback that helps you push your work further while staying true to your unique vision.

Hybrid & Experimental Writers

For those pushing the boundaries of form—braided essays, mixed-media projects, or hybrid prose-poetry experiments—group coaching provides a space where you can test the edges of your work while maintaining coherence and depth. You will receive feedback that helps you harness both the structure and freedom that experimental writing requires.

Writers Working on Long-Term Projects (Books, Collections, Thesis Work, etc.)

Writing a book or a large project is a long, complex, and often isolating process. Group coaching offers a consistent place to check in, receive feedback, and stay accountable to your vision. Whether you are deep into revisions, refining your structure, or still discovering the heart of your book, this space helps you stay engaged and craft something powerful.

Group Coaching: Designed for You

No matter what kind of writing you are doing, the key to growth is engagement—with the craft, with the meaning of your work, and with the process itself. Writing doesn’t thrive in isolation. Group coaching offers a community where you receive in-depth, constructive feedback that aligns with your vision while also challenging you to expand your approach.

If you’re ready to work deeply on your writing, receive expert feedback, and gain clarity and momentum on your project, I invite you to join us.

ENROLL IN GROUP COACHING

“Roxan’s writing group is quite simply the best. I fell into one of Roxan’s writing groups quite by accident and felt challenged by the quality of writers and welcomed at once. After writing on my own for three years I’ve been inspired by the positive and helpful culture she’s created and reinvigorated to challenge myself to get the work done!”

Linda Colwell, MFA
“Roxan is a master teacher: she is funny, insightful, and knows her craft. She builds community amongst her students almost as though it's second nature, though I know she gives lots of thought to how to create a warm, welcoming, and creatively exciting environment. Her insights on my work pushed me into new territories in my writing, and I would not be the successful writer I am today without her. You won't regret taking classes with Roxan!”

Mandie Carol, MFA
“Roxan McDonald is an astonishingly talented writer. She is also a gifted teacher – warm, insightful, funny, and smart. I so admire her combination of skills – both writing and teaching – that I have asked her to assist me in teaching workshops. Participants in these workshops consistently tell me how much they appreciate both her teaching and her presence. She’s a gem – and you’ll learn more than you ever imagined!”

Ellen Bass