Break Out of Your “Not a Real Writer” Box
A Live Mindset Workshop to Stop Doubting and Start Writing
You’ve said you want to write your stories.
But the days slip past.
The essay ideas simmer.
The laundry gets folded.
And the writing—the thing you care about most—stays buried beneath everything else. Because somewhere inside, there's still that voice that says, “But I’m not a real writer.”
This isn’t about time.
It’s deeper than discipline.
And it’s definitely not about your potential.
It’s the barrier you imagine separates you from the people who write their stories, get them published in the world, and bring joy, connection, and comfort to their readers.
It’s about the stories the world has handed you—and the box it’s kept you in.
This workshop is how you break out.
What to Expect
Getting Real with Yourself
This isn’t a lecture. It’s a live, coached experience designed to confront the mindset patterns that keep creative nonfiction writers stuck. We’ll name the fear. Work through the resistance. And build a new mental framework for your writing life.
Making the First Move
You won’t just listen. You’ll act. Through live prompts and structured coaching, you’ll shift from "maybe someday" to "here’s what I’m doing next." You’ll finally see writing your story as something doable—because it is.
Take It With You
This isn’t a feel-good moment that fades. It’s a shift you’ll take with you into every blank page. One insight. One tool. One commitment that reshapes your writing rhythm for good.
What You'll Leave With
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Understanding what’s really been in your way
Get honest (and gentle) insight into why you haven’t been writing—and why more discipline isn’t the answer. -
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Tools to quiet the inner jerkface
You’ll walk away with mindset strategies you can use the next time doubt or perfectionism show up, so you can keep moving anyway. -
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A writing life that fits your real life
You’ll design a vision that’s grounded in reality, not fantasy. Something you can actually follow through on. -
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A clear next step you’ll actually take
You’ll leave with one specific action that feels possible, personal, and powerful—so you know exactly how to begin again. -
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A new relationship with your voice
You’ll reconnect with your story in a way that feels true, grounded, and uniquely yours. -
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A shift in how you see yourself as a writer
This isn’t about calling yourself a writer someday. It’s about showing up as one now—and believing it.
The Deets
Date: Friday, June 6
Time: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time
Where: Live on Zoom (no replay)
Cost: $149
Capacity: Limited to 24 participants for a focused, high-impact experience
Hosted by: Paulette Perhach—writer, coach, and founder of the Finishing School for Writers
About Paulette Perhach
Now a regular contributor to The New York Times and author of multiple million-reader viral essays, Paulette had to overcome major mindset shifts to make her writing life happen.
Growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, she nearly failed out of 6th grade.
Through her book, Welcome to the Writer’s Life, chosen as one of Poets & Writers’ Best Books for writers, as well as her classes and coaching, she’s helped thousands of writers break through the self-doubt, the shame, and the labels to allow their creativity to flow.
Live event only
No replay. No rewatching. No more waiting.
This is a one-time, live-only experience because the shift happens in the room. When you’re present, engaged, and showing up with others ready to change, something moves. That’s the point.
That’s why it’s live. That’s why it’s limited. And that’s why it works.
Limited to 24 students!
Limited to 24 students!
A 3-hour mindset workshop for writers ready to get out from under their self-doubt.
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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Nope. This workshop is about mindset, not mastery. Whether you’ve published essays or just scribbled in a journal, you’re welcome here. If you’ve felt the pull to write and haven’t been able to follow through—this is for you.
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A little, yes. You’ll get a few gentle prompts to help you reflect and reconnect. No breakout rooms, no “sharing with the group” required. You’ll write for you.
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We start with a guided reflection, then move into live mindset coaching and interactive teaching. You’ll walk away with a clearer sense of what’s been holding you back and what to do about it. We wrap with a powerful next-step plan.
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Most workshops focus on craft. This one focuses on you. We’ll dig into the mindset patterns—like perfectionism, fear, and comparison—that silently stall even the most talented writers. The shift starts there.
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Yes. There’s time carved out for Q&A and light coaching. If you’re one of the 25 participants, you’ll have the chance to speak up or just listen in and take what resonates.
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Writing groups are great for support and accountability. This is about the deep internal work that helps those systems actually stick. Think of this as your internal reset—so that everything else you’ve tried starts working better.
The Money-Back Guaranteed
Mindset Shift
If you show up, do the work, and don’t experience a mindset shift that moves you forward, email my team within 48 hours and we’ll refund you. No awkwardness. No hoops.
We don’t want your money if this doesn’t help.
We want you writing.
You’ve waited long enough. Let’s change what happens next.