LitMinds Blog and Interviews

Beth Barany is a creative writing coach who applies some very interesting techniques to help her clients "uncover the hidden diamond within."  She does in-person and over-the-phone tarot consultations, as her website describes it:

 "Using her clairvoyant and intuitive abilities and the vivid imagery of tarot, Beth looks at the issue behind the issue, the energies holding you back and propelling you forward. Her specialty is helping you uncover your joy, passion and fun, and assisting you find ways to bring these qualities into your daily life."

Does it work?  We can't say but, it sure sounds like a reasonable option to try if you ever find your efforts thwarted with writer's block! 

We asked Beth to tell us more about her writing life and the advice she's received and the advice she gives her clients in this interview... 

1) What is the best advice you have received about writing and from whom did you receive it?

Write every day. Many people have said that, and I finally believe them. And my mother said write the beginning, the middle, then the end. She learned that from her grandmother, my great grandmother, who was a writer. Yah, it's in the family.

2) How much does one’s reading habits factor into their success as a writer?  Do you advise people on what or how much to read as part of your coaching?  What are your own reading interests and habits?

If one wants to write, one needs to read. I don't advise people to read, but I do ask them what they read. If someone wants to write a science fiction novel but has never read one, I might say something, but that hasn't happened to me yet. I read science fiction, fantasy, romance, science magazines, such as New Scientist and Wired, nonfiction books on numerology and tarot, triathlon training and fitness. Oh, and sometimes I read the paper, including the French papers.

3) You include tarot consultations as part of your work as a writing coach.  How do you see these two activities relating to one another?  How might folks benefit from a tarot card reading while in the midst of their writing process?

Ah, my favorite topic. Tarot is a window to the soul. And what are we doing as an artist but rendering a bit of soul on the page. We draw from a deep well when we write and tarot can help us better do that. Offering tarot consultations is another way to assist writers in their creative process, and an effective way to address issues that prevent the writer from working optimally on their art. If you are stuck, pulling a card can illuminate that which needs to be addressed. Just the other day I pulled cards to help me focus on my novel's premise. The cards challenged my thinking and got me out of my rut. Other writers have used the tarot consultation to address other issues besides writing or their creative concerns, such as spirituality, relationships, finances, home, and family.

4) You have taught English to English language learners in Paris and the San Francisco Bay Area.  What is your background in learning languages?  How does teaching others a language inform your work as a writing coach?  How are these processes similar and different?

I'm fluent in French, something I wanted to be from age 13. My dream took me to study a year in Quebec, Canada, while in high school. As a young adult, I was an au pair in Paris, France, for a year and a half. And most recently, my husband and I lived in Paris, and studied and worked for two years. Besides French, I also know a spattering of Portuguese, German, Japanese, and a good deal of Spanish, being a native California.

Needless to say, I love languages. As a former language teacher, I am sensitive to the ambiguities and nuances of English on a mechanical level. It is quite a flexible language, and so much fun to play with. With the French dictionary in my head, I know of even more ways to express myself. As a coach, this translates into my compassion and understanding of the basic challenge of expressing ourselves in language. As a language teacher, I taught basic to advanced students.

The same is true in my coaching and teaching of writing. They are obviously different in that my focus on coaching is about creativity. As an EFL teacher I didn't always have the luxury to be so creative, though much of the time I tried to find ways to make language learning fun.

5) You are also a writer.  Tell us a bit about your published works and works in progress.  Describe for us what your writing voice is like.

I am published in nonfiction, having written many book reviews and interviews and a few investigative pieces. A list of publications is here. My nonfiction voice was more journalistic; my fiction voice is up close and a little in your face. I have to say that voice is something that changes with time and with what I'm writing. Overall, I'd say "direct" is my preferred voice. My only hope is that it comes across! My work in progress is a young adult fantasy novel. I'm currently working on book two in the series. I'm planning at least one more, but who knows!

6) What qualities are necessary for someone to be a good writing coach?  If someone is looking for a writing coach, what suggestions would you give them about finding one?

To be a good writing coach, you need to have compassion for and love the creative process. You need to understand all the problems writers encounter, from the emotional and psychological—so called "writer's block"—, to the nuts and bolts issues, such as plot and characterization, structure and voice. You need to understand these from the lived experience, by either being a writer yourself, or be curious enough about the process to help a writing untangle the confusion. Ultimately, you need to understand from your own experience what it means to make art, and you need to be able to articulate that, and help someone through the process.

To find a writing coach is not hard. Every writer's magazine has classified ads in the back, and many of us have websites. Most of us offer a complimentary consultation to see how we work. To choose one, I'd suggest contacting a few for the complimentary consultation, asking about their work as an artist and a coach, experiencing their approach, and seeing for yourself if there is a good fit.