Rachel Grosvenor is an author, writing coach and editor with a truly exceptional career to date. Her portfolio includes two novels and a long list of short story and poetry publications. She is also a prolific blogger and content creator.
In addition to her own writing, she also works with aspiring authors, helping them to achieve their own writing dreams. More information about the coaching Rachel offers is available on her website.
Oh, and did I mention she has a PhD in Creative Writing? So you best believe she knows her stuff!
I caught up with Rachel to find out what she is working on right now and to try and discover the secret to her superhuman productivity!
Hi Rachel, why don’t you start by telling us what you are working on right now?
Hello! In my personal writing life, I’ve just started my fourth novel. My third novel is taking a well-earned break before editing! Both are set in the same fantastical world, The Nameless Stretch, a dangerous place with strong influences from the wild west. I’m writing fantasy at the moment because that’s the genre I enjoy the most.
I’m also spending this month developmental editing a fantastic new author’s novel and working with my coaching clients. As well as this, I’ve created a forty-class online course on how to write a novel – from idea to publication! I’m just finishing this off and getting it ready to launch along with a new website in the next few months. Life is never quiet, but that’s just how I like it.
Holy Moly! That is a lot. Now, as a Doctor of Creative Writing with your own coaching business, you must live writing. Can you tell us where the fascination began and what the journey has been like?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and when I was fourteen I read The Lord of the Rings, which cemented the dream for me. I still can’t think of anything better than creating worlds!
The journey has been a lot of hard work, but fun. It was essential to me to study something I was passionate about when I went to university, so I chose a BA in Creative Writing. After graduating, I took a few years out, and I didn’t write much at that time. The decision to do an MA in CW was vital – I realised that my writing education needed to continue, and I wanted to start taking it seriously. Being back in a room with writers and lecturers who studied the subject was enlightening. I started writing again and threw myself back into my dream. At that time, the Creative Writing PhD at the University of Birmingham didn’t exist. My supervisor asked me if I would be interested, and I became the first person to study it there. It grew quickly, and I was grateful for it – I’m still in touch with the writers I met on that course and love following their writing careers.
"You never know how far your story will go, and just because the road isn’t easy, it doesn’t mean that it won’t be worth it."
After finishing in 2016, I completed some more courses to build my coaching skillset – there are too many to list here, but they’re on my website if anyone is interested! As well as becoming a certified coach, I completed an ILM Level 2, a year-long course that is the equivalent of a GCSE, which focuses on the skills you need to motivate, organise and encourage others.
While doing all of this, I was also working as a creative writing lecturer and adult tutor. Working two jobs while studying for a full-time PhD was not easy! But, it was one of the most valuable times of my life because I learned how to create a routine, prioritise, and generally find the time in the week for the things that really mattered to me. I’m still reaping the benefits of that knowledge, and that experience has enabled me to pass on some powerful techniques to my clients.
I still absolutely love getting into the classroom when I can, and there’s nothing like working with a group of keen writers on their passion projects. I recently taught a short story class at Katherine Mansfield’s house and met some fantastic people. I still teach in a classroom now and then – it’s always a good time!
Day to day, I now work on coaching, editing, and my own writing. While I love teaching in a classroom, it does limit the opportunity to work one on one with writers, and that’s something I really love. Coaching is a powerful tool for increasing productivity, enthusiasm, and knowledge of one’s process. Empowering my clients to be their best creative selves and get their novel written gives me real joy. When I finish a coaching call I feel like I’ve just got off stage – I’m buzzing for a few hours afterwards! Editing is also great fun, and sometimes I cannot believe my luck that I’ve created a life where I get to sit down and read for work. That’s a joy – and I am grateful for every second that brought me here, however hard it was.
That’s truly inspiring! You have clearly worked very hard to be where you are. Tell me, for many of us aspiring authors, writing is something we do to unwind from our regular lives. How do you unwind when the day job is writing?
I ride horses! You’ll see from my Instagram that I love riding, and once someone gets me started, I can’t shut up about it. I’ve ridden horses since I was about ten years old, and I love everything about it – even those scary moments! I liken riding to writing a lot because it doesn’t matter how long you have ridden, it is a never-ending educational journey. There is always more to learn, and part of its joy is the information you gain from each ride. It also takes courage, and sometimes you really have to force yourself to get on up there and take the reins. In my third novel, and the one I’m writing right now, the only transport available in the world is horseback riding. That was basically so that I could write what I know, which is essentially how magical connecting with a horse is. It’s a partnership, and (spoiler alert), when my main character had to say goodbye to her horse at the end of the novel, I did shed a tear.
When I’m not riding, I’m reading or gaming. I read everything and don’t constrict myself to any genre. Every type of book can help make a writer a better wordsmith, so nothing is off-limits. Currently, I’m reading some classic wild west novels – because, as a British person living in New Zealand, there are absolutely some wild west tropes that I am yet to learn. When I game, I play RPGs. All I want is an adventure in another land – so Red Dead Redemption and Skyrim are high up there on the list of my favourite games.
"Something I often see in the writing world is imposter syndrome"
I’m a big Red Dead Redemption fan too! One of the things that I find most impressive, in addition to your productivity, is the sheer diversity of your work. How do you keep so many plates spinning?
Creating a routine is key to developing the writing career that you want. If I see a call for submissions that interests me, I’ll note the deadline and then make sure that I include the task in my weekly plan. I always set weekly goals above daily goals because, as we all know, life can happen, and daily goals can create an inflexibility that often equals the goal not being achieved.
Writing poetry, blogging, and writing short stories are very different from writing a novel, and I find that they all require a different mindset. I use task batching to get things done, so that I don’t waste time flicking between tasks that require a different way of thinking. For example, if I’m going to write poetry, I’ll set half a day aside to do so. Basically, I plan my creativity every week on a Friday for the following week. I also take the weekends off everything to spend with my partner, because I think breaks are vital to productivity.
Over the years, you have helped a lot of authors develop successful routines. In your experience, what would you say is the most frequent problem getting in the way of aspiring authors?
That’s a great question! Something I often see in the writing world is imposter syndrome. It’s born from a few key things – the traditional publishing world is often viewed as a golden gate, and only a few are welcomed inside. Despite this, when we tell others we are writers, the question that usually comes back is ‘Are you published?’. I think it’s the mix of these two things that creates imposter syndrome, and that feeling of ‘Am I allowed to call myself a writer?’ Or ‘Am I really a writer if my book isn’t in Waterstones?’ – the answer is yes. I work to re-frame that mindset with my client, recognising triggers, visualisation techniques, and more.
I also find it’s helpful to look at your favourite author’s track record – take mine, for example. Tolkien had to work to get his novel published, and it ended up being done as a sort of favour. Now I get to visit Hobbiton to celebrate International Hobbit’s Day on Bilbo’s birthday…you never know how far your story will go, and just because the road isn’t easy, it doesn’t mean that it won’t be worth it.
Do you have any tips for overcoming imposter syndrome?
A task that only takes around half an hour, and helps when imposter syndrome is triggered, is listing five things you are really proud of in your writing career. It could be anything from writing haiku, giving another writer advice, or finishing a novel's first draft. It forces you to remind yourself of the facts over the feeling and take a step back and be kind to yourself, seeing your achievements clearly.
"I still can’t think of anything better than creating worlds!"
That’s good advice! What would you say is your proudest author moment?
There are a few…but qualifications aside, a letter I received from Hawaii really got me. A man read a children’s story I had written to his granddaughter, and then took it upon himself to contact me about how they enjoyed it. That meant a lot to me. Also, my best friend told me she cried when she finished my first novel. That was pretty special, too (not because I want to make my friends cry, of course, but because she connected with it).
And finally, having worked in the field of Creative Writing for over ten years, do you find your passion starting to wane, or are you as passionate as ever?
I’m more passionate than ever – if it’s possible! I actually put it down to the incredible online writing community, which I feel I’ve only really begun to be an active part of this last year. I can’t tell you how inspired and excited I am to chat to other writers daily – it’s like my own personal writing group at the end of my fingertips!
Thanks Rachel!
Make sure to follow Rachel on Instagram at @rachelgrosvenorauthor for regular access to excellent motivational content.
Further information on how Rachel can assist you on your writing journey is available on her website: https://rachelgrosvenorauthor.com
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