Untangle creative stagnation and honour your “weird”
I help thoughtful creative professionals who want tailored strategic guidance
without overwhelm.
Maybe you’ve been building a creative practice for years, but a project has gotten away from you. Maybe you’ve outgrown the process that used to work and want thoughtful guidance on what comes next. Maybe you’re an introverted or neurodivergent creative who wants project support without overwhelm.
You want low-stakes, high-impact solutions for moving forward in your practice, from someone with decades of expertise in creativity.
That’s where I come in! I work with established creative professionals to untangle projects and clarify direction through strategic advising and light accountability. My process is reflective and mostly asynchronous, honouring the way many introverted and neurodivergent creatives naturally work. I’ll help you work with your own rhythms instead of forcing someone else’s system.
I’m a Creative Advisor because I’ve been creating for decades
Not only am I a published novelist, I also cut and paste zines, I dabble in photography, and I’ve been tinkering with websites and blogs since the Angelfire days of the late ’90s. I wrote a regular column for writers and creatives. I got my marketing experience in design agencies and even a ballet company. My work has included writing fiction, helping creative businesses clarify their messaging, and supporting independent creatives through professional transitions.
My years of experience in both of these worlds helps me centre your artistic vision. I love getting to the heart of creative work. I learn how you naturally think and create, then build a strategy around that. I’m curious, chill, and down-to-earth. No high-pressure hustling here!
You might be here because…
- You’re an introverted or neurodivergent creative professional who’s frustrated by systems that don’t fit you
- You’re established in your creative practice but feel ready for a significant shift
- You know something is misaligned in your practice, but can’t name it
- You have several viable projects or directions and need help deciding what deserves your attention
- A project you’ve invested significant time in has lost momentum and you want to understand why
- You know what you could be doing, but need help deciding what you actually want to build
- You need short-term creative guidance and advice, not a mentor or coach
- You want gentle guidance to return to your creative spark
- You want to honour your own creative rhythm – not follow someone else’s
Why work with me?
- I’m a published author with years of experience in marketing as well as traditionally creative pursuits
- I’m a thoughtful second brain, not a coach or mentor – you direct your own work and career
- I’m honest and direct, but compassionate
- I honour your creative vision and personality
- I don’t promote growth hacks or pressure you into deadlines
- Most of our work together is asynchronous, so you can reflect and work at your own pace
- My process is introvert- and neurodivergent-friendly
- You’ll get a clearer understanding of what’s keeping a project from moving
- You’ll get concrete strategic options and a plan you can actually implement
- You’ll make decisions based on your creative priorities, capacity, and long-term direction
My services: Creative alignment without overwhelm
I help you work through ideas, clarify your creative direction, and overcome creative drift. There are no high-pressure upsells or hacks. I’m a strategic thinking partner for long creative projects. Whether you’re looking for a short creative alignment session or a bit more accountability, there’s a way to work together that fits your energy and focus.
✔ Creative advisor for one-time or short-term support
✔ Strategic rather than therapeutic
✔ Most work happens asynchronously
✔ Designed for thoughtful, self-directed creative professionals at a crossroads
✔ Ideal for creative professionals who want to make their own decisions and implement the recommendations we develop
✔ Writers, artists, illustrators, designers, photographers, content creators, and creative entrepreneurs welcome
✔ Fully confidential
✔ Available worldwide via Zoom or Google Meet
Not sure which option fits? If you have one creative knot to untangle, choose Quick Clarity. If you have a bigger project that needs a plan, structure, and refinement over time, choose Creative Strategy.
QUICK CLARITY
A focused session for experienced creatives who need to resolve one specific project or process problem.
This session helps you pinpoint the core issue that’s keeping you stuck in your project or process, and outline a manageable action plan. I’ll give you a strategic roadmap to help you move forward faster and reconnect with the joy of your craft.
Best for you if:
- You’re stuck on one specific creative project or process and you’re tired of spinning your wheels
- You need a strategic second opinion
- You want project clarity without an ongoing coaching commitment
What’s included:
- 60-minute Zoom/Google Meet audio or video session
- Pre-session questionnaire
- Session agenda beforehand
- Written summary with recommendations
- 1-2 resources from my existing toolkit to support your goals
- One follow-up email for additional questions
Timeline:
Typically done within one week from our initial meeting.
Investment:
$327 CAD
What happens after I inquire?
How it works:
- I’ll reply to your contact form message, and we’ll have a quick email conversation to determine if I’m the right fit for you. If we agree to work together, I’ll send a contract.
- After the contract’s signed, I’ll send a pre-session questionnaire to better understand your biggest challenge and the project in question.
- 60 min Zoom/Google Meet video or audio discussion to discuss the project and the issue you’re facing (agenda provided beforehand).
- Follow-up: Within 2 business days, I’ll send a follow-up email with key insights and recommended action steps. I’ll also send 1-2 curated resources from my existing toolkit that are most relevant to your situation. These may include reflections that could help you get unstuck, checklists to support your energy and priorities, and worksheets to inspire creative ideas.
- This package doesn’t include any further sessions after this point, but I’ll be happy to answer any further questions in one additional email.
- Payment: Price includes tax where applicable. For all services, 50% deposit is due upon signing of contract.
CREATIVE STRATEGY
A three-month strategic roadmap with light-touch accountability and refinement, for established creative professionals working on a substantial creative project or transition.
This is an extended creative compass to help you move forward with a more substantial project. Flexible and designed for your energy and priorities. I’ll give you a clear, detailed roadmap, curated tools to help you make meaningful progress, and two monthly check-ins. You’ll protect your creative energy and reduce the stress of unfinished work.
Best for you if:
- You have a longer project to plan, and want help from someone who understands your priorities, goals, pace, and the broader context
- You’re a self-directed creative professional who wants deeper creative guidance and light accountability, but not intensive coaching or long-term mentorship
- You want a curated, low-overwhelm system tailored to your creative process
- You want to avoid the high cost of abandoning your project
What’s included:
- Initial 60-minute Zoom/Google Meet strategy session
- Pre-session questionnaire
- Session agenda beforehand
- Written strategy summary
- Customized tools and strategy created around your specific situation
- Two monthly email check-ins to review progress and refine the strategy
- Our work together concludes after the second check-in
Timeline:
Three months.
Investment:
$1,127 CAD
How the Creative Strategy process works
- I’ll reply to your contact form message, and we’ll have a quick email conversation to determine if I’m the right fit for you. If we agree to work together, I’ll send a contract.
- After the contract’s signed, I’ll send a pre-session questionnaire to better understand your project, your challenge, and the deeper context.
- 60 min Zoom/Google Meet video or audio discussion to discuss priorities, pace, and project goals (agenda provided beforehand).
- Follow-up: Within 2 business days, I’ll send you a written summary of our call.
- Custom creative roadmap: Within 3 business days of my follow-up, I’ll synthesize our conversation into a personalized PDF outlining your priorities, recommended next steps, and the systems or tools that will support you over the next three months. These may include tailored prompts, worksheets, checklists, and a written timeline.
- Check-in: Creative projects evolve! After the initial call, I’ll initiate two monthly check-ins via email so we can discuss and refine the plan if needed.
- Payment: Price includes tax where applicable. For all services, 50% deposit is due upon signing of contract.
FAQ
What kind of creatives do you work with?
I work best with creatives who already have an active practice, project, audience, or business underway. My clients don’t necessarily have to be full-time creative professionals, but they’re committed to developing their creative work as a meaningful long-term thing. They come to me when they feel blocked, misaligned, or in transition. Here are some examples of the types of creatives I can help:
- Photographers
- Writers, including indie authors
- Bloggers writing about topics like art, travel, fashion, or design
- YouTubers, podcasters, or other content creators
- Visual artists like animators, painters, or illustrators
- Graphic or web designers
- Performing artists like musicians and dancers
- Filmmakers
- Makers selling their creations to the public
How are you different from a creativity coach?
Creativity coaches are fantastic for people who need them, but sometimes we don’t need quite as much as they offer. Here are a few ways my creative advising services differ from many coaching services:
- Most of my services are one-time sessions, or take place over a very short period of time.
- There are no regular, ongoing meetings. Some of my services include check-ins, but they’re not the main way we work together.
- Most of our work together is done asynchronously – I do my thing over here, and you do your thing over there. We touch base now and then, depending on the service you choose.
- I don’t offer courses or workshops.
- I diagnose issues and suggest next steps, but I leave the design and application of everything up to you. You can take my advice or not!
- My sessions are conversational and compassionate, but my involvement in your process is very light.
- My Creative Strategy package offers lightly-guided project accountability: three monthly check-ins via email. These are intended to refine your strategy or help you pivot. You can use this accountability to help you hit goals, but you don’t have to.
- My Quick Clarity and Creative Strategy packages are designed to troubleshoot a single project or a creative issue, not multiple components of creative life.
Is your creative advisor process therapeutic?
I’m here to help you with project planning or work through creative blocks (and all of our work is confidential), but I’m not a therapist. Think of me as a compassionate but impartial third party that helps you find creative clarity. The process is conversational and sometimes does get reflective, but it’s not therapy. There’s no need to delve into anything personal. Not only am I unqualified to give therapy, but this protects your energy and mine.
How is your process introvert- and neurodivergent-friendly?
Full disclosure: while I’m an introverted HSP, I’m not neurodivergent. However, many of my loved ones are, and I know the kinds of things they like and dislike. When we start working together, please feel free to tell me anything you’d like me to know about the way you work.
Generally speaking, here are the ways my creative strategy process leans towards introverted and ND creatives:
- All Zoom/Google Meet calls can be video-off.
- You can request shorter meetings if needed.
- All meetings are held in a low-stimulus environment where I can be clearly heard (without shouting at you!).
- All meetings are exploratory and reflective, not high-pressure.
- I send agendas before each meeting.
- I send recordings and summaries after each meeting.
- If follow-up meetings are part of your selected service, you can choose to have them by email rather than a call.
- My calls are conversational but I ask clear and direct questions.
- I don’t pressure you with upsells or inflexible, quick-turnaround deadlines.
- All suggestions I make are tailored to your energy levels, supports, and creative vision.
- You’re free to do what you will with anything I suggest – I’m a creative advisor but you know your own rhythm.
- Overall I appreciate nuance and “weirdness.” I want you to be comfortable bringing your art into the world!
What’s the difference between the troubleshooting package and the accountability package?
Quick Clarity is a focused 60-minute troubleshooting session for one specific creative roadblock. We’ll identify what’s keeping one project or process from moving, and brainstorm a manageable way forward.
After our session, I’ll send you a follow-up email with my key insights, recommended next steps, and relevant resources from my existing toolkit. Depending on what you’re working through, these might include a reflection exercise, checklist, worksheet, or other tool to help you put our conversation into practice.
I’ll also send you one follow-up email in case you have any questions. After that, you’re on your own to take the work forward.
Quick Clarity is ideal if you already know what you’re working on but need a second brain to help you untangle one particular knot.
Creative Strategy is a deeper, three-month engagement for creative professionals working on a substantial project or going through a creative transition. It’s designed for people who want a strategic roadmap and light-touch accountability, but don’t need intensive, ongoing coaching.
We’ll start with a 60-minute video or audio conversation about your priorities, pace, goals, and the bigger picture around your project. From there, I’ll develop a customized strategy and supporting materials based on your particular situation. These may include tailored prompts, worksheets, checklists, systems, and a personalized PDF outlining your priorities and recommended next steps.
Then, I’ll initiate two monthly email check-ins so we can refine the strategy and adjust your priorities if needed. With this package I don’t manage your project for you. Instead, I give you a thoughtful strategic framework that you can implement independently.
Creative Strategy is best if you have something substantial you want to move forward on and want to avoid the time, energy, and potential cost of abandoning a project because you’ve lost your way with it.
Do you use AI in your work?
Nope! All of the custom materials I make for creatives – like prompts, workbooks, checklists, or worksheets – are 100% human-made and originate in my own brain. It’s all inspired by the conversation we have together. It’s important to me to make sure you get the highest value from working with me. Part of that value is my own experience with creativity, and advice that’s tailored to your unique situation.
Prefer self-guided creativity resources?
Creative Rhythms, Not Routines
A free 3-day mini-guide to identify your natural flow
The Creative Reset Workbook
A 7-day workbook to help you reconnect with your creative spark
Not sure you’re ready?
There are a couple of ways to stay connected!
Each month I send Curiosity Notes: reflections for thoughtful creatives. There’s no pressure, no prescriptive advice. Just a short moment for curiosity that you can use however you’d like. You can subscribe or read the archive here.
You can also follow me on Instagram for occasional observations from my creative practice.
I have had the pleasure of working with Samantha on a number of creative projects over the years. Her thoughtful suggestions helped me to clarify and effectively communicate why I do the work I do. Samantha’s friendly, encouraging approach and wealth of knowledge contribute to a working relationship that feels truly collaborative.
Catherine T
Designer, Artist & Business Owner
Samantha’s expertise lies in her ability to see beyond what’s on the page or in a current process and come up with ways to approach the work in a more aligned, thoughtful, and connected manner. Her suggestions are made from a place of understanding what creatives deal with on a day to day basis, and wanting to help us grow and nurture not only our work but ourselves.
Corinne C
Author & Creator
One of the most valuable assets to any creator is a trusted advisor. With over a decade of experience, Samantha provides clarity, compassion, and actionable guidance that empowers her clients and paves the way to fulfilling and sustainable creative careers.
Katie L
Author & Creative Writing Instructor