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I love watching people the moment before they start telling a story...
For some, it's a racing heartbeat of raw excitement and discovery, while for others it's anxiety--where do I start? Do I have the skill? What if it I don't tell it right?
The trepidation in those first moments, then the instant the words start to flow--messy, unhindered, true--are magic.
And that's why I made a career out of helping storytellers, and those who don't consider themselves to be storytellers (spoiler: everyone tells stories!), get to the heart of their work.
What do these things have in common?
Novels
Memoirs
Essays
Short Stories
Websites
Bios
Podcasts
Blogs
Goals
Thoughts
Dreams
To-Do Lists
They are all storytelling opportunities! A chance to connect with your audience, visualize the possibilities., and change what happens--on and off the page.
Whether it's a story you've already written or one you've yet to imagine; whether it's long or short; whether it's truth or fiction, it deserves to be heard in your authentic voice. I'm just here to help (or encourage you to) tell it.
Kind Words from Students & Clients
"Nat is so lovely and encouraging, at the end of each session I was left feeling like 'I’ve got this!'"
- Anca D.
"I could tell Nat teaches because she's truly passionate about helping writers succeed. Moreover, her expertise is clear."
-Cameron B.
Nat's energy is contagious! She's got a keen sense of how to develop yourself as an author. And she helps writers envision a career [that] will mesh with their overall lives and sense of self.
-Jessica F.
Okay, but what's with all the keys?
There's a story behind this (of course there is!), and it starts with my own journey as a writer.
In 2021, just two months before I signed with my agent, I was sitting under a pile of rejections for my novel and essay work. Almost all of us have been there: staring at our inbox like it's a mirror reflecting our value as writers when we ALL know rejection (and waiting) is as much a part of the gig as typing.
One day I'd had enough. I was sick and tired of sulking; sick and tired of waiting for things beyond my control; sick and tired of not feeling good enough to call myself a writer. So, I pulled out my journal and wrote something down:
You already are.
You already are a writer because you write, and there is value in that alone.
Now, I'd be lying if I told you that was enough and I was immediately cured of all of my self doubt. Sometimes I think my imagination takes up the space where my memory ought to be. This mantra of mine, and the iteration that followed--you already are, you always were, you still have time to be--needed weight. And when I found this 1876 Neumann (pictured right, and in my headshot if you look closely), I knew it was exactly what I was looking for.
You see, I'd read somewhere that carrying around an old metal key is a great way to tell the universe you're always open to opportunities, and in turn unlock your potential.
It probably wasn't magic (though it's far more fun to pretend it was) but my life changed after that. I stopped waiting for permission to live my best creative life...and simply created. Soon, I'd passed the benchmarks I'd so desperately wanted and more.
Keys are a core part of my editing, teaching, and coaching philosophy--I've even gone so far as to mail them to friends, family, and clients as a reminder that their success isn't behind a locked door.
Yours isn't either.
Grab the keys you need to start living the creative life you've been dreaming of!
(They may have teeth, but we promise they don't bite.)
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Natalie Lockett is an author, essayist, podcaster, editor, coach, and consultant (yeah, it's a mouthful). Her podcast Write Away with Nat & P.J. is in its fourth season, featuring guests like Lambda Literary Award winning author Charlie Jane Anders and New Yorker cartoonist Bob Eckstein. Nat's work has appeared in Brevity Blog, the Heart of the Story podcast, HerStry, and Across the Margin.
Nat is a certified editor/proofreader, and a member of ACES Society for Editing and the Editorial Freelancers Association. She specializes in story structure, author branding/platforming, and remembering the name of every dog she meets.