Writing Coaching for Artists: The Alchemical 4 Elements Method
By Thea Fiore-Bloom, PhD
Last week, a subscriber asked me something that gave me pause.
“Thea, what is a writing coach, exactly?”
Good question.
If you’re an artist carrying a book inside you, you may be wondering the same thing.
I’ll write another post about the differences between a writing coach, a structural editor, a copy editor, and a ghostwriter.
But for now, I want to share what I actually do as a writing coach.
I hope this helps you choose a coach, or apply these principles to your own writing life, whether you work with a writing coach or go solo.
As a mythologist and structural editor, I like to investigate and celebrate how archetypes, like the four elements, flow through every artist in a unique way.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that artists often don’t need more information about writing—they need a way of understanding their own creative process.
I draw on the four elements from the ancient tradition of alchemy—a philosophy of transformation that sought to turn base metal into gold.
But the elements have been with us in several variations since the beginning of time in indigenous cultures.
The 4 elements are Air, Earth, Fire, and Water.
Let’s begin with water, and see why it’s such a vital element for creatives.
The Water Element: Uncovering the Heart of Your Book
In our nighttime dreams, water represents emotion and soul.
In the tarot, water is represented by the suit of cups, or vessels.
And emotion and soul are the river that runs underneath a good book.
So, I start coaching a writer who comes to me by helping them reconnect with their soul aspirations.
We often identify several messages rising from within that want to shine out.
And we look at what form each message would best be delivered to the world in. Some ideas are great for a book, some for Substacks, some for a theatre play, some for a new business.
The water element is also about love.
Love of self, but also love for your reader.
I help writers focus on a clear, deep purpose for their book or project that will delight both author and reader.
Because when you satisfy your kind of reader, your work takes off.
Free Resource for You for the Water Element
One of the strongest arguments for thinking more about your reader comes from the snarky-fabulous Steven Pressfield.
In his book, No One Wants To Read Your Sh*T: And Other Tough-Love Truths to Make You a Better Writer.
Pick it up at the library.
It could save you years of writing agida.
Writing Coaching Journal Prompt: Celebrating The Element of Water
How will your book, blog, or podcast help you communicate what is in your soul?
How might it help others on their journey?
One of the biggest gifts you give to a reader is a juicy, lively, but logical structure.
AND LOGIC brings us to the element of air.
The Air Element: Creating the Structure Your Book Needs to Take Flight
The air element in mythology and symbol systems like the tarot represents thought and ideas.
Air is closely tied to writing and writers.
In the tarot, the air element is depicted as a pen, feather, or sword.
Swords (and pens) cut through confusion and bring clarity.
A good writing coach will help you conquer overwhelm and create a pattern, structure, or path for your story or non-fiction book.
I also love helping artists craft non-fiction and mystery book outlines that have a logical flow but are as creative as they are.
Your structure could be archetypal, as old as time, like Joseph Campbell’s famous hero’s journey.
This was adapted for writers by Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers.
Free Resources for Outlining
Pop over here to discover How Do I Begin My Book? How To Outline Your Book in 7 Days With 7 Delicious Cups of Tea.
Need a more detailed resource to guide you in creating plot beats/structure for your book?
Check out the Save the Cat! books to get specific structures for novels, young adult, and horror.
Writing Coaching Journal Prompt: Celebrating The Element of Air
If no one were listening, what would you tell me your dream genre for your book is?
Fantasy, History, Cozy Mystery, Transformative Non-fiction?
Pick one genre for now and journal on what kind of ride you would like to take your reader on from the time they gently open the book to the minute they happily snap closed the back cover.
Having a plot or structure won’t dampen your fire; it will keep it burning longer so you can finish your book.
Speaking of fire…
The Fire Element: Writing Through Fear and Resistance
The element of fire burns brightly in my work.
Because to me, fire is our wildest creativity; it’s our unique voice.
It is our passion, our conviction, our longing to be heard.
In the tarot, sprouting wands symbolize the fire element.
Wands symbolize both creativity and passion.
I believe a good writing coach not only helps you understand the deepest aspects of what you want to say, how you want to say it, but also goes the extra mile to help you discover the courage to say it.
The courage to write and the courage to call yourself a writer.
Remember, hesitating to call yourself an artist at first? Same thing.
It is a Rubicon that supportive coaches will help you cross.
Especially women writers and neurodivergent folks who are socialized not to speak up, not to believe in their unique voice.
Free Resource for You for the Fire Element
For help on how to do this for yourself in your writing, read this Charmed Studio post on Why Tolkien Hated Shakespeare and You Too Can Turn Anger into Writing Gold.
Writing Coaching Journal Prompt: Celebrating The Element of Fire
Journal on what you are afraid might happen if you publish your book?
Or what might bloom if you let the world hear what you most want to say?
Okay, time to ask, how does all this feeling and fire get turned into a book in the real world?
That is where our final element, the earth element, comes in.
The Earth Element: Finishing the Book You Began
The earth element is about grounded, practical things in life.
It is the non-glamorous, but super vital part of the quartet of the elements.
In the tarot, it is represented by the suit of pentacles (or coins or discs).
One of the most difficult aspects of my work (and my own writing life) is also the part that brings the greatest rewards.
And that aspect involves helping writers create a writing practice.
A regular writing practice is the key to your inner kingdom.
It will serve you for the rest of your life, whether you work with a writing coach or not.
But clients often are so relieved to find out that a writing practice is not about willpower or talent.
“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”
– Stephen King
And 90 percent of the hard part of the “hard work” King speaks of is about sitting down to write, not the writing itself.
If you get to the desk enough, eventually the writing will take care of itself.
Anne Lamott nailed the secret of writing down to three words in Bird by Bird.
“Butt in chair.”
I disagree with Isabel Allende, who is quoted as saying: “Writing is a calling, not a choice.”
For most of us, writing is not about talent or a calling; it is about a choice.
A non-glamorous, blue-collar choice.
A choice to create a new, non-sexy habit, for 15 minutes a day at first.
But if you create that new, non-sexy habit, inner galaxies will open for you.
Free Resource for You for the Earth Element
For support and guidance on creating a writing ritual for yourself, read or listen to this Charmed Studio post on Banishing Fear and Igniting Creativity with a Routine.
Writing Coaching Journal Prompt: Celebrating The Element of Earth
Journal on what your fantasy daily writing regimen would look and feel like.
Where are you sitting? On a bus, in a bustling cafe, an empty park, or your purple futon with your dog?
What time of day or night is it?
Free-write about how fulfilled you feel making this tiny cozy pocket of time for yourself each day.
Summing Up
Writing helps you clarify what you think and feel.
Writing helps you discover what matters most to you—and what you want to offer the world through your words.
And the scariest part of writing is often not sitting down at the desk.
It is getting yourself there.
As Stephen King reminds us:
“The scariest moment is always just before you start.”
Every book begins with that first brave step—the willingness to listen, begin, and trust the process.
If you are an artist carrying a book inside you, writing coaching can help you move from that first spark of inspiration into a creative practice that brings your vision into form.
Need help?
Reach out to me here if you have a writing question.
Pop over here for details on how to work with me.
Love yourself, love your ideas.
💕
And be so kind as to share the love by leaving a comment.
This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. This means if you buy books or stuff via my blog I may receive a tiny commission and do a happy dance. There is no extra fee for you. I only link to items I personally use and love; products that I think help heart-centered artists.
There’s something quietly brilliant about the way you’ve shaped this blog post. Each element feels less like a framework and more like a lived terrain a writer must pass through. The entire post felt less like an explanation of coaching and more like an invitation into a deeper relationship with the work of writing itself. There’s a goodness in that.
Thank you, Thea, for putting thoughtful language to something many of us feel but don’t always know how to name.
Well, Kevin, that comment was a prose poem in and of itself. I am honored that those beautiful words were written by you in response to my writing. Excuse me while I jump around my office in joy. Okay, I am back.
This post spilled out of me all at once, initially in the form of a drawing. It was a multi-colored drawing I did on a huge white board in my office in an attempt to help a new client of mine who had had a very challenging experience with a ghost writer/editor. I wanted my distraught client to see that for me, writing coaching is not telling people what to say, but helping them find the deep purpose of a book from within themselves.
Thanks for commenting and I hope people check out your new book; it is like a Tao of sculpting. The Shape of Quiet: Reflections on Form, Silence and the Creative Process.
Thank you for the kind words, Thea.
You are welcome Kevin, you will do great with your SubStack, now is the time to be on it. Just recommending to all artists out there on Substack to save a copy of the names on your mailing list once a month. It may soon have policies like Medium, where they will no longer let you have access to the mailing list you worked so hard to build on their platform.
Also really enjoyed seeing the artwork of the New Zealand artist, Judy Lapsley Miller and her bird images. Especially the little bird reading with a green background and all those key around it, super cool.
Thanks so much Thea!!
Katie, you are very kind. I will pass on your compliment to Judy Lapsley Miller! One of the reasons I started the blog and continue it after all this time is to create supportive community among artists. I find artists to be some of the kindest, most encouraging folks on the planet.
I agree that writing helps you clarify how you feel & what you think – super valuable even if you never write a book or article. Writing has helped me process difficult things in my life many times.
I also love Stephen King’s quote about those who work hard – SO true!! If you don’t work hard, will your brilliance (genius) get you very far?
Just a very well-written article, Thea!!
I really liked your article a lot! Even though I’m a weaver/designer, I could relate – especially the part about not calling yourself an artist – b/c I always thought artists were Van Gogh-type people who spent 22 hrs/day in their studio and never ate!
Thanks for all the encouragement and for taking the time to share your humorous yet valuable insights. I love your perspective on things. And thanks for relating that story to me the other day about your observations of the students you taught in the California community college system. Someday, I want to do a blog post on that story, it is a wisdom story.
xoThea
THIS! I found myself mesmerized by this approach to creating! Using the four elements as a base for writing or art just takes everything from overwhelm to within reach. It allows us to infuse everything we do with our own voice and passion and structure and emotion instead of pandering to the masses. You are brilliant!
I also found myself quite in awe of how this podcast was structured – subtly – so that it nearly missed my notice. A perfect example of the importance of that underlying structure, even if loose.
Thank you for putting such helpful and inspiring content into the world! You have definitely motivated me today! xoxo
I am over the moon 🌒 that you were supported by this piece AND that you detected the underlying structure. Huzzah, good on you. You smartina. Thanks for all your support of my writing and art over the years.
What kind of writer are you? Are you a plotter, a pantzer or maybe a combo PLANTZER.
I talk about this in the podcast, but to find out more read this short, lively post by a colleague of mine. https://thewritepractice.com/plotters-pantsers/.