Hi, I’m Cecily
As a writing coach and editor, I’ve spent years working with inspiring, smart clients who’ve had a passion to tell their story.
The people I guide and teach aren’t professional writers. They’re all sorts of people: business people, stay at home mums, entrepreneurs, pastors, techy people and retired folks.
People just like you.
They want to write their story, they want to do it well, and they’re honest enough to know they need a little direction or polish along the way.
My goal is to inspire, stimulate and boost your skills and knowledge. I want to give you help that’s smart, succinct and easy to follow. I want to support and urge you to keep going, even when it’s hard. And I want to reassure you when you need confidence.
Come, pull up a seat, and write with me.
“It is clear that she knows what it take to make a story come to life. ”
“Writing can be a lonely art, if you are looking for someone to come alongside you and help make your writing pop, I recommend Cecily thoroughly. ”
“Cecily is a master of seeing what is NOT there on the page.”
Who we are
Cecily Paterson is the founder of The Red Lounge for Writers, and it’s her face you’ll see most often in our videos. (Whether or not that’s a good thing we’ll leave up to you.) She is the author of 9 novels for young teen girls, the first of which, Invisible, was a semifinalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award in 2014. Her memoir, Love, Tears & Autism, won third place in the Australian Christian Book of the Year Awards in 2012. Cecily has worked in communications, and as a freelance writer and editor for over two decades.
Selena Hanet-Hutchins is the author of the children’s book, Mariella and the Stars, and an experienced editor across many genres who has worked in the publishing industry in Australia for over 15 years. Selena has taught writing at Wollongong University and runs oodles of writing workshops and critique groups. She is the co-creator of our Write Your Memoir course.
Are you one of those people who says, One day I'll write a book'?
Or do you actually want to get it done?
(Hint: the ones who talk about it rarely do it.)
If you’re here because:
You’ve got a story to tell, an idea that’s been bubbling in the back of your brain for years, but you have no idea how to get started
You’ve written something, but you know it’s not right, and you’re feeling discouraged
You feel you’re ‘meant’ to write, but you just don’t have the skills…
…then the Red Lounge for Writers is for you.
We’ll teach you the skills and knowledge in simple, practical ways that you can really grab hold of.
We'll help you start and finish a book. A book that you're proud of, and one that other people are going to want to read.