Start here: Where it all begins...

The Wordplay Coaching Manifesto Part 1

I’m Rachel, founder of Wordplay Coaching. As a writer, educator, mentor and coach, I know very well the territories of creativity, fear and courage.

The story of how I’ve journeyed through them is at the heart of my manifesto: what I do and why I do it.

It’s a manifesto to help you harness courage and creativity in your own self-expression—however you define it—and to feel the power of its impact.

You might ask: what do you mean by ‘manifesto’?

I love words and often begin by reflecting on their origin. The roots of ‘manifesto’ come from the Latin ‘to make public’ or ‘make obvious.’

A manifesto is a declaration of intent, a way of putting your stake in the ground: this is what I’m committed to; this is what I believe. This is why it matters.

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The story begins with me leaving work one day and having a panic attack in the street.

Imagine me stopped in my tracks by breathlessness, bent double by the constriction in my chest and being accompanied home by a stranger.

I was in my 30s and had already forged a successful career as a university academic and literary critic, writing books and publishing papers on English and American literature. I’d submitted a perfect PhD with no corrections, worked two part-time teaching jobs while raising a newborn baby, secured a book contract, presented my research at countless conferences and gained tenure at a prestigious university.

Despite these outward signs of professional success, inside there was a huge chasm.

I’d found an element of creativity in my work, in which I got to wield words on the page writing books and research papers. I loved connecting with my students through teaching. But, being honest with myself, every time I stood on stage and gave a lecture, I was performing. I was giving voice only to parts of myself (the performer) but keeping my true self—my thoughts, feelings and perspectives about my life and the world—locked away.

I was hiding in full view.

And I wasn’t expressing who I really was—in an embodied way, on stage, or on the page.

Inside, I yearned for fuller and truer expression. But in my writing and lecturing, I was ‘going through the motions’—recycling the knowledge of authors through history: the thoughts, feelings and perspectives that other people had crafted. I wasn’t making my own work.

At a soul level, I knew there was more.

Then my Head of Department asked me to mentor a group of students on the MFA in creative writing—and everything changed.

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What’s next?

If there’s something you’re longing to create (a writing project, an artistic creation or new venture) but need more courage and guidance, I’m here to support you expand the power of your self-expression.

Here’s how I can help:

Make an appointment for a virtual coffee (free). I hold 3-4 slots every month so we can get to know each other. Perfect if you’re curious about meeting new people and making connections.

Book a 30-minute connection call (free). This is for anyone—whether you have an idea you want to brainstorm, an issue that’s holding you back, or you just want to know more about my work. Think of it as a microdose of powerful coaching that can help point you in the right direction!

Read my manifesto for creative courage (free). Learn about the core principles I work with in my own creativity and business and follow in serial form the journey of how I came to found Wordplay Coaching.

Inquiry of Writing, an intimate group coaching experience. We meet twice a month—in which we use writing as a tool for curiosity, exploration and transformation. Respond to powerful questions, in discussion and in writing; share your experience; get feedback on what you’ve written. Get the support and connection you need to gain clarity about your life and creativity, and develop your confidence. This is currently full but talk to me about joining the waiting list.

Creative Essence 1:1 coaching. Personal guidance to work with you on recognising your survival mechanisms and the fears that hold you back from expressing yourself fully. Twice-monthly deep dives on Zoom plus individualised support between sessions. This is ideal for you if you’re looking for deep transformation and powerful support to make changes in your life or with a creative project.

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