GROUPS

Follow-through Sessions

A Whole Season of Accountability, Encouragement, and In-it-togetherness

  • Held on Zoom

  • Winter sessions begin on January 6th and end on March 31st

  • Every second Monday (or Tuesdays if Monday is a stat) from 6:30pm to 8:30pm PT

  • $510 CAD

THIS WINTER

Do the creative work that matters most to you with the support of like-hearted peers (because even though we might make work alone, it doesn’t mean we have to be alone).

The Follow-through Sessions are for you if…

  • You’re a creator at any level who practices any of the creative arts, like writing, visual art, and music (even if you’re stuck or stalled).

  • You want to establish and/or maintain a consistent, near-daily practice, as well as other good habits, routines, and mindsets.

  • You want to focus on identifying and following through with the projects that are most important to you.

  • You suspect you’ll benefit from accountability and structure.

  • You want to gather with peers to share knowledge and experiences and have reciprocal relationships of support and solidarity.

  • You’re interested in the idea of an anti-oppressive practice, which means recognizing where oppressions are impacting your practice and working to mitigate them.

 
WELCOME TO THE WINTER FOLLOW-THROUGH SESSIONS

Nourishing and encouraging online sessions all about creative practice, for an entire quarter, starting the first week in January.

Every second Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a stat) between January 6th and March 31st, and from 6:30pm to 8:30pm PST, a group of up to eight creators will meet via Zoom. And by “creator” I mean you practice any of the creative arts, like writing, visual art, music, and crafts—whether you’re just starting out or already working professionally.

Using a special edition of The Seasonal Workbook and Planner, you’ll be asked to do a few hours of deep homework before our first session. The planner will guide you through a process of:

  • orienting to core concepts

  • reviewing and closing the last season;

  • opening and planning the new season, including naming up to three project goals; and

  • creating task lists that will help you achieve your desired outcomes, one small step at a time.

Our first session will be about orientation. You’ll meet each other where you’re at (it’s come as you are around here), and share what came up during your seasonal review and planning.

For each subsequent session you’ll:

  • REPORT on how you’ve been engaging with art-making, as well as setting up for success and building your practice and platform;

  • SHARE insights, lessons, liberatory practices, resources and recommendations;

  • ASK for advice/feedback/help with something pertaining to your practice—or, you may simply open up a topic for discussion. So, for example, you might want to ask how to best share your work on Instagram or you might open up a conversation about imposter syndrome. This is also a great opportunity to share your work and ask for general feedback.

Your special edition of The Seasonal Workbook and Planner has sheets at the back that you’ll fill out in advance of each session to prepare for reporting, sharing, and asking.

You’ll also get access to a private Facebook group where you’ll be accountable to your practice through facilitated weekly check-ins. (Note: the weekly check-ins are an integral part of the program, so Facebook is mandatory, though I recognize that it’s not an ideal platform.) You can use the group to connect with your peers between sessions too. The space is yours to co-create.

You’ll also get…

  • A Workbook and Planner

    This special edition of TheSeasonal Workbook and Planner will be mailed straight to your door. The planner is foundational to the Follow-through Sessions and includes ways to organize (The Five Areas of Practice) and systematize (The Three Habits) your creative practice.

  • A One-Hour Shine Session

    I call these coaching/consultation one-on-ones via Zoom “Shine Sessions” because they’re meant to illuminate possibilities and help you shine. It’s an opportunity for us to have an in-depth conversation about your primary project(s) for the season and you’ll receive additional resources and support to help you move forward.

  • Weekly Office Hours Access

    You may book 20 minutes with me via Zoom most afternoons between Monday and Thursday to discuss anything to do with your practice. You’re encouraged to use this resource at least once or twice throughout the season.


Speaking of the planner, this is the one I always wished I had, but couldn’t find. So, I made it. It’s not just a planner though, it’s a whole system.

The planner is meant to be used over a single season (also known as a quarter), which means a fresh start four times a year, not just on New Year's Day. If you work with me, we start ours on January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, and October 1st.

The planner allows for seasonal, monthly, and weekly review and planning, as well as daily tracking. It’s also got space to allow you to create task lists for your primary projects, as well as you practice in general. With consistent engagement, it’ll help keep you focused on and accountable to your practice. It'll help you create and maintain momentum, as well as improve, pivot, or reframe as necessary in order to reach your desired outcomes.

Some Words from Past Participants

I really appreciate Jill’s gentle way of nudging me into treating myself better, even while inspiring me to create more, and more deeply, than I ever had before joining her programs. If you’re serious about creating without hustle or harm to yourself, I recommend you check out the Follow-through Sessions!

- Kelsey A.

Working with Jill has completely changed my writing practice. My non-creative life has always had a way of invading my creative work, leaving me always wondering how I could be a writer and have time, and still not actually write. I was so frustrated with myself, and what I saw as a lack of discipline or organization or willpower on my part. But working with Jill, using the magic planner, and meeting with the Follow-through Sessions group has transformed everything about my own ability to sit down and do my creative work. More importantly, with much humour and gentle nudges, Jill has helped me learn to be far more understanding of what I need to do in order to make it easier to do my own creative work regularly, and also to be far kinder to myself when life interferes.

- Sonal C.

I learned so many things about myself including recognizing old patriarchal patterning and changing my perspective when that happened. It was transformative for me to give myself permission to reduce expectations and adjust goals to allow for joy in place of stress of work. I learned to set manageable steps instead of constantly setting the bar too high which allowed me a sense of success instead of failure. My confidence in my art practice has significantly increased from working with Jill to prepare and install a show in my community. So grateful for kind, wise guidance.

- Medwyn M.

I've experienced Jill's expertise and generosity through one-on-one sessions and in groups and I've benefited so much from her unique way of looking at scheduling, tracking and making space for how we show up. As an interdisciplinary artist it can be difficult to make space for all the hats I wear. Jill offers a scaffold that is both flexible and a tool for being accountable and it's been a wonderful structure for keeping myself on track.

- Amanda W.

WINTER SCHEDULE

To put into your new planner, of course.

  • SESSION 1 - ORIENTATION
    Monday, January 6, 6:30pm to 8:30pm PST

    SHINE SESSIONS
    These one-on-ones will take place between Wednesday, January 8th and and Thursday, January 16th.
    Bookings will be available in the afternoons during weekdays. If necessary other times can be proposed.

    SESSION 2
    Monday, January 20, 6:30pm to 8:30pm PST

  • SESSION 3
    Tuesday, February 3, 6:30pm to 8:30pm PST

    SESSION 4
    Tuesday*, February 18, 6:30pm to 8:30pm PST | * This session will be moved to Tuesday because of the stat holiday in BC.

  • SESSION 5
    Monday, March 3, 6:30pm to 8:30pm PST

    SESSION 6
    Monday, March 17, 6:30pm to 8:30pm PST

    SESSION 7
    Monday, March 31, 6:30pm to 8:30pm PST

  • Weekly Check-ins are posted in the private Facebook group every Sunday at 6am PST. Participants are asked to respond by noon the next day.

 

 INVESTMENT

$510 CAD

DEPOSIT/PAYMENT

FOR EVERYONE | Once you've been accepted into the program, your first, non-refundable payment of $170 is required to hold your spot. Email money transfers are preferred for all payments, but other arrangements can be made if necessary.

IF YOU’RE WELL-RESOURCED FINANCIALLY| Please pay the full amount up front. Otherwise, the balance of $340 is due before our first session.

IF YOU NEED MORE FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY| After your initial payment, you may make two payments of $170, by February 1st and March 1st. Please note, this is for folks who wouldn’t be able to take the Follow-through Sessions if they needed to pay the whole amount up front.

NEED ANOTHER PAYMENT PLAN?| Email me your proposal and the answer will probably be yes. Sometimes, I even accept trades!

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Can’t pay the full amount? In the interest of economic justice, you may request a pay-what-you-can spot (min. $70 to cover the cost of The Seasonal Creator Workbook and Planner, plus shipping) and if there any spots after registration closes you will be considered for that spot. There is no guarantee you will get one of these spots, but please apply anyway.

If you’re considering applying for financial assistance, please first consider your financial situation, identity-based privilege, relative earning potential, and access to financial support from your family/network. Paying the standard rate if you’re able (even on a payment plan) allows me to offer financial assistance to those who truly need it. 

REFUND POLICY

As with most businesses like mine, I don't offer refunds. If you’re new to the Follow-through Sessions that’s why there’s an application process—to make sure the offering is a good fit for you and that you know what kind of commitment you’re making.

APPLY FOR WINTER

Registration is first-come, first-served.

Please click the button below and you’ll be taken to an internal application form that will take a few minutes to complete. (NOTE: If you’ve taken the Follow-through Sessions before you still need to apply, but you get to skip some of the questions.)

If we don’t know each other/haven’t already worked together before, you'll then be contacted for a brief chat via Zoom to ensure that the program is a good fit for you and that you understand the commitment you’d be making.

I’ll confirm your spot in the program within 48 hours.

Again, there are eight spots available. (If there is more demand a second group may be added.)

Have questions before you apply? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.