Releasing External Expectations and Staying True to Your Characters’ Authentic Voices with author Kimberly Lee

This week, I had the pleasure of hosting the versatile writer and creative coach, Kimberly Lee. Kimberly, a former lawyer and accomplished author, shared how and why she transitioned her career in law to creative writing and facilitating, emphasizing her passion for nurturing the imaginative spirit within others. 

We discussed her latest suspense thriller, 'Have You Seen Him?', and discussed her unique background, including her training at the Therapeutic Writing Institute and the Center of Intentional Creativity. Kimberly elaborated on her roles as a guided autobiography instructor and a soul collage facilitator, shedding light on how these methods help people uncover their own stories and voices. She shared how these processes allow individuals to reflect on their life themes and creatively express themselves through intuitive collages. 

Our conversation also explored the challenges writers face with external expectations and the importance of trusting one’s own experiences and perspectives. Kimberly shared her tips for maintaining authenticity in writing, the impact of her legal background on her storytelling, and how she learned which types of feedback to internalize or let go of. 

She also discussed her novel’s evolution, which spanned over a decade, and gave a sneak peek into her upcoming projects, including a trilogy continuation of the novel and an immersive soul collage retreat at the Esalen Institute. 

Key Topics:

• Exploring all of the different creative modalities Kimberly has immersed herself in
• How writers can move beyond external expectations and learn to trust their own experience
• Knowing how to discern between good and bad feedback as a creative
• What has surprised Kimberly the most about how her voice has changed throughout her writing career
• What about your voice do you see as a superpower now that you used to view as a weakness?
• What inspired the concept of ‘Have You Seen Him?’
• Resisting the pull to mimic the voices of other successful authors in your genre
• Staying true to your characters’ authentic voices
• The biggest obstacle writers face when trying to express themselves authentically
• Turning ‘Have You Seen Him’ into a trilogy
• Recapturing a childlike state when trying to connect with your authentic voice

Connect with Kimberly online:

Website: https://www.kimberlylee.me/

Books: https://www.kimberlylee.me/haveyouseenhim

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-lee-6a800b230/

Instagram: @klcreatrix

Esalen Institute workshops: https:/

Find more from Jill:

Email: [e-mail]

Website: https://www.thewritersrefuge.com/

Writing Coaching Programs: https://www.thewritersrefuge.com/coaching

Sign up for my free 3x weekly writing session: write to [e-mail] for ZOOM info

Special thanks to LVDY for allowing us to use their song, Saltwater, in the intro and outro of the podcast!