About

Welcome!
Thanks for visiting.
Let’s start with a true story.

At 40, I developed chronic stomach problems. Changing my diet helped physically, but it didn't touch the deeper anguish simmering beneath the surface.

I longed to write and share my stories—but was filled with self-doubt and irrational fears. I believed that if I wrote what I wanted to say, my husband would leave me, my parents would disinherit me, and I’d end up homeless or institutionalized.

Still, I wrote. Sometimes the words flowed, but often they didn’t, and I spiraled into shame and self-criticism.

As my stomach screamed at me, five unfinished manuscripts sat in my file cabinet while I sank into a debilitating midlife crisis.

I was convinced I'd wasted my life.

I'd devoted decades to writing. I loved it, but it didn't seem to love me back.

The world didn't care whether I wrote—and yet I needed to write in ways I couldn't explain.

I enrolled in a master’s degree program in spiritual psychology and began to see how relentlessly my thinking fueled my fear, anxiety, and self-judgment.

And I discovered something life-changing: I am not my thoughts.

Thinking is a beautiful tool, but it doesn't define me—and it doesn't have to limit me.

I quit beating myself up, leaned into love, and found a deeper sense of peace. Over time, I learned to trust my own wisdom, which soothed my anxiety, helped me write three books, and led me to create Write Where You Are, my teaching and coaching practice.

I’ve worked with hundreds of writers since 2008, many of whom have become published authors, coaches, healers, and writing teachers.

I’m passionate about the power of writing to heal and transform lives and am devoted to helping others experience the freedom I’ve found.

Mentors have mattered a lot in my life, and I’m grateful and honored to pass along the gifts I’ve been given.

A few fun facts:

• I was born and raised in New York but have lived my adult life in and around Los Angeles.

• I’ve lived with my husband Jim—the love of my life—for 41 years.

• We have a young adult daughter.

• I studied dance at the Juilliard School and have earned degrees in dance and literature (Scripps College), film production with a screenwriting emphasis (USC), and spiritual psychology (USM).

• For health reasons, I ate a 100% raw, vegan diet for five years—and wrote a memoir about it.

• One of the most cherished compliments I’ve received came from a writer who told me: “You, madam, are a natural-born coach.”

• A handful of profound mystical experiences have shaped my understanding of creativity, identity, and love.

I confess I have a love/hate relationship with being seen. Part of me wants to shout what I’ve learned about creative freedom from my rooftop, while another part wants to hide under the covers.

But I figured it was time to properly introduce myself.

Maybe if you know me, I’ll get to know you, too.

That would be sweet.

class you get much more than a teacher, you get a steadfast facilitator who offers calm encouragement and tremendous insight into the entire writing process, which by nature is fraught with insecurity. Her warmth and guidance fosters a place of creativity and unparalleled support, not to mention crazy productivity! I’m thrilled to have Bella in my corner and can’t recommend her highly enough.”

 —Melissa Gould,
Author of Widowish, A Memoir

“I subscribe to many newsletters and Bella’s is the only one I make sure to read every word of. If I don’t have time, I save it for when I do. I enjoy (and connect with) every word Bella writes.”

—Melissa Francke

80+ Writing Prompts
A curated collection of prompts from Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?—designed to help you get out of your own way and write what’s true.

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