Announcing the winner of the Writers’ Spark Coaching Contest!
- Sheelagh Caygill
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that the winner of the Writers’ Spark Coaching Contest is Holly B. Gutwillinger, a writer and podcaster from Sudbury, Ontario!
When writing coach and mentor Fiona Fenwick contacted Holly to tell her she’d won the prize, Holly told us she was "so grateful for the prize" and was "beside herself with happiness!"
The competition was designed to find a writer who is ready to "rekindle their drive and motivation," and Holly’s entry truly embodied that spirit. After decades of searching for her creative home, Holly’s dedication to her craft and her courage in silencing her "inner critic" stood out to our judges.
Coaching from Fiona Fenwick
Fiona, who will be providing Holly with personalized coaching sessions, was impressed by the heart behind the winning entry.
"Holly’s submission resonated with us because of its raw honesty and clear commitment to the craft," says Fiona.
"It is a privilege to work with a writer who has decided to give their writing talent the work and space it deserves. I am so looking forward to supporting Holly navigate the early development of her novel and building the sustainable habits that will bring her story to life."
On Creative Writing’s Sheelagh Caygill says, “Holly’s entry was both
moving and beautifully written. Her hard work to get to where she is
as a writer was obvious, and that really spoke to us.”
Winner of the Writers’ Spark Coaching Contest - Holly B. Gutwillinger
Holly is an emerging Canadian author and podcaster based in Sudbury, Northern Ontario. She is studying an (MFA) in Fiction at the University of King’s College, Halifax, Nova Scotia. She also has a Certificate in Creative Writing from the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies.
Holly’s writing focuses on the profound emotional bonds between humans and animals, the complexities of midlife, and the journey toward personal healing. Her writing is informed by her love of family and her belief in the transformative power of rescue animals.
She is currently working on a literary fiction project set in a small Northern Ontario town. The story explores the friendship of two people searching for love and happiness, whose lives take an unexpected turn at the "Telling Tails" dog park.
In her entry, Holly shared her long path towards becoming a writer: "I never imagined I’d write a novel inspired by a four-line stanza about my dogs . . . For more than 50 years, I’ve searched for a purpose, a passion, a sense of belonging to someone. I found it in writing. My inner critic used my mind like a playground . . But I made a choice: I decided to stand up and speak, not just for myself, but also for my ego."
The prize package
As our winner, Holly will receive a comprehensive support package to fuel
her momentum, including:
● Two one-hour coaching sessions with Fiona Fenwick to focus on goals and clarity.
● Two hours of professional editing and feedback with Sheelagh Caygill.
● A one-year membership to Brain.fm to help her find that deep-focus flow state.
● An upcoming feature in our Writers Reveal Q&A right here on the blog.
We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who entered. The
quality of the submissions was a testament to the vibrant community of
writers we are so lucky to be a part of.
Please join us in the comments in congratulating Holly! We can’t wait to
see where her evolution as a writer takes her next.
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