Leaf

Hi, I'm Rachel Thompson

You’re here, luminous writer. I feel your ache to share your truest, bravest, most heartfelt writing. I love that, because…

I am here to help you write, publish, and shine.

To do this, I share free resources in the form of articles and love letters to luminous writers, and I teach courses on writing, self-editing, and getting published.

Rachel Thompson has yellow and grey hair and wears glasses and a blue dress with a green notebook and teal wall behind her in this portrait.

I believe you already have all you need to write:

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The bravery to reveal your voice.

The tenacity to go for your dream.

The self-trust to stay true to your heart.

If you’re ready to believe you can be a luminous writer, then read on…

Rachel Thompson Writing Courses | Rachel points at the lens, wears a white t-shirt with floral design, large glasses, and has grey-yellow hair.

Growing up in an environment where expressing emotions was often deemed “too much” or oversharing, I yearned to be genuinely seen and heard.

I believe that writing with honesty and passion allows us to connect deeply with ourselves and others, offering a bridge in a world that often feels fragmented.

My passion for writing is intertwined with a sense of justice and a deep-seated desire to articulate my truth.

About Me

I once drew a self-portrait as a bottle brimming with swirling ink, held back by a giant stopper. This image captures how I’ve often felt—overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions and ideas, yet struggling to let them flow freely.

Growing up in an environment where expressing emotions was often deemed “too much” or oversharing, I yearned to be genuinely seen and heard. Books became my sanctuary, a place where I could live out loud within each heart-rendered page. It was a rebellious elementary school teacher’s encouragement to write that opened a door to a new world of self-expression.

After earning my English degree and building a career in communications, I embraced creative writing despite periods of self-doubt intensified by profound experiences of loss. These trials deepened my understanding of the delicate process of writing about grief and navigating the pace that suits my journey. My passion for writing is intertwined with a sense of justice and a deep-seated desire to articulate my truth.

Connecting with other writers felt like discovering a warm, welcoming community—one that understands and shares my yearning for heartfelt expression. Their support helped me bring my first collection of poems, Galaxy (Anvil Press), to life.

Since 2010, I’ve had the joy of serving on the editorial collective of Room. Editing several issues has been a deeply fulfilling experience, allowing me to engage in the delicate art of curation and learn what resonates in writing. Sharing Room’s vision of nurturing emerging voices has been profoundly rewarding, reinforcing my belief in the transformative power of writing.

I believe that writing with honesty and passion allows us to connect deeply with ourselves and others, offering a bridge in a world that often feels fragmented.

My Values

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Community

Just because we write alone, we don’t need to be lonely writers.

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Transparency

I share openly and honestly, especially when I make mistakes.

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Empathy

I read and write to deeply understand, to feel with others, to explore what it means to be human.

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Social Justice

I advocate for racial, LGBTQIA2S+, and disability justice, and put these values into practice.

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Bravery

I bravely show up and tell the deep truths writing requires. (What I’m afraid to do creatively is usually where I need to go.)

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Self-trust

I tune into my intuition and knowing (this is a work-in-progress). And I am patient with my progress.

A Little More About Me…

some of my identities...

My pronouns are she/her/hers and I embrace my unique, neurospicy, ways of thinking, channelling my creativity to tackle problems from innovative angles.

In the Myers-Briggs system, I’m an INFP. INFPs make up 4% of the population, and are said to live authentically and according to their internal values and feelings. This checks out! INFPs are also said to  want people to stay true to themselves.

Rachel holding a notebook and glasses with her hand on her hip. Rachel has yellow, shoulder-length hair, and wears an open collared shirt and a black tube dress.
Rachel Thompson Canadian Writer
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I'm a grateful guest on many lands...

I’m a settler Canadian, born on Treaty 1 territory and raised on Treaty 2 territory in Manitoba. I have also lived for a time on the traditional territories of the Kanien’kehá:ka, and the Anishinabeg peoples in Montreal, Quebec, and on the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh lands in Vancouver, B.C. When I travel, I love to spend months living and working somewhere, which I’ve done in both Central America and the U.K. At present, I’m a guest in Egypt, living with my Egyptian spouse and our children by the Red Sea in the South Sinai, the traditional territory of the Al-Muzzina Bedouin. (Imagine where Moses received the tablets, and that’s about where you’d find me right now!)

My Writing Life requires finding balance, too...

I know the challenges of juggling work-life, family-life, and writing-life. All of what I teach is informed by what I’ve learned the hard way. I share with transparency and openness any wisdom I have gleaned through publishing my first book, plus all of the highs and lows I experience as I prepare my next book for publication.

Rachel Thompson Writing is a Balancing Act
How to Publish in Literary Magazines: Five Key Ingredients to Win Over Editors

Stuck with submissions?

FREE Guide to Help You Get Published In Lit Mags

This free guide, filled with my advice on publishing your writing, comes from my experience editing for a lit mag and dozens of interviews I’ve had with editors about what they want to see in submissions. (And what they never wish to see again!)