Kim Abrahamse

Writing Coach and Facilitator

 
 

Kim loves getting nerdy about writing.

Kim’s love story with writing began with a migraine. She was newly married and in her twenties, laid up in bed for months with intense pain. There was a tapestry with a three-headed elephant on it beside her bed. She spent her days looking at it, waiting for the pain to ease. Slowly, a children’s story began to form in her mind about that elephant, written in rhyming stanzas.

She had been reading all her life, but this was the moment when it sunk in that she could create the stories she loved so much. And, like every good romance, sometimes the characters can't stand the sight of each other at first, but that leads to a beautiful happily ever after.

Kim is a self-professed “writing nerd” and has taken every kind of writing class — short fiction, novel writing, writing for children, poetry, technical writing, travel writing, copy writing and more. She is almost always mid-way through a book about writing, eager to share the new theory she’s learning about plot structures, character building or revision techniques.

For Kim, writing also pays the bills — she’s worked as a writer and copy editor for two decades, writing websites for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Petro-Canada and Toronto Pearson Airport.

Kim discovered Firefly back in 2015 when she took a class with Britt. Since then, she's read every newsletter, ripped open every Hello Writer pack, and written at the studio nearly every Friday afternoon, except when she and her writing are in a fight (or just avoiding one another). When she finally gathered her courage to apply for this job, she was excited by the idea of fully inhabiting her love of writing and creating writing community. Kim completed her Firefly coach training in the spring of 2020.

Kim’s style of leadership is authentic and connected. She has a wide and encompassing empathy for all people, and relates to all the ups and downs of the creative process deeply. In her spare time, Kim is working on a YA science fiction novel and a collection of punny children's poetry.
 
Her perfect Saturday would involve chai on a beach, sushi with friends, a long-distance swim in a lake or ocean, chocolate cake, a nap in her hammock, a movie while cuddling her kids, dancing with her sister… and absolutely no house cleaning or cooking at all.


What clients are saying…

 
Allison testimonial image

Being coached by Kim was great. I can be a bit…intense when it comes to bookish stuff — she rolled with it, enthusiastic from the start. On our later calls, I always had a moment right before we started of “oh gosh, what are we actually going to talk about?” but she always had a plan that was a great way to make progress and get excited at the same time! It was so so awesome and made getting my synopsis written so much less stressful than it would have been on my own. She’ll be a great coach for everyone and especially for the novelly-inclined.

Allison Temple
Author

 

 
Diane testimonial

For years, I have been secretly desiring to write beyond my journal. Yet the thought of joining a writing group has been scary, intimidating as well as exciting. Kim’s wonderful personality makes you feel at ease from the very beginning. She is warm, funny, compassionate and engaging. She cares deeply about ensuring that everyone in the group is having a good and valuable experience. Her dedication to preparing diverse writing exercises and prompts have been instrumental in allowing the writer in me to claim my space here amongst other beautiful creatives. I love her devotion to ensuring that all of us within the group are having a fabulous experience. I love that in this sacred creative space my writer’s voice is heard, witnessed and celebrated for its uniqueness. Thank you Kim for encouraging me to continue to connect with the writer’s voice within.

Diane Merpaw
Inner Magic Catalyst & Artist

 

 
V testimonial

Kim is a fantastic coach! From the first time we met, she helped get clarity in areas I had been stuck in with my writing. She provided a safe, fun, and creative atmosphere where we could play around with the characters to see how best to serve the story. Every session with her felt invigorating and inspiring. Thanks to Kim, my idea for a novel is now on its way to become a reality and I can’t thank her enough for it!

V. Correa
Writer