Coaching, Manuscript Review & Editing Services:

Why me?

With eleven years of teaching and editorial experience, I have helped countless writers bring out the very best in their manuscripts, from my time as a Professor of Creative Writing at Warren Wilson College to acting as a visiting writer and teacher at dozens of other colleges and Universities around the country, such as the University of Louisiana’s MFA and PhD program, the College of William and Mary, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ MFA program. As the former Managing Editor of Western Humanities Review and Nonfiction Editor at Black Warrior Review, I understand the world of literary journals and editorial selection. I’ve acted as judge for awards like NPR’s Three-Minute-Fiction and the Utah Original Writing Competition. I have also taught at numerous conferences, workshops, and for literary organizations like Grubstreet, the Flatiron Writer’s Room, and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. In my own writing, I’ve published a critically-acclaimed memoir, award-winning essays, short stories, poems, academic papers, and have a novel forthcoming, and my experience ranges from the biggest New York publishing houses to small independent literary journals.

• General Coaching:

Do you have a story to tell, but aren’t sure how to begin? Do you have questions about how to find an agent or a publisher? About magazine publishing or literary journals? Are you ready to finish a project or start a new one? Do you want to brainstorm aloud? Are you stuck? Are you struggling with structure? With motivation? With making time to write?

I work with writers in all stages of their writing life--from brand new to well-published. I love getting to be a part of your creative process, no matter what kind of creativity you cultivate, or what kind of questions you have.  I can help you get deep into the projects that matter most to you, and find a sustainable schedule to get you to the finish line. 

Coaching sessions are for more general conversations, rejuvenating your creative practice, making writing plans and sticking with them, and whatever else your personalized session brings up. I’ll give you tools for your writer’s toolbox, suggestions for further reading, and opportunities to ask follow-up questions. We can schedule ongoing coaching sessions, or a one-off.

Let’s make this happen. The world needs your writing.

• One-on-One Manuscript Review & Editing

There’s nothing I love more than helping another writer get their story just right. I am available to read and critique manuscripts (novel, short story collection, memoir, personal essay collection, general nonfiction OR individual essays or stories). My approach is to always aim for the writer’s intent, to react to both what is already on the page and what the writer is trying to get at that may not yet be fully present. I love thinking through structure, form, metaphor, and working toward a piece of writer’s most ambitious intent. My hope is that in that process, the writer feels understood and responded to specifically. The kind of response will depend upon the needs of the writer, but can include line notes, chapter summations/comments, and a few pages of notes at the end. Before we begin, we will have a conversation wherein we determine how to best meet your needs, whether that be editorial brainstorming (generating ideas, conceptual support, developing plot/character, discovering themes, etc.), developmental edits (once you have some writing done, big picture stuff, story arcs, characterization, etc.), or line edits (further along in the process, editing for clarity, rhythm, movement, language-level beauty, etc.). When I am finished reading the manuscript we will schedule a zoom or phone session to go over my thoughts, and provide space for your questions.

Excited? I am. Let’s work together, and bring the world your words!