Writing Coaching & Mentoring

Child holding a yellow pencil over an open workbook.

Lifelong-learning writing experiences for youth and adults

Writing and reading help us understand the world around us—and help us express what we think, feel, discover, and imagine. And words are how we create meaning to share our thoughts and experiences.

I mentor students and adults who want to become stronger, more confident writers, guiding them to develop crucial skills using the essential power of words.

Some writers are developing academic skills. Some writers have stories they need to tell. And some simply love to write and want the challenge —and the encouragement—to take their work further.

“You don’t write because you want to say something, you write

because you have something to say.”

—F. Scott Fitzgerald

Photo: iStock by Getty Images

My Approach to Mentoring

What I Do

Why It Works

I don’t teach to tests, assign grades, or slot writers into rigid, one-size-fits-all structures.

Instead, I help writers to explore what interests them, to develop the skills their writing requires and discover what they want to say—and how they want to say it.

I enrich writers' skills by providing engaging and stimulating environments for expression. I design and implement challenging and entertaining writing activities that keep students engaged and wanting more.

Mentoring provides experiential learning for both the craft of writing and the writer's expression of what matters. And, along the way, I applaud, challenge, encourage, and support.

Why It Works

Mentoring with me goes beyond traditional or test-based assignments. We observe, we ask questions, we dive deeply into craft. We read and research. We experiment, write, revise, and sometimes we publish.

We write about what matters to each individual, harnessing the power—and passion—of words that await us.

Meaningful writing grows from curiosity and experience. Inspiration can come from current events, history, nature, family, personal experience, a difficult question, an unexpected discovery—whatever interests, inspires, and motivates individuals to write

That's why I help each writer turn that curiosity into critical thinking, tight craft, and ways to say: "This is who I am as a writer."

Who I Work With

What We Can Work On

Younger Writers
Building skills and confidence through creative, engaging writing experiences shaped around individual interests

Middle & High School Students
Developing stronger academic and creative writing while exploring voice, craft, ideas, research, and revision

College & Graduate Students
Strengthening essays, research-based writing, theses and dissertations through coaching, developmental editing, organization, clarity, and argument

Adult Writers
Pursuing personal writing, memoir, family histories, creative projects, works in progress, or simply becoming more confident and purposeful writers

What We Can Work On

Writing mentoring can be as broad or as focused as the writer needs.

Projects may include:

Fiction and short stories
Poetry
Personal and narrative writing
Memoir and family histories
Essays
Academic writing
Thesis and dissertation coaching and editing
Works already in progress

Craft and style work includes:

Organization and structure
Argument and support
Voice and tone
Revision and developmental editing

For Writers Who Want More

For writers who are genuinely excited by words, mentoring can go well beyond completing an assignment.

We slow down and look closely at craft. We can ask why one sentence works and another doesn’t. We experiment with structure and voice. We pursue a subject simply because it matters to the writer.

Most importantly, we make room for the writer to express :

This is what I think. This is what I want to say.

This is why I want to say it.

Ways We Can Work Together

For Writers Who Want More

One-on-One Mentoring
Individualized coaching sessions built around the writer and the skills we want to develop

Focused Writing Sessions
Short-term mentoring for a particular project, challenge, or writing goal

Small-Group Writing Experiences
Occasional write-and-share groups, workshops, intensive experiences

What Writers Say

“Andrea helped me to understand that, for me, my best writing was always right around the corner. I’m proud of the work I was able to produce.”

Joel T., Graduate Student

"Andrea is a delight to work with. She interacted with our family to determine our

8-year-old's interests and developed writing lessons our son loves."

Patty M., Student Parent

"Thank you for making it fun for us. It's always nice to have a teacher who is excited and ready. I want to use all these tools, and also have fun with it!"

Natalie, Classroom Student

Writing Coaching & Mentoring

Lifelong-learning writing experiences for youth and adults

My Approach to Mentoring

What I Do

Why It Works

Why It Works

Why It Works

Why It Works

Why It Works

Who I Work With

What We Can Work On

What We Can Work On

What We Can Work On

What We Can Work On

What We Can Work On

For Writers Who Want More

For Writers Who Want More

For Writers Who Want More

Ways We Can Work Together

For Writers Who Want More

For Writers Who Want More

What Writers Say

Interested in Writing Mentoring?