1:1 Writing Review
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What happens when 35 years of writing, editing, and teaching creative writing meets your draft?
Breakthroughs.

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If you wish you had private, 1:1 access to a creative writing instructor who could expertly guide you to the next stage of your draft, this is your chance.

​I’ve been writing and teaching poetry, memoir, and fiction for a long time, so I know how valuable personal feedback is, and how limited it can be in a class setting. Individual attention is at a premium, even more so from an instructor who is truly invested in your growth and success as a writer.

​My 1:1 Writing Review is designed to give you the personal feedback that can elevate your work to new heights for profound impact. We can also tailor these conversations to include suggestions for how to share your poetry, and where might be a good fit.​​

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Small Poem Packet Consultation 

Send me 1-4 poems (1 poem per page and no more than 8 pages total) and you’ll receive a private lesson with detailed written feedback followed by a conversation to discuss your work.
 
You will receive:

• In-depth written feedback on your pages
• A 30-minute call with me to ask questions, talk through what works, what doesn’t, and what could work better
• A clear path forward for how to revise your drafts​​

I'm ready to get started

$150 Per Set

After payment, you’ll receive an email from me detailing how to send me your poems and schedule our 30-minute call . I look forward to reading your work!

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Poetry Chapbook Consultation

Let's get your chapbook manuscript polished! Send up to 25 pages (1 poem per page) and you’ll receive detailed feedback followed by a private discussion that puts all of my experience in teaching, editing, and publishing at your disposal. 
 
You will receive:

• In-depth written feedback on your pages and your ordering
• A 45-minute call with me to ask questions, and discuss my feedback and the overall manuscript
• A clear path forward for how to revise your chapbook and discussion of publishing options​​

I'm ready to talk about my chapbook with you!

$450 Per Chapbook Manuscript

After payment, you’ll receive an email from me detailing how to send me your chapbook manuscript
​and schedule our 45-minute call . I look forward to reading your work!

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Fiction, Memoir & Personal Essay Consultation

Let's talk about your fiction or personal essay/memoir excerpt and get your work to the next level. Send up to 12 pages (double-spaced, 12-pt. font) and you’ll receive detailed feedback followed by a private discussion that puts all of my experience in teaching, editing, and publishing at your disposal. 
 
You will receive:

• In-depth written feedback on your pages 
• A 30-minute call with me to ask questions, talk through what works, what doesn’t, and what could work better
• A clear path forward for how to revise your draft​

Read a bit more about what to expect from an editor.

I'm ready to talk about my wRiting with you!

$300 Per Prose Excerpt

After payment, you’ll receive an email from me detailing how to send me your chapbook manuscript
​and schedule our 30-minute call . I look forward to reading your work!

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Praise

• “Melanie sparkles as a teacher, bringing the complex world of poetry to life, pushing her students toward the full potential of poetry as a vital art. Her feedback was demanding but very, very helpful.”

• "Doing this work with you...I'm being more bold. I can check it out with someone who'll give me an honest assessment."

• “Thank you so much for your wonderful instruction about poetry. I am amazed by the amount I learned. I am so grateful for your high expectations….I am especially thankful for your thoughtful comments and readings of my work and others. I will cherish your comments as I go forward.”
  

• ""Melanie is highly professional, supportive and thoughtful. She provides smart, kind listening and constructive feedback."

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About Me

I've been writing poems, and mentoring poets with their own poetry, for decades. My poems, essays, and reviews have been published in dozens of literary journals, including The Iowa Review, Nimrod, The Rumpus, and the Academy of American Poets. My award-winning poetry collection, Trace  was named one of the 7 Best Indie Poetry Books of the Year by Kirkus Reviews. I have an MFA in Poetry and have won many recognitions for my writing - including fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, The McKnight and Jerome Foundations, and grants from the Maryland State Arts Council, the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, and others. 
 
For 35 years, I have taught writing workshops for adults and young people in literary writing centers, university classrooms and elementary schools, ​prisons and juvenile detention centers, and youth, art, and health organizations. I have received awards for Excellence in Teaching from The Loft Literary Center, the University of Utah, and the Jerome Foundation. ​I currently teach workshops at The Writer's Center, Hugo House, The Loft Literary Center, as well as at regional book festivals and in private homes in the DC area.