Testimonials.

“I had my first nonfiction essay published as a result of taking Joanna’s Writing the Lyric Essay course through Creative Nonfiction, and I’ve since taken another course with her. Joanna is an inspiring and generous tutor – the readings and exercises she assigns are interesting and stimulating, and the feedback she gives is always thorough and insightful. I loved working with her; after some years in the writing wilderness her courses reignited my love of writing and continue to stretch me as a writer.”

— Lorna Thorpe, Writer, Poet, and Former Student

“Joanna has been a trusted editor for me for three of the poetry chapbooks I've written. She has a way of understanding what I'm trying to do with my lines and asking me questions to clarify my intentions and streamline grammar and punctuation. I have also seen her teach and was blown away by her knowledge, good humor, and ability to productively shape a conversation.”

— J. Hope Stein, Poet and Editing Client

“I was a student of Joanna’s on two courses:  Lyric Essays and  Stringing the Beads. Both of these were groundbreaking for me. Her choice of reading material and prompts was always apt and thought-provoking and enabled me to stretch and develop my prose as well as giving me new confidence. A lyric essay I wrote during her course was published in  On the Seawall. Work done in  Stringing the Beads has led to material for a book. Her feedback is always excellent, the most  insightful and useful I’ve ever received.”

— Diana Gittins, Writer, Poet, and Former Student

“Joanna's classes have helped me during difficult times when I've felt stalled or paralyzed. Her generous, open approach gave me ‘permission’ to just dive in, to be generative and become interested in process. (And this unselfconscious approach led to work that found publication.) This also creates an open and supportive environment among fellow students. Her materials (essays and poetry) were varied and mostly new to me, which was fun as an avid reader. I have an MFA in poetry and have taken other workshops and was so pleased to find there was room for me to grow as a writer of lyric essays and non-fiction. Beyond simply offering exercises and critique, Joanna's guidance has also nurtured my sense of writing as a way of living, as a way of thinking and appreciating my own point of view, which is perhaps most valuable of all.”

— Megin Jimenez, Poet, Prose Writer, and Former Student

“Joanna has a keen way of finding the engaging threads in everyone's stories. Her kind and compassionate nature helps the students in her classes feel safe to share their writing. After working with Joanna, I felt like I could see something in my writing that I couldn't see there before.”

— Tiffany Frye, Former Student

“If I could, I would be taking Joanna’s courses continually, one after another, forever. As an instructor and a coach, she embodies that rare, perfect balance: simultaneously appreciating where you are and stimulating you to new heights. Her suggestions are always grounded in an insightful understanding of a writer’s voice – she never tries to make you into a different writer, just a stronger version of the writer you already are.”

— Catherine Wiley, Former Student

“Joanna is a wonderful, trustworthy reader. She discerns the heart of a writing project and asks questions that make me eager to revise and share my work. Her tone is that of a curious, engaged peer who just so happens to have a wealth of teaching, writing, and publishing experience to draw from. She always makes me feel like I’m part of a lively, ongoing conversation of writers and that my ideas and voice matter.”

— Jane V., Former Student