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Coaching for Writers
For prose writers and poets. Feedback that won’t crush you. You’ll send me works in progress and we’ll meet 1-2 times per month with email communication in between. I’ll give you feedback that keeps you excited about your work and gives you energy to move forward with revisions and fresh ideas. See testimonials below. Read more
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Writing for a Popular Audience
You’re an expert in your field, and now you’re ready to bring your ideas to a popular audience. Sessions will cover tone and clarity, identifying outlets, and pitching your work to editors. Especially for scientists, therapists, and other experts who are used to academic or legal writing. $125 per hour or buy a 4-session package for $400. Read more.
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Submissions Jumpstart
A quarterly meetup to help you get your work out to literary magazines and journals. Because submitting—and submitting a lot—is still the main way that writers get published. I provide links to open journals, submissions strategy advice, and answer questions. You zip through 3-7 submissions (actual numbers from past participants) with a supportive group of peers. $15. Read more.
Testimonials
“I came to Megan with five years of experience in the field of journalism. I felt stagnant -- I was a strong reporter, but really wanted to improve my ability to weave narrative and investigation together. Megan was a fantastic choice: she asked me what my goals were for the piece, and then held me to task when I began veering into my usual habits. It was exactly what I needed; as a result of Megan's (kind, but firm) editing, I've completely changed my approach to long-form pieces. She was also very responsive on a tight deadline.” —Victoria Mckenzie, freelance journalist and editor
“At a time in my writing when I had hit a wall and couldn’t get over it, Megan Alpert came to the rescue. Her objective and critical eye helped me to understand where I really wanted my writing to go. In addition, her excellent editing skills took my writing to a higher level. Thank you, Megan!” —Sandra Worsham, memoirist and short story writer
“Megan is a talented editor. Her holistic style always provides me with ways to improve my work, whether she’s corrected errors or given me suggestions for creating a more robust, engaging piece. From quick review of article pitches to thorough reads of complex reporting, Megan is skilled and kind. It’s a pleasure to work with her!” —Lisa Rowan, writer, editor and podcaster
How Mentoring for Creative Writers Works
My approach combines methods learned at The Writing Mentors intensive program and Gateless feedback methods developed by novelist Suzanne Kingsbury, along with my experience as a writer and editor. Studies show that positive feedback that recognizes a writer’s strengths helps them improve more than just a critique. But I’m not just a cheerleader. I tell you what’s working in your writing and how to achieve your goals, in your writing itself and in your career. I advise you in the publishing process and recommend readings on craft where appropriate. I know what it’s like to get a tear-down critique, and what it’s like to get feedback from a creative partner. I love being a partner for writers.
Through focused feedback and creative inquiry, I help you move forward in your writing, honoring your unique vision.
Coaching is for you if you:
Love writing but have trouble carving out time to get it done.
Need feedback on brand new work that you’re not quite sure where to go with.
Have a big project that you want help getting to the next step with, whether that’s getting a first draft out, writing a revision, or preparing for publication.
Writing for a Popular Audience
You’re a scientist, therapist, or an expert in your field. The knowledge you have is important and could help real people. But you’re used to writing for other experts, academics, and students. You want to get your expertise in front of everyday people who could benefit from your knowledge.
I’ll help you learn how to target your writing to a popular audience, identify outlets for your work, pitch, and build relationships with editors. Whether you have five articles ready to publish or haven’t written a word yet, I can help you develop a plan, improve your style and tone, and get your work out there.
Why work with me?
In 2014, while traveling in Ecuador, I started pitching stories. Within a year, I had published at The Guardian, Earth Island Journal, Vice, and Guernica, and won a fellowship at Foreign Policy magazine. Later, as a senior editor at Snopes, I worked closely with our science writer on science and health stories for a non-academic audience. I’ve also logged 7 years as a technical writer, translating complex software concepts into easily readable prose.
Having worked as a fact-checker, I understand the importance of never sacrificing accuracy for readability. I will support the integrity of your ideas while helping make them accessible to more readers.
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Submissions Jumpstart
Your writing is important—not just to you, but to the world. And while writing in isolation, like a hermit in an island cabin, sounds romantic, it’s not going to be enough to sustain you forever. Because writing is a conversation. that humanity is having with itself. And your writing can’t join the conversation from deep inside your desk drawer or in a private Google doc the rest of the world never sees.
At Submissions Jumpstart, I’ve done the legwork for you so you can zip through your submissions. Writers at past events have sent out between 3 and 7 submissions in an hour. Even if you get rejected, every time you submit, you are starting a new relationship with an editor, getting your work read, and contributing to the conversation humanity is having with itself.
Join us for $10 per month, or purchase a whole year for $100