I’m a quick-witted, outspoken, big-hearted, lesbian with a deep abiding love for the written word. I got my education later in life than most, and before that did any and every job that came my way. Through it all, I have been a dedicated, obsessive, reader because when I read, I feel less alone.

Books are the thread that holds my winding road of life together.  Stories give me hope, help me grow and soothe my soul. Books have given me many answers to questions I could not yet articulate, and they have helped me understand myself and my place in the world. Stories are my favorite way to create empathy and to inspire new ways of being.

There is a special connection that only happens between a reader and the page, and I felt compelled, to understand this unique experience.

Graduate school was a difficult process for me. I trudged through confusion and self-doubt because I had to know, how writers do what they do, what methods help reach the soul, and how can I do that for others.

Between a learning disability and some intense mental health challenges, it was a sharp curve for me to move from academic, informational writing to creative writing that can ignore grammar rules for style, or rhythm, or to create a specific emotional effect. Craft is a world of wonder that has taken me fifteen years to grasp, and I learn more every day.

One of my mentors shared the reason she chose writing, after successful careers in finance and law, was that writing takes all of her and the learning is unending. I couldn’t agree more. Writing holds endless fascination and opportunities to learn.

I’ve learned is to be resilient. I keep practicing, I keep reading, knowing I will never learn all the lessons, because there are as many ways to write as there are writers. Learning craft is the way to understand what tools are at your disposal. Learning how your process works will help you meet your writing goals but learning how readers receive and interpret what you write is where the magic of reading resides.

 Respect for the reader is the unspoken agreement necessary for the suspension of disbelief and is often what makes or breaks a work. I want to work with writers interested in exploring and developing their ideas fully so the reader can have the best possible experience.

My editorial and writing experience began at The Campanil where I worked as a section editor and journalist. In graduate school, I worked on Reed Literary Magazine 152, as the nonfiction editor and a contributing writer. I was then fortunate to work as the assistant editor of The Peace Review and was the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Meter, a literary newsletter. I also served as the president of the Graduate Writers Association.

As a freelance editor, I enjoy working from development to line edits. Every story has its own rules and I love encouraging writers to develop their style.

As a writing coach, I will help you get a handle on advanced technical skills and create a working relationship with your process.

My published work includes short stories, flash fiction, essays, and screenplays. I am grateful to have been selected for the Pushcart Prize (fiction) and a Best of the Net Prize (CNF) in 2022.

If you want one-on-one coaching or editing services, please email me directly at michelekilmer1@gmail.com.

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