One-on-One Writing Services

Available either remotely or in NYC

Would you like to work one-on-one with a member of the Gotham faculty?

There is a time-honored tradition of writers giving each other advice on their work. After reading an early draft of a first novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald told an aspiring writer that he found about 24 sneers, superiorities, and nose-thumbings-at-nothing that marred the whole narrative. The author, Ernest Hemingway, took the suggestions, and the novel, The Sun Also Rises, launched his career.

It's tough to catch a break in the writing business. Editors, agents, and producers seldom grant you more than a first look, so you want your work to be in the best possible shape before sending it out into the world. Gotham has a large network of professional writers, in every field, who can help strengthen your work and maximize your chances of success. And if your main goal is just to get better, we can help with that too.

The type of One-on-One writing service that is right for you will vary depending on your particular needs.

Here are the options—each one available either in NYC or long distance.

Creative Writing

Doctoring
For the person who wants professional feedback on a particular project, which could be anything from a book to a short story to a screenplay to a collection of poems.

Mentorship
For the person who wants to develop a project over time under the guidance of a mentor. It's a mixture of advice, assignments, critique, and inspiration constructed to fit your particular needs and schedule.

Private Session/Class
For the person who wants a one-on-one class, we have two options. 1) A private three-hour session that provides a quick overview of a type of writing through mini-lectures and exercises. 2) A private 6 or 10-week course, based on our group-class curriculum, but tailored to your interests and needs.

Business Writing/Grammar

Private Grammar Session
For the person who wants one-on-one guidance on grammar, we can tailor a three-hour session to your particular needs. (This is for people fluent in English.)

Private Business Writing Session/Class
For the person who wants a one-on-one Business Writing class, we have two options. 1) A private three-hour session that provides a quick overview of a type of writing through mini-lectures and exercises. 2) A private 6-week course, based on our group-class curriculum, but tailored to your interests and needs.

Business Writing Mentorship
For the person who wants the guidance of a mentor, for a particular project and/or day-to-day workplace writing challenges. It’s a mixture of advice, assignments, critique, and inspiration constructed to fit your particular needs and schedule.

Publishing Guidance

Agent Evaluation
For the person who wants an agent or editor’s evaluation of their book in terms of marketability.

Agent Evaluation Quickie
For the person who wants a quick evaluation on their book in terms of marketability.

Nonfiction Book Proposal
For the person who wants a hands on approach to putting the nonfiction book proposal together.

Query Letter Coaching
For the person who wants help crafting a winning query letter.

Proofreading
For the person who wants a work proofread before sending it out into the world.

Higher Education

College Admissions Essay Coaching
For the college-bound teen who wants help with the all-important college admissions essay.

MFA Application Assistance
For the writer applying to an MFA program in creative writing who wants to be coached through any part (or all) of the process by someone who has been through it themselves.

Blogs

Blog Launch
For someone who wants to start up a blog, but needs technical help setting it up and learning how to maintain it.