All Student Success Letters

Mike Matzdorff

Dear Gotham,

I discovered, when I began writing my first novel, how truly difficult and extraordinarily fun writing prose is for me. I began with an excitement I’ve never experienced about any other work I’ve done. I also realized I was like a teenager with a hot-rod and no idea how to drive. My work was underdone and disconnected. Creating depth takes time.

Like an overconfident teenager with the keys to the Corvette, I began writing based on a skinny outline. The first draft of The Universe came in at a scant, thin, fragmented 90 pages. But I couldn’t deny that I was in love with the process—and because of that, I wanted to learn how to do it.

An internet search for “the best way to improve my writing” yielded a list of results, and at the top was the Gotham Writers Workshop. I searched a few more queries, and they all pointed me in the same direction. I like to think it was the Universe at work—because I was working on a book titled The Universe, and everything happens for a reason.

I enrolled in Zoetrope Fiction Writing with Michael Backus. Michael, more than once over the course of our meetings, uttered a version of the words, “You definitely can write, but it’s under-developed.” I took Michael’s instruction and critiques to heart. Both he and my classmates reinforced my passion and handed out great, motivating thoughts on my work.

I learned to look deeper into the characters and keep prodding myself with the words, “And what then?” The opening of doors in this way, for me, has become an endless river—pushing into the settings, characters, and the work overall. Finding the most interesting, most fun, most brutal corners of my imagination and helping me get them on the page—so I can do it all again.

The Universe, now at around 46,000 words, signed with a small publisher and is out in the world. I’m proud and grateful.

Thank you, Gotham, for great perspectives, just the right amount of pushing, and a huge return on my investment.

Best,
Mike Matzdorff

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You can learn more about Mike and his writing here.