The time I spent working with Wendy was invaluable to my development as a writer. She meets writers where they are, then she lifts them higher. She possesses the truly rare ability of making every discussion a safe space where your creativity is nurtured and your voice is amplified. 

Wendy dives into a writer’s work with such enthusiasm and passion on their behalf; even for the smallest projects, you leave with a deeper understanding of yourself and what you want to say as a writer. Everything she taught me and the confidence she built up in me? It’s rippled out into all that came after: from law school memos and briefs to poetry, scholarly articles, and essays. I’m forever grateful.

I owe a great deal to Wendy’s gentle guidance and mentorship during our time together. Our work together felt collaborative – she taught me and offered constructive feedback, but it also felt as if we were engaging in a mutual creative process. This allowed me to grow and develop skills as both a creative and professional writer while also building relationships as a colleague. 

Wendy always encouraged me to dig deeper emotionally, to say more, and to expand my understanding of literature as a context for my own work. I would highly recommend Wendy as an experienced teacher and coach to anyone who wants to bring a more nuanced understanding of craft to their writing.  

In the four years I worked with Wendy, I grew most as a writer through understanding the power of selectivity (“kill your darlings”). She taught me that articulating one really good idea can be better than trying to express ten great ones.

Wendy tries to really understand what a writer wants to say before guiding them as they figure out how best to say it. Her teaching style is measured and contemplative — she communicates her ideas through conversation and invites writers to share their opinions and counterpoints. 

Wendy’s passion for the art of writing extends not only to reading the work of others, but to stepping inside of their minds to fully embrace and share their creative vision. She is honest with writers about how their writing impacts her.

During my time with Wendy, I experienced considerable growth as a poet. Two of the most valuable lessons that I attribute to my time working with her include finding/honing my voice as a poet and gaining the needed confidence to pursue and earn an MFA in poetry. 

Wendy is an unwaveringly honest instructor, and this trait is invaluable in a writing mentor. One of her truest strengths in advising writers is that she offers applicable feedback. She doesn’t simply discuss her students’ works conceptually; she makes sure that her students have clear guidance in improving their pieces, while still encouraging the author’s agency.

During my time working with Wendy I grew as a writer because of how she helped me to cultivate my voice and see the potential my own style of writing could bring. She was encouraging and brought fresh ideas that really helped probe into my true feelings of expression.

I would recommend working with Wendy because of the in-depth attention she pays to each person who comes to her. She is devoted and passionate to those wanting to strengthen their abilities with their writing, and to keep the written word alive.

Wendy’s teaching style is very in tune and adaptive to each person’s needs, and she is always looking for innovative ways to help fellow writers grow. She taught me to explore the in depth capabilities of language and metaphor. She exemplifies great dedication to the craft of creative writing and poetry.

Wendy brings a wealth of knowledge to the craft of writing. Her commentary on my writing has been thoughtful and insightful, and has helped me to sharpen my poems and my writing skills generally. She approaches her feedback with sensitivity and clarity to ensure that you are saying what you really want to say, and saying it in the best way possible.