Testimonials

“I’ve always intuited my writing which has taken me pretty far, but to get to the next level in my career I wanted to deepen my knowledge of the craft. Well, to use a clichè (which Amy certainly teaches against!) craft is her middle name. The way Amy breaks down each component of an essay makes writing one feel like a rewarding, altruistic, exciting puzzle, and the kindness with which she teaches makes everyone feel completely capable of writing something powerful. I can’t recommend Amy and her essay classes (I’ve taken two now) enough both for boosting your confidence and strengthening your storytelling lens.”
Talia Pollock

“Amy Paturel is as gifted at teaching as she is at writing. I can’t believe how much I learned about how to write and pitch reported personal essays in just two virtual class sessions. Amy’s course was chock full of actionable advice on how to dream up, craft, and sell stories that are not only personally meaningful but also have the potential to benefit others.  The course was structured to maximize learning through a combination of exemplars, practical strategies, and applied activities that ultimately yielded a saleable pitch. With her warmth and authenticity, Amy created a welcoming space for beginners like me as well as other more experienced participants. As a teacher myself, I was impressed with Amy’s organization and time management skills—she somehow managed to be both efficient and laid back, keeping us moving so that each participant received personalized instruction and input while creating an atmosphere of collegiality and fun. What struck me most about Amy is her generosity and genuine interest in the stories, and success, of her students.  I’ve had access to many fine creative writing workshops, having recently completed my Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) in Poetry, and I can say that Amy’s class ranks among the best. I look forward to participating in the next one, and continuing to learn with Amy.”
Therese Gleason Carr, MA English, MFA Poetry
theresegleason.com

“When I signed up for Amy’s course as a new essay writer, what sold me was the contact information she provided for various essay markets. But that resource turned out to be just a sliver of the value I got from her course. Amy’s willingness to wrestle with my story alongside me elevated it to a new level. She asked thoughtful questions about a sensitive topic and helped me create my favorite essay of all time. I pitched the final version one time, and got my first Washington Post byline.”
Nikki Campo

“I find Amy’s classes pay for themselves—a piece I placed in The Girlfriend paid for two!—especially with the spreadsheet of essay markets. Each class helps me further mine my personal stories and get into the rhythm of writing more frequently. The homework assignments encourage me to explore potential topics and think about my own stories in new ways. I also appreciate how invested she is in her students and how thoughtful her feedback is. She excels at making students feel like she’s on their team.”
Leah Charney

“I signed up for Amy’s class because I wanted to focus on essay writing but I wasn’t sure what made a good salable story idea and if I had those stories within me. Through well organized lesson and assignments, Amy lays out everything I needed to know about generating story ides, writing, editing, pitching and submitting essays. And Amy’s critiques, coupled with the interaction and feedback from other class participants, was invaluable in helping me improve my writing. I walked away with a number of essay ideas and the belief that I had stories to tell. It gave me the jumpstart I needed and since taking the class, I’ve sold essays to The Washington Post, Scary Mommy and Runner’s World (Zelle).”
Christine Yu

“I have been writing for many years in several different forms but had never tried writing essays. I was hoping this course would make me a more complete writer as well as more marketable – and it has. Amy Paturel’s instruction was clear, well thought out and organized. Her lesson plans and assignments were easy to follow and she also supplied us with excellent essay examples and directed us where we could find more on our own. Her critiques of my work and the other students’ work seemed to be spot on and were delivered honestly but always in a tone that was encouraging. Most importantly, she inspired me to get off my behind and WRITE – the best sign of a good teacher! I would recommend this course to new writers as well as seasoned writers who are looking to sharpen their skills, and especially to anyone with a desire to write but needs a kick start!”
Mark Nassief

“I’ve been writing essays for a while, but had little idea how to make them salable or where to submit them. Not only did Amy’s guidance help improve my essay drafts, but she taught the class valuable techniques for writing and editing our work to create effective essays that will sell. I’m looking forward to seeing my essays in print!”
Ami Spencer

“I’m a professional journalist, but when it came to writing personal essays, I wasn’t sure where to start. This course was a perfect jumping-off point. Amy’s lessons were inspiring and fun. The class covered all the bases, from sparking ideas to writing, revising, and selling your essays. Amy’s comments and suggestions really helped me take my writing to the next level. I’d definitely recommend her course.”
Kirsten Weir

“Amy Paturel’s essay class is fantastic. The lectures are paced perfectly and her advice and guidance on essay is both practical and insightful. And when it comes to editing your stories, Amy is a master. Her edits are direct, yet gentle, and always spot on. And most important, she helps you find the heart of your story making you a better essayist!”
Amy Pengra

“Amy’s class is fantastic. As an editor, I know how much time and energy it takes to respond the way she does to students’ work. The lesson plans are chock full of practical advice and great examples of writing. Her class taught me more about writing than most of the graduate school courses I took.”
Michael Smolinsky

“A few weeks ago I finished an incredible online writing course taught by Amy Paturel, a seasoned and talented writer whose essays have been featured in an impressive list of publications. I opted for the Premium course so I could interact with other students. Not only did I improve my writing skills through her insightful critiques of my work, I learned from the feedback she gave my classmates. At the end of the course she provided an extensive list of publications and editors. If you want to polish your writing skills or recharge your writing battery, I highly recommend Amy’s course.”
Lisa Kanarek

“I was a student in Amy’s Essay writing class, both the basic premium course as well as the alumni course. Amy’s classes were far above any other writing class I have ever taken. Her courses jump-started my writing and improved my skills rapidly. Her experience and delivery method lends itself to success for every student. Besides the superior content and methodology, Amy is easy to work with, full of grace and very encouraging. She is a genius writer and master teacher who brings her knowledge into the courses in a very practical and translatable way. I cannot recommend her essay classes highly enough!”
Ashley Pintaric

“As a teacher of essay-writing, Amy provides encouragement and inspiration, as well as plenty of valuable practical advice on publishing essays of a sort that is generally hard to find. Her courses serve both beginners and more seasoned writers well, and I highly recommend them. Since taking her course, my essays have been published in Yoga Journal, Wellesley Magazine and the Orlando Sentinel.”
Milly Dawson

“I found Amy while looking online for essay writing classes, and I’m so glad I did. I’m a novice essay writer, but in her classes (I’ve taken a few) I gained skills and confidence that led me to publishing my first essay in a book, which was a big step for me. She’s an experienced mentor with a warm, engaging teaching style. I also enjoyed the mix of both novice and seasoned writers in the classes I took, which is great because there’s so much to learn from one another. Whether you’re a beginner or a published essay writer, I highly recommend Amy for anyone who is looking to improve their skills and get published.”
Judy P, NYC

“Amy is a wonderful writer, which makes her a terrific editor as well. She brings experience and warmth to her class, and I learned a lot from her line edits as well as overarching comments. If you want to improve your essays, take her course! Since taking her course, I’ve published essays in The Huffington Post, Family Dog and Medium.”
Jennifer Reeder

“Wondering if essay writing is for you? Amy’s class is a great place to start. No matter where you are as a writer, you’ll find much to challenge and improve your skills in this comprehensive course. From finding and shaping ideas to first drafts and rewrites, Amy breaks down the process in a way that makes it all feel less intimidating. I really enjoyed Amy’s thoughtful critiques and learned a lot from the feedback she offered on essays submitted by classmates. If you’ve got an essay idea you can’t stop thinking about, Amy’s guidance will give you a clear roadmap to getting it on the page.”
Dara Chadwick

“Amy’s personal essay class is the perfect mix of instruction, inspiration and interaction with others. I joined the class with no prior experience or knowledge on how to craft a personal essay so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I loved the fact that the class is set up with a dedicated forum which encourages and facilitates interaction between the students. The weekly lessons and links to different essays were inspiring and helpful. Each week, there were multiple prompts to get the creative juices flowing. Amy’s approach to giving feedback on submissions is fantastic: she’s thoughtful, constructive and uses probing questions to get you to go a little bit deeper into your story. If you are looking to learn the craft of the personal essay or get momentum on unfinished writing, I highly recommend Amy’s classes.”
Sue Tremblay

“I discovered how to craft a great personal essay by taking Amy Paturel’s six-week course online. I appreciated her keen eye, empathetic approach, and wide knowledge of what editors want. I sold an essay by the end of the course!”
Alexandra Grabbe