Nathan L.

I focus on tropes, archetypes, conflict and its connection to character development, pacing, and symbolism (the are of my study). Creative writing is all about getting at the subconscious meaning of stories, so this is as much about understanding the mechanics of writing (outline, 3-act plot, etc) as it is about psychology and philosophy.

I teach students how to teach themselves by teaching them what to practice. Training is generally classical - we start with the fundamentals of fingering, scales, and rhythm - and move toward proficiency in whatever the student's interest is in. It doesn't take long once a student understands how to teach themselves through practice sessions over the week between lessons - if they are genuinely interested, doing it this way will get them well off the ground in short order!

I cover organization, outlining, word clouds, structure, free-form "burst writing" sessions, transitions, and appropriate style (I am proficient with AP and APA styles). Whether the student is learning how to write appropriately for school assignments, long-form stories, opinion pieces, or short-form blurbs, I have the experience to help. The goal here is to teach the student how to improve on their own!