I'm the author of three well-reviewed memoirs published by the Penguin Group, as well as having published short stories, poetry, and blogs. I'm widely read in all genres of writing because I had to e... ducate myself when I was a literary agent. This all adds up to a thoroughly rounded teacher because I've seen it all: as a teacher, author, editor, and publishing professional who had to know the market and what editors and publishers wanted what. I have found that my blogs and Facebook posts often hit a hidden zeitgeist, which always surprises me. I think I'm writing about something quirkily important to me only to find that hundreds of people feel the same way. That's one reason why I think creative writing should include creative nonfiction and that students are well served by blogging: it teaches them what resonates with the population and what that group of people have to say about the topic, a knowledge they can take into their other writings. I believe most people have a creative writing streak in them but that they don't understand how long it takes to master the craft. A teacher can cut years of not quite hitting the right topic and tone away. I would cherish the chance to be one of those teachers.read more

Hi there! I'm Frances and I love all things words, whether it's writing them, speaking them, reading them, or making them make sense. Studying English in college changed my life. I was finally exci... ted about something! I began writing poetry and won all the graduate students' awards. That inspired me to do an M.F.A. in creative writing at Cornell University, where I also won awards. I also took heavy-duty classes such as Milton and the Romantic poets and, again, I was excited. I got to know a lot of people and many, many characters, some of whom I liked and some of whom I disapproved of, but always learned to understand. I'd love to take you on this journey with me!read more