Here’s some love from writers I’ve worked with:

“Margo is an extraordinary teacher, with extremely helpful lectures, writing prompts, and course structure. This was one of the most helpful workshops I have ever participated in. I found her extremely generous and accessible with her time, and she created a class atmosphere that felt respectful and engaging. Highly recommend!”

— Mary Simpson

“Margo writes with insight and incisiveness you feel in your gut. Reading her work reminds me that I am human and alive and not alone in feeling what I feel. It's a privilege to read Margo and also to be edited by her. She's a thoughtful editor who possesses both empathy and sharp instincts, which do not always appear in the same package. She knows how to ask you thought-provoking questions about your work that lead you to your own solutions.”

— Rachel Reeves

“Margo's calm and supportive presence helps to manage the influx of student styles and disengage the egos of us needy sensitive creative types. The balance of fast paced lecture, generous but managed discussion, keeping people on topic while still holding space for their need to share, the teacher led literary analysis--these are all places where her engagement and ability to create a welcome space that also feels productive and well managed.”

— Writing the Braided Essay student

“I could not more highly recommend working with Margo. She approached my piece with sensitivity and regard, offering both her broader perspective of its work in the world and her understanding of its significance for me. I learned from her observations and questions without feeling judged or told what to do. And her professional boundaries are clear and kind and reasonable!”

— Hannah Smith

“I'm incredibly grateful for [Margo’s] talent, pedagogy, and how professional this course was. Beyond expectations and so informative.”

— Essay Master Class student

“Everything is so well organized and aligned....readings, objectives, expectations. Margo is an excellent teacher who clearly and cleanly articulates the objectives, the guidelines and the cautioned freedoms we are welcome to take. The readings are wide ranging, instructive and presciently sprinkled with timely writerly wisdom.”

— Finding Confidence in the Braided Essay student

“I really enjoyed the sessions I attended. I got a lot out of the craft talks and I was way more productive and my writing was higher quality than it usually is during an online co-writing session, and I appreciated the option to read my work at the end, which allowed me to edit it a bit afterward too. So efficient!”

— Studio Sessions student

“I really appreciated how organized the class was, and that there was no wasted time. I also really appreciated that right from the beginning we were told that the course should be a container for our work. This relieved any pressure I might have felt to "do the course" and let me take each class as something to feed what I was doing as a writer. And I loved the workshop at the end-- learned so much.”

— Essay Master Class student

“Margo is a great teacher because she facilitates more than teaches. Her reading choices really pushed me and forced me to look at style and craft rather than story. She had something positive to say about everyone, but more importantly, she pushed us all to find the positive in ourselves.”

— Finding Confidence in the Braided Essay student

“This is an excellent, much-needed course. The readings were incredibly well-curated and diverse and illustrated the major themes in illness-related literature. The materials shared and the instructor's guidance allowed me to express and shape ideas I may not have been able to take on alone. This course is a gift and I highly recommend it.”

— Writing Chronic Illness student

“[Margo is] that rare breed of teacher that can make her students feel held in both compassion and honesty. [Her] passion for this work and gift of demystifying the process was transformative for me. This class has placed me on a very deep and profound journey of reclamation and clarity. The combination of the materials, the space that [she] held, and the guidance [she] provided was a magic potion.”

— Chani Nicholas, NYT Bestselling Author of You Were Born for This

“Margo is present, focused, sensitive and keenly aware of the value of voice, meaning and craft perameters . She is uniquely situated, discerning and aware of the idiosyncrasies that plague engaged writers. I always feel permitted within the lanes of gentle instruction.”

— Finding Confidence in the Braided Essay student

“The Essay Master Class was FANTASTIC. I wrote 4500 words toward a new essay! I really benefited from the weekly check-ins where we talked about process, learned craft techniques from the readings, shared bits from my essay with the other students, and then at the end of the four weeks, workshopped my essay draft and received deeply thoughtful feedback from Margo and the other students. I'm inspired to keep writing this essay!”

— Yolande House

“Margo is an excellent teacher and human, and the same goes for her courses and coaching. She teaches with the rigor and precision one might expect from a grad school-level class, but simultaneously makes things accessible and approachable to folks of all experience levels, so everyone seems to leave feeling smarter and more practically/tactically equipped than they were at the start.

While serious (in a good way), her classes also feel safe, warm, and cozy, full of fellow writers who are crafting challenging material with the kind of courage Margo models and who are eager to offer community and support. I've made some major breakthroughs in my work this year, thanks largely to Margo's brilliance, and recommend her highly and widely!”

— Leah Pellegrini

“Margo's calm and supportive presence helps to manage the influx of student styles and disengage the egos of us needy sensitive creative types. The balance of fast paced lecture, generous but managed discussion, keeping people on topic while still holding space for their need to share, the teacher led literary analysis--these are all places where her engagement and ability to create a welcome space that also feels productive and well managed.”

— Writing the Braided Essay student

“Margo held the space impeccably, supported us as writers professionally, encouraged each of us democratically, and maintained times of silence (even if uncomfortable), effectively. I would take a class from her again in a heartbeat.”

— Shari Zollinger

“Margo is an incredible writer, but she also understands the vulnerability of making new art. She listens, encourages, and is wonderful at sussing out our strengths. I feel safe, and never shameful, when showing new work to Margo, and her guidance and feedback is always brilliant and precise. Her mind is a gift.”

— Natalie Lima

“A cushy hard-ass!”

— Book Incubator client

“Margo showed extreme care and knowledge in planning and leading the course. She offered participants a safe container in which to explore stories of chronic illness under her confident and sensitive guidance. She's a wonderful instructor and I would take a class with her again without hesitation.”

— Writing Chronic Illness student