College Essay Coaching

Kelly Jean

If you are looking to provide support for the rising juniors and seniors in your academic community, I offer private coaching, a single-session group workshop focused on generating ideas for their college essays, or a two-week/weekend intensive where we will create and revise multiple drafts.

I’m excited to share that I’m leading two such intensives, Stand-Out Stories: Personal Essays for College Applications and Beyond, this July & August at The Center for Fiction.

My goal is to help students find and craft a focused, personal story that opens a window into their unique character for admissions officers—while also being respectful of the trauma many of them are still processing due to the pandemic and our country’s continued civil unrest.

I’m presently booking online offerings for the summer and am open to both in-person and online sessions in the fall. Reach out!

News! Corona Chronicle Semi-Finalist

Kelly Jean

The 21 essays selected from our entries demonstrated a depth of thought and engagement with their subject matter and details that we felt best captured the experiences and questions of New Yorkers over the last year.

Ellipses Rare Books

Honored to share that I have been selected as a semi-finalist in The Corona Chronicle Essay Contest from Ellipsis Rare Books in support of the Food Bank for New York City – the provider of 80 million free meals per year for hungry and homeless New Yorkers.

Virtual Write-Ins Continue

Kelly Jean

‘You Do Do’ Virtual Write-Ins are continuing this March! Tuesdays and Saturdays (10 am – 12 noon). Sign-up today to set aside some focused writing time this month.

This was so great – I had a random idea that I wrote in my notes app and came out with nearly 2000 words – ME, A POET!! LOL it’s amazing how far a little group accountability can go.

Timothy Lindner, Revisionary Writing and Editing, LLC

New! Register for one or multiple sessions through the same link.

Fall in love with writing this February

Kelly Jean

“You Do You” virtual write-in sessions continue this February. Now on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 am- 12noon.

Sign up below to set aside some writing time for yourself.

This month’s Sunday creative writing workshops are focused on character. Yep, see below for more info and to register.

February Offerings

Creative Writing Workshops

Sunday, 2/7 at 4 pm – The L-O-V-E Word! Click here for more and to register

Sunday, 2/21 at 4 pm – Character Therapy  Click here for more and to register

“YOU DO YOU” VIRTUAL WRITE-INS

(All sessions 10 am – 12noon EST)

Week 1: Tue, 2/2 click here to register & Sat, 2/6 click here to register

Week 2: Tue, 2/9, click here & Sat, 2/13 click here

Week 3: Tue, 2/16 click here & Sat, 2/20 click here

Week 4: Tue, 2/23 click here & Sat, 2/27 click here

2021 Workshops and Virtual Write-Ins start this week!

Kelly Jean

Writing, like new year’s resolutions, can be intimidating.

After a tumultuous year, I’m making 2021 all about setting small goals rather than tangle myself into a knot over long-term, lofty ones.

Don’t worry about how “good” you are! Instead, set the small goal of joining us this January for an online workshop or virtual write-in. Allow yourself the freedom to flex your imagination in the company of other creatives.

Sessions are on a suggested donation basis, pay what and if you can. All are welcome. Full information and registration links below.

Upcoming in 2021
Bi-monthly creative writing workshops resume every other Sunday. Each month has its own theme. For January, we’ll be exploring the role of setting.

January 10th at 4 pm – Senses in Setting: Using all five senses to unlock your setting. Click here to register.

January 24th at 4 pm – Mentor Text: Studying “The Story of an Hour” and playing with how to use setting in your story.  Click here to register.

NEW! “You Do You” Virtual Write-Ins: Share a two-hour block of focused time with fellow writers to work on personal projects. *Note: A prompt will also be provided in the chat for added writing inspiration.

Sessions are held twice a week via Zoom. January schedule:

Week 1: Tuesday 1/5 (10 am – 12 pm ET) click here to register
and Thursday 1/7 (6 – 8 pm ET) click here to register

Week 2: Tuesday 1/12 (10 am – 12 pm ET) register here
and Thursday 1/14 (6 – 8 pm ET) register here

Week 3: Tuesday 1/19 (10 am – 12 pm ET) register here
and Thursday 1/21 (6 – 8 pm ET) register here

Week 4: Tuesday 1/26 (10 am – 12 pm ET) register here
and Thursday 1/28 (6 – 8 pm ET) register here

Happy New Year!

Kelly Jean
From top left clockwise: Heather Quinlan, Sokunthary Svay, Gail Thomas, Charlotte Marchant, Nita Noveno, Calvin S. Cato, Nancy Agabian, Nicole Shawan Junior.

What an unexpected year for No, YOU Tell It!

We were rehearsing for our first show at Sunnyside Plays and looking forward to an in-person Lambda Literary story swap when COVID-19 cases exploded in NYC back in March. Our future quickly became uncertain and we weren’t sure if we’d be swapping stories ever again.

Despite technical difficulties, a different genre of performance, and a huge learning curve, we were pleased to deliver two virtual story swaps. We hope listening to the stories provided a needed respite.

Storytelling has both the power to elicit empathy and create connection, and though we couldn’t physically be together we hope both of these things came through the screen. We’re especially grateful to everyone who came out to support the storytellers. And if you missed the shows, check out our podcast!

Thank you so much to our storytellers, partners and sponsors, producers, and especially our audiences for making the best out of this chaotic virtual year.

Shows like these are possible because of your support – if you’d like to donate, you can do so here: thefield.org/sa/620242

Until next time, Happy New Year!