Services: Editing, Teaching, and Speaking
Potter brings wide and deep editing experience to every text she works with, whether it's a novel or creative non-fiction book manuscript, an essay, short story,web page, website, lecture, speech.
She enjoys working with authors to bring the necessary clarity, appropriate style (whether raw, elegant, or whimsical), distinctive voice, and beauty to words on a page. Editing other people's work is just as much a discovery process as writing one's own work. And in both cases, as writer and as editor, one does not intrude, but steps aside for the work.
Potter specializes in editing fiction, spiritual literature, and academic writing, but she can help transform any group of words so they do what the author imagined they would do.
Here's what a few of the writers who have worked with her recently have said:
- "I'm amazed at the terrific effect your editing has had on me. In thinking, responding, moving things around, rewriting, based on your feedback and suggestions, my own work came more alive for me in a way I didn't at all anticipate. Your editing has had some kind of remarkably powerful alchemical impact on what I have written, and on me. I have much gratitude to/for you, Mary! "(email from recent writer iin response to dev edit of a nonfiction book)
- "You have a talent for this. So many essential insights." (email from recent writer in response to dev edit of novel).
- "I enjoyed reading the advice you included after the review. There were lots of good examples and things to consider to make my writing stronger." (email from recent writer in response to dev edit of novel).
Contact her for availability and rates, or for a copy of her curriculum vitae and references: readermail@marylanepotter.com
Classes, Workshops, and Coaching Sessions
A natural teacher, Potter is dynamic, vibrant, creative, and engaging in class, workshop, and retreat settings. Her three decades of teaching experience--teaching graduate classes, private workshops, classes at writing conferences, adult education classes, community education classes, poetry classes for elementary school students, and more--have honed her natural skills. She excels at teaching style and structure, both traditional and alternative writing structures such as collage.
She leads private writing workshops in the Seattle area for groups of 6-8. Groups can hire her to lead workshops tailored to their experience and needs. She specializes in spiritual writing, spiritual memoir, stories, essays, and beyond. Contact her to find out if a bi-weekly seven-session writing group is about to start, or form your own group and plan your own seven-session schedule with her.
Do you want to work on your own? Potter is an excellent writing coach. She is prompt, clear, encouraging, stimulating, compassionate, knowledgable, and able to appreciate the humor in most situations.
Contact her for availability and rates, or for a copy of her curriculum vitae and references: readermail@marylanepotter.com
Readings and Speaking Engagements
Potter has given readings and spoken all over the United States, to a variety of audiences.
She speaks on subjects as varied as feminist theology and spirituality, sexual and domestic violence, the writing life, and the relationship between Judaism and Christianity and Islam.
She is also available to give readings from her published work or from work in progress.
Contact her for availability and rates, or for a copy of her curriculum vitae and references: readermail@marylanepotter.com