How to Become a Life Coach

1. Teach college, high school, more college, and tutor for thirty years.

2. Understand, recognize, empathize with your clients without judging, enabling or losing your sense of humor.

3. Never give up on anybody. Ever.

4. Listen. Listen.

5. Have your own complicated, frustrating, fabulous child.

6. Pay attention to evolving pedagogy, theories about addiction, depression, and fear of success or failure.

7. Research procrastination.

8. Notice patterns. Good ones encourage. Bad ones identify and suggest ways to change.

9. Give lots of handouts.

10. Expect those handouts to be ignored.

11. Give more handouts.

12. Offer support from every direction: academic, emotional, social, recovery, motherly. Yes, motherly without the history, guilt or secret wish your child will be very successful.

13. Emphasize happiness, freedom and growth.

14. Get excited about art, academics, exercise, and nature.

15. Know your clients – accept who they are now, find ways to discover their unspoken needs, respect their privacy.

16. Be willing to be uncool.

17. Admit when you’re wrong.

18. Lead with love.

19. Establish clear boundaries and expectations.

20. Coach yourself – be healthy, happy, productive, sober-ish, aware, and willing to be honest.

Creative Writing Class

A class to start, continue, finish, edit, revise, dream and find community. Group prompts, individual feedback, workshopping, and time to ask essential questions.

10 Sessions for $450

Payable by March 12th

Class Dates

We will meet via Zoom every Sunday afternoon from 4 to 6pm EST, March 19th through May 7th (skipping Easter).

March 19, March 26, April 2, April 16, April 23, April 30, May 7,
May 14, May 21, May 28

Each class is two hours long, and thirty minutes of that time will be for discussion, questions, thoughts, and feelings. (eek)

Assignments

All students should submit a piece of writing before class starts. Limit ten pages.

Sign up today! Questions?

Molly Moynahan is a writing coach and teacher, author (NYT notable book), creative non-fiction essay expert, editor, executive biography writer, speech writer, and supportive high school academic coach with thirty-plus years of publishing experience. Her teaching creates independence and a writing practice that focuses on the process as much as the results. Her style is supportive, humorous and based on years of solid experience.

Reading list

In my experience as a teacher, I’ve seen the power that reading has in opening up new understanding, releasing old beliefs, and creating new behaviors. Some of the books and resources on this page may be a good start to learning about inequality and anti-racism. It is by no means comprehensive to all the sides or issues.

Other Resources

Harvard’s Advancing Black Lives 5-Part Series

Policing Policy Ideas from CivilRights.org

The Science of Justice: Race, Arrests, and Police Use of Force

Adams, M. (Ed.). (2000). Readings for diversity and social justice. Psychology Press.

Feagin, J. (2013). Systemic racism: A theory of oppression. Routledge.

Johnson, A. G. (2001). Power, privilege, and difference. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.

Lau, M. Y., & Williams, C. D. (2010). Microaggressionsresearch: Methodological review and recommendations. In: D. W. Sue (Ed.). Microaggressions and marginality: Manifestation, dynamics and impact (pp. 313–336). New York, NY: Wiley

Ross, L. (2016). Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses. Macmillan.

Sue, D. W. (2003). Overcoming our racism: The journey to liberation. John Wiley & Sons.

Race Lessons: Using Inquiry to Teach About Race in Social Studiesedited by Prentice T. Chandler, Todd S. Hawley (2017)

Courageous Conversations About Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schoolsby Glenn E. Singleton

Eyes on the Prize, transcripts here

Audio: 1619 podcast, Witness Black History by BBC World Service, Seeing White documentary series, on Scene On Radio, The Echo Chamber, Black History in Two Minutes

Films: 13th, Selma, and When They See Us, and 26 Mini-Films for Exploring Race, Bias and Identity With Students on NYT

Videos: Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap, I Am Not Your Negro, and James Baldwin Debates William F. Buckley (1965), and Oprah’s Where Do We Go From Here with Black Thought Leaders Part One and Part Two.

Donate: 137 Ways to Donate in Support of Black Lives and Communities of Color

Attention Traverse City (and beyond) writers!

Molly Moynahan is teaching a six session class to invigorate and inspire. A new writing class to focus, refine, and produce a rough draft of your story no matter what genre. The class is a workshop that includes extensive writing exercises and sharing. No matter where you are in your writing process-ready to publish or simply start-this writing class will support, challenge, and extend your current project. All levels and genres welcome.

Developing the Dream: Writing Any Genre

Six Thursdays: April 4th through May 9th
5:30pm - 7:30pm

Cost: $149

I have been teaching creative writing to both adults and teenagers for 30+ years. I have an MFA from Brooklyn College and three published novels one a NYT notable book. I have taught English and writing both in Universities and high school. I can teach creative non-fiction, fiction writing and memoir. I am also a college admission essay expert. My writing practice focuses on the process of finding one's voice and story. — Molly Moynahan

Location

Scholars Hall, College Drive
Traverse City, Michigan

If there is such a thing as teaching to "the whole child", I would describe Molly as "a whole teacher" who helped me as a former English teacher and once-aspiring writer to rediscover my inner writer-self. It was wonderfully transformative and I found myself back in touch with that deep part of me that was somehow buried underneath my layers of unconscious doubts and insecurities. Molly's small group process approach was perfect for helping each of us learn to open up and express ourselves and my guess is we'll all keep coming back for more. What I liked most about Molly's style is that it is completely authentic and equal so that when we leave class, we leave feeling that if she can do it, we can do. My guess is that many of us may end up getting published and Molly's stimulus and on-going inspiration will probably be the root cause of it. —Workshop Student

Molly Moynahan has been a surprising and beautiful find for me. I have taken two workshops with her - summer of 2009 and spring 2010. Working with Molly has made my practice, dedication and involvement to the writing process more sane, less scary, a lot more fun and more productive. She structures her lessons and critique sessions so really any level writer can participate and get good and necessary information for their writing. The most important things she will ask you for is a commitment to make the effort, to be honest, and to listen to yourself and those around you. She is super supportive, incredibly fun to be with, and extremely knowledgeable about the craft. —Workshop Student

Beginning or experienced writers in search of an instructor need look no further than Molly Moynahan. An excellent author herself (read "Stone Garden"), she is also patient, funny and positive. It was one of her writing prompts that gave me the idea for my latest project! Seriously, seek out Molly as a teacher – you'll be glad you did. —Workshop Student 

On just finishing the first draft of my first novel, I can honestly say I wouldn't have done it without taking Molly's class. While I had many ideas and starts before her class, the structure and guidance she gave in her nurturing and professional way helped give me the boost I needed to really delve into this project. —Workshop Student

Molly has crafted a class filled with engaging writing activities and inspirational writing assignments. Each week, I leave class with lots of ideas. Molly's critiques are always thoughtful, constructive, and encouraging. If you are looking for a class that motivates you to write, take Molly's class. —Oliver Seay, Workshop Student

He shared his essays and I was blown away. Thank you so, so much for helping him and lifting a huge weight from his shoulders. His college counselor had no edits and said he did a great job of showing who he was! He came home really happy with the work you did together and said you were great to work with. —Client

Writing a college essay is no simple task, yet it is not an insurmountable one either. Even though they consist of only a handful of paragraphs, they are very intimidating for the effect the essay has over one’s application. For me, it was important to write a solid essay in order to define myself as a strong candidate, showing I was more than just a few numbers. Moynahan helped me through this delicate process of dealing with a very personal subject while trying to organize a succinct idea and message for the essay. Through the drafts, the essay improved dramatically from a disorganized and frayed essay, into a polished and coherent final product. I highly recommend using Molly in your endeavors in applying for colleges, for having a sidekick to help you through one of the most vital aspects of this process is essential. —Client

Max 

I met Max at a workshop I held at the library on writing college essays. Max stayed behind with his mom and introduced himself while she smiled in the background. Max was a junior at a huge public high school and was not turning in his homework, zoning out during class and basically finding most of what occurred in the classroom irrelevant. While he had perfect scores on the ACT, his grades were bad, based on missing so many assignments. Max’s mom struck me as gentle, patient and fed-up. She took me aside to explain that Max was on the spectrum, but also had a number of other health problems that affected him. He was suffering socially because of his Aspergers. She expressed concern about his being able to graduate but also about his attending college. I suggested we focus on the issues with his grades and then see what else needed remediation. Max’s mother was qualified in the therapy needed when he was younger but as a teenager he was starting to rebel.

THE BACKPACK

A very contentious subject between Max and his mother was his backpack. Like most high school students Max refused to put anything in his locker but carried around an enormous backpack filled with books and folders. Although his mom had set up an organizing system with a different folder for each class, Max seldom looked into any of his folders, wrote due dates in his planner or turned in completed homework. His backpack contained massive amounts of out-of-date handouts and several unfinished lunches. 

We set up a system, Future Work and Archive, in two folders. Dragging the trashcan over, the third category was called Recycle. It took several weeks for Max to trust me enough to throw out stuff without asking him. It’s crucial to respect and observe children’s boundaries, especially those of teenagers. Soon he allowed me to toss without checking although I made sure to show him anything that seemed worth preserving. Ideally he would do this himself, daily. I coached Max twice a week when we worked on his writing assignments, his college admission essays and executive skills like keeping an up-to-date planner.

COLLEGE

Max wanted to attend college away from Illinois. His mother said she believed it would be a good thing for Max but she wasn’t sure he could handle life without the comforts of home. I found a book called Colleges That Change Lives and looked for a close college that was far enough away to give him a sense of freedom. Beloit College was small, 1,200 students, highly rated academically, and proactive with special needs students. When Max’s parents asked him what he wanted to take with him to college (assuming he’d ask for a new laptop) he said, “Molly.” During his sophomore year Max was ill and took a semester off. During that time we worked together using 7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens, watching Ted talks, and essentially preparing him to return to independence. Over the next few years we Skyped occasionally and talked on the phone, but I encouraged Max to use the University’s resources. He graduated on time with good grades. The counseling and coaching model worked well with Max who had anxiety and some specific academic skills that needed to be strengthened.

Abigail

Abigail was a junior attending a selective high school in Chicago. A competitive swimmer, Abigail met me at the door saying, “All I do is swim and I don’t want to write about swimming.”

What Else?

She had a rough draft of her college essay, which was interesting in terms of telling a story about social pressure but revealed very little about Abigail’s interests, hopes or ideas. Also, she seemed annoyed by the idea she needed a coach explaining that she was a very private person who worked best alone. I listened and agreed that working alone was ideal but sometimes collaboration was helpful.
“Is swimming very solitary?”
“You’re alone and then you’re part of a team. I like being independent but I also like to be with other people.”
“What else do you like to do?”
“Astronomy.”
“Stars and planets? Tell me more.”
“I always loved the planetarium. My dad took me there often when I was little. I love the idea of the Universe having infinite possibilities.”

Enhancing the Narrative

We looked back at Abigail’s rough draft and I suggested she incorporate her swim practice into the narrative but not to have the focus be on the activity but rather how it made her feel. We met several more times and each draft of Abigail’s Common Application was more concise yet more revealing, focused on the future with details about the past that gave the reader a strong sense of who she was. She told me it was cathartic to write about losing her friend group but that she saw she needed to see that as a step towards independence and making new friends in college. By reframing the main idea the essay went from a tale of woe centered on ‘mean girls’ to the perspective of ‘infinite possibilities’.

 8 February 2023

Hi Molly,

This is Kate Spectrr. You taught our son, Max, in his Junior year at ETHS-2003-2004. He studied Catcher in the Rye in your class and it changed him as a student. He opened up in discussions and felt that he could contribute. He relaxed about his writing and took chances, because you encouraged him. You provided a space where he felt he had a voice. His Junior research paper was on Leni Riefenstahl. And I saved it! Our whole family studied her! We watched her films.  Max was presented with a coffee table sized book about her as a gift from us. The paper topic was something about the influence of media. At ETHS, 2 out of his 4 English teachers were excellent. And you were one of them! Thank you! Oh! And! We bought your book and you autographed it! It is part of our library,  today.

Max went to American University in DC, and was an international studies major. He graduated in 2009.  In 2013, he got his Master’s degree. He was a consultant for various agencies that deal with threat reduction. In 2016, he was accepted into the FBI and began his training at Quantico. He graduated and spent 6 years in Puerto Rico. During that time, he also trained to become a SWAT team member. In September, he moved to San Diego. He has a serious girlfriend who made the move with him from PR. I see them heading towards marriage- but one day at a time!

I get your emails and read about your novel today. Thank  you so much for being in that space at that time for Max. He blossomed. 

Fondly, Kate Spector

Hi Molly, You taught our son in his Junior year of High School in 2003 and ‘04. He studied Catcher in the Rye in your class and it changed him as a student. He opened up in discussions and felt that he could contribute. He relaxed about his writing and took chances, because you encouraged him. You provided a space where he felt he had a voice. Thank  you so much for being in that space at that time for Max. He blossomed. KS, mother of student

CASE STUDY: Abigail

Abigail was a junior attending a selective high school in Chicago. A competitive swimmer, Abigail met me at the door saying, “All I do is swim and I don’t want to write about swimming.”

She had a rough draft of her college essay, which was interesting in terms of telling a story about social pressure but revealed very little about Abigail’s interests, hopes or ideas. Also, she seemed annoyed by the idea she needed a coach explaining that she was a very private person who worked best alone. I listened and agreed that working alone was ideal but sometimes collaboration was helpful.
“Is swimming very solitary?”
“You’re alone and then you’re part of a team. I like being independent but I also like to be with other people.”
“What else do you like to do?”
“Astronomy.”
“Stars and planets? Tell me more.”
“I always loved the planetarium. My dad took me there often when I was little. I love the idea of the Universe having infinite possibilities.”

We looked back at Abigail’s rough draft and I suggested she incorporate her swim practice into the narrative but not to have the focus be on the activity but rather how it made her feel. We met several more times and each draft of Abigail’s Common Application was more concise yet more revealing, focused on the future with details about the past that gave the reader a strong sense of who she was. She told me it was cathartic to write about losing her friend group but that she saw she needed to see that as a step towards independence and making new friends in college. By reframing the main idea the essay went from a tale of woe centered on ‘mean girls’ to the perspective of ‘infinite possibilities’.

COLLEGE

Max wanted to attend college away from Illinois. His mother said she believed it would be a good thing for Max but she wasn’t sure he could handle life without the comforts of home. I found a book called Colleges That Change Lives and looked for a close college that was far enough away to give him a sense of freedom. Beloit College was small, 1,200 students, highly rated academically, and proactive with special needs students. When Max’s parents asked him what he wanted to take with him to college (assuming he’d ask for a new laptop) he said, “Molly.” During his sophomore year Max was ill and took a semester off. During that time we worked together using 7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens, watching Ted talks, and essentially preparing him to return to independence. Over the next few years we Skyped occasionally and talked on the phone, but I encouraged Max to use the University’s resources. He graduated on time with good grades. The counseling and coaching model worked well with Max who had anxiety and some specific academic skills that needed to be strengthened.

Top Five Ways to Make Your Writing Better

1. “Read, read, read. Everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.” —William Faulkner

2. Carry a notebook or if you must, a phone. In-between times, waiting online, waiting for a friend, waiting for anything, or commuting on public transportation, write. Look outside, look inside, eavesdrop on conversations, make a list of what you see, hear, taste, smell. Don’t try to make anything out of this stuff unless it’s going somewhere good and then go there.

3. Analyze your best practice. Silence? Music? Solitude? People? Long stretches uninterrupted, short bursts. What inspires you — nature, color, urban grit, exercise, conversation?

4. Honor your brain — make an outline or not. Read a poem, write a response. Take notes in your books. Doodle, annotate, move through a passage, engage. Static reading produces static writing. Go back to what inspired you once. Find what inspires you now.

5. Write constantly. Like running, swimming, skiing, or knitting, practice makes you a better writer. Gain consistency. Show kindness towards your slow pace, bad strokes, snowplow, and misshapen sweater. Without mistakes and awkward sentences there is nothing to make better.

Five Ways a Writing Coach Can Make Your Writing Better

1. Provides support and feedback

2. Forges a path towards revision

3. Asks essential questions

4. Understands your ultimate message

5. Provides ways to unblock and improve through exercises, editing, and honest, supportive advice. 

What can a writing coach do for you?

Many of my clients fear writing; fear criticism or indifference, fear of getting something wrong, fear of rejection. I understand this fear well. My novels have been reviewed in major publications. Some of these reviewers have described my writing in glowing terms but they have also said mean things about my work. Some of these mean things have been helpful; after absorbing the hurt, others not so much. Paralysis caused by fear is common and counterproductive. I can help. I coach high school students, college students, adults, and executives. My coaching should create independence and a practice that focuses on process as deeply as results.

College Admission Essays, Scholarship Essays, Personal Statements for Grad School

I help teenagers write outstanding personal essays to support acceptance into their chosen colleges. Finding their story, their voice and a system of revision is our mutual goal. My clients have been accepted to Wharton, UCLA, NYU, Northwestern, Brown, UVA, Bowdoin, Beloit, and other highly rated schools. Most importantly, I help them improve all their writing with intuitive, supportive and skills-based coaching. Interaction with a knowledgeable, funny, gentle, positive, writing coach is key. While the relationship between myself and a client is private, I am dedicated to the whole person which often includes parents and teachers. My methods are transparent. I have extensive experience both as a teacher and a parent which enables clear communication and a willingness to both listen and share when appropriate. I stay abreast of current writing pedagogy, contributing expertise with a weekly newsletter.

Adult Writers

I also coach adult writers from an extensive background in teaching creative writing. My methods are creative, supportive, realistic, and consistent. We confront anxiety and writer’s block with carefully curated exercises and extensive feedback. Coaching writers in Memoir, Novel, and speech writing, I also work with C-level executives helping them write business presentations and books.

Workshops

My school and library workshops are interactive, lively, creative, and they get results. My experience with teaching and coaching allows me to provide critical feedback without drama. My communication skills have resulted in great success coaching students with anxiety issues, on the spectrum, or with learning issues that block successful writing.

Looking for a qualified writing expert for your event?

As an award-winning author, writing coach, college admission essay coach, private tutor, public speaker, and creator of customized workshops, Molly Moynahan’s programs cater to your specific audience, be it the classroom, library, institution, or private venue.

My book “Writing Successful College Admission Essays” contains valuable guidance for writers of all ages, cutting through the fluff, and compressing an entire writing class between its covers.

If there is such a thing as teaching to "the whole child", I would describe Molly as "a whole teacher" who helped me as a former English teacher and once-aspiring writer to rediscover my inner writer-self. It was wonderfully transformative and I found myself back in touch with that deep part of me that was somehow buried underneath my layers of unconscious doubts and insecurities. Molly's small group process approach was perfect for helping each of us learn to open up and express ourselves and my guess is we'll all keep coming back for more. What I liked most about Molly's style is that it is completely authentic and equal so that when we leave class, we leave feeling that if she can do it, we can do. My guess is that many of us may end up getting published and Molly's stimulus and ongoing inspiration will probably be the root cause of it. —Fiction Writing Workshop Student

I help people write well…

… by revealing their authentic voices and important stories. My methods are based on current pedagogy and the experience of teaching writers of all levels and ages for over thirty years.

I help teenagers write outstanding personal essays to support acceptance into their chosen colleges. My school and library workshops are interactive, lively, creative, and they get results. My experience with teaching and coaching allows me to provide critical feedback without drama.

I help parents and school counsellors who have been told to “back off” by a teenager when help is offered. The personal essay required for college applications is a formidable obstacle for many. Interaction with a knowledgeable, funny, gentle, positive, writing coach is key. The list of my clients who have been accepted at their chosen colleges is long and impressive. More importantly, the writer has found their strongest voice.

I help writers find their stories, discover their histories, shape, and perfect their prose. As a published author who has experienced great success and crushing defeat, and as a devoted teacher, I relate well to even the most blocked and struggling writers.

If there is such a thing as teaching to "the whole child," I would describe Molly as "a whole teacher" who helped me as a former English teacher and once-aspiring writer to rediscover my inner writer-self. It was wonderfully transformative and I found myself back in touch with that deep part of me that was somehow buried underneath my layers of unconscious doubts and insecurities. Molly's small group process approach was perfect for helping each of us learn to open up and express ourselves and my guess is we'll all keep coming back for more. What I liked most about Molly's style is that it is completely authentic and equal so that when we leave class, we leave feeling that if she can do it, we can do. My guess is that many of us may end up getting published and Molly's stimulus and on-going inspiration will probably be the root cause of it. ~Workshop Student

On just finishing the first draft of my first novel, I can honestly say I wouldn't have done it without taking Molly's class. While I had many ideas and starts before her class, the structure and guidance she gave in her nurturing and professional way helped give me the boost I needed to really delve into this project. ~Workshop Student

Molly has crafted a class filled with engaging writing activities and inspirational writing assignments. Each week, I leave class with lots of ideas. Molly's critiques are always thoughtful, constructive, and encouraging. If you are looking for a class that motivates you to write, take Molly's class. ~Oliver Seay, Workshop Student

He shared his essays and I was blown away. Thank you so, so much for helping him and lifting a huge weight from his shoulders. His college counselor had no edits and said he did a great job of showing who he was! He came home really happy with the work you did together and said you were great to work with. ~Client

My book “Writing Successful College Admission Essays” contains valuable guidance for writers of all ages, cutting through the fluff and compressing an entire writing class between its covers.

Writing a college essay is no simple task, yet it is not an insurmountable one either. Even though they consist of only a handful of paragraphs, they are very intimidating for the effect the essay has over one’s application. For me, it was important to write a solid essay in order to define myself as a strong candidate, showing I was more than just a few numbers. Moynahan helped me through this delicate process of dealing with a very personal subject while trying to organize a succinct idea and message for the essay. Through the drafts, the essay improved dramatically from a disorganized and frayed essay, into a polished and coherent final product. I highly recommend using Molly in your endeavors in applying for colleges, for having a sidekick to help you through one of the most vital aspects of this process is essential. ~Client

If there is such a thing as teaching to "the whole child", I would describe Molly as "a whole teacher" who helped me as a former English teacher and once-aspiring writer to rediscover my inner writer-self. It was wonderfully transformative and I found myself back in touch with that deep part of me that was somehow buried underneath my layers of unconscious doubts and insecurities. Molly's small group process approach was perfect for helping each of us learn to open up and express ourselves and my guess is we'll all keep coming back for more. What I liked most about Molly's style is that it is completely authentic and equal so that when we leave class, we leave feeling that if she can do it, we can do. My guess is that many of us may end up getting published and Molly's stimulus and on-going inspiration will probably be the root cause of it. ~Workshop Student

Molly Moynahan has been a surprising and beautiful find for me. I have taken two workshops with her - summer of 2009 and spring 2010. Working with Molly has made my practice, dedication and involvement to the writing process more sane, less scary, a lot more fun and more productive. She structures her lessons and critique sessions so really any level writer can participate and get good and necessary information for their writing. The most important things she will ask you for is a commitment to make the effort, to be honest, and to listen to yourself and those around you. She is super supportive, incredibly fun to be with, and extremely knowledgeable about the craft. ~Workshop Student

Beginning or experienced writers in search of an instructor need look no further than Molly Moynahan. An excellent author herself (read "Stone Garden"), she is also patient, funny and positive. It was one of her writing prompts that gave me the idea for my latest project! Seriously, seek out Molly as a teacher – you'll be glad you did. ~Workshop Student

I help people write well…

… by revealing their authentic voices and important stories. My methods are based on current pedagogy and the experience of teaching writers of all levels and ages for over thirty years.

I help teenagers write outstanding personal essays to support acceptance into their chosen colleges. My school and library workshops are interactive, lively, creative, and they get results. My experience with teaching and coaching allows me to provide critical feedback without drama.

I help parents and school counsellors who have been told to “back off” by a teenager when help is offered. The personal essay required for college applications is a formidable obstacle for many. Interaction with a knowledgeable, funny, gentle, positive, writing coach is key. The list of my clients who have been accepted at their chosen colleges is long and impressive. More importantly, the writer has found their strongest voice.

I help writers find their stories, discover their histories, shape, and perfect their prose. As a published author who has experienced great success and crushing defeat, and as a devoted teacher, I relate well to even the most blocked and struggling writers.

My book Pitch Perfect, How to Write a Successful College Admission Essay contains valuable guidance for writers of all ages.

I just finished reading Pitch Perfect: How to Write a Successful College Admission Essay. It is a terrific book to teach students how to put together an essay that will impress college admissions officials. I wish it would have been available when I was still teaching high school English. During my final several years teaching AP English, I always allowed a couple weeks in the fall to help students write a college admission essay. I liked the assignment because it helped me learn a lot about my students early in the year, it helped students who were required to submit an essay, and it was very popular with parents. Molly Moynahan's book would have been extremely helpful.

Pitch Perfect: How to Write a Successful College Admission Essay is practical, concise, and fun. It covers everything from the incubation of a topic to the final proofreading and editing. It is certainly user-friendly for students and teachers. I highly recommend this book for students, parents, and teachers! ~Jerry Mcginley

Molly Moynahan is an accomplished writer, having published novels, plays, newspaper columns and her own blog. As a teacher and writer myself, I understand how difficult it can be to help others find the voice in their writing that makes their work uniquely theirs. In Moynahan's book, she offers numerous activities in that spirit--to help young writers find their voices, their topics, their stories.

The book is a how-to guide with plenty of questions and open-ended spaces that are designed to get students looking inward at themselves before beginning the writing of their college essays. The book addresses all parts of the writing process, but for me, the emphasis on students knowing themselves was the strongest piece. Moynahan includes topics, suggestions, and a world of quotations from other writers to motivate kids to write. She offers insight about writing about memories, advice for non-standard prompts, and suggestions for remembering the audience.

What the book does not contain are actual student essays, and I think that's good. Too often, guides to essay-writing are simply collections of other people's essays. Here, Moynahan chooses to keep it simple instead, focusing on the teenaged writer.

For the student who really has trouble getting started, this activity book offers great tips. Moynahan's reputation as an effective writing coach is based on her success with these tips across the nation. ~John Carpenter

The College Application Essay Timeline

Ideas to prepare for the college admission process.

Freshman Year

Keep a journal. Write stuff that includes descriptions of teachers, friends, family members, what you love to do, what you hate to do, what you long to do but are afraid, places you visit, meaningful films, music, poetry, successes and failures, hopes and dreams, overheard dialogue. Don’t think about applying to college, think about expanding your life beyond your family and friends. Read the news, watch some documentaries, read books.

• Who am I?

• How do I find my place in my high school?

• Time capsule, things that matter to me right now.

• One thing to do differently.

• Something I won’t negotiate.

• Something I want to change.

• Three secrets.

• My greatest fear.

• What I’m most proud of.
  

Sophomore Year

Keep a new journal. Write about after-school and weekend jobs, your hopes and fears, take a risk (try out for the musical, band, join a club, start a blog). Volunteer at a soup kitchen, a food pantry, an assisted senior living home. Consider other people in the world. Do your homework. Write about a disappointment, a surprise, take a trip, learn something new, interview your grandparents, your neighbors, expand your world and take some chances.

• Stuck in the middle.

• What has changed?

• Reaching out to a freshman.

• Reaching up to a senior.

• What drives me crazy?

• Thing I miss most about childhood.

• What I’ve learned since freshman year.

• Three secrets.

• Time capsule, things that matter to me right now.

• Summer of sophomore year: Get a real job that involves something connected to what you like to do, or may want to pursue in college.
  

Junior year

Look back at your earlier journals and see if you can locate connections, patterns, ideas that reflect each other, work that you especially enjoy. Start a new journal and pursue some of these recurring interests. Write about it. If there is a creative writing class in your school see if you can fit it in. Interview people you admire. Ask them what led to their current situation. Take Advanced Placement Classes if appropriate, but not too many! If you are interested in a trade; ironwork, pipefitting, welding, etc., see if you can find a mentor and visit their job. Write a description of your perfect situation after graduation.

• Stop asking me about college, work, etc.

• The world sucks because…

• Don’t tell me I’m not old enough.

• Why do I have to take responsibility?

• Being an adult…

• What I know now.

• Why am I still so (short, flat, fat, skinny, scared, etc.)?

• Time capsule, things that matter to me right now.

• Three secrets.

• In the summer of Junior Year, look at the Common Application Prompts and look at the supplementary essays for your list of possible schools. Go crazy with the Prompts. Don’t judge!

Senior Year

Get your list of colleges down to five. Choose a prompt in the Common Application. Look at the supplementary essays for each of your colleges. Keep a journal with detailed descriptions of stuff-food, dreams, art, films, people, your family, your pets, your friends, your favorite things to do when you have free time. Browse through your past and imagine your future. Get help with all the other details: recommendation letters, transcripts, and see if you can take a quick visit to your five colleges staying in the dorm if possible. You should have a strong draft of your College Admission Essay by Halloween. Look at the Supplementary Essays. Make a timeline for having everything ready especially if you are applying early decision.

• Look how much I’ve changed (go back to the time capsules).

• Four things to do before graduation.

• What it means to go to college/work/apprenticeship.

• Who am I now?

• How did I get here?

• My motto, my beliefs, my credo.

• If I could change one thing about the world…

• Truths.

Book Reviews

writing successful college admission essays

Molly Moynahan is an accomplished writer, having published novels, plays, newspaper columns and her own blog. As a teacher and writer myself, I understand how difficult it can be to help others find the voice in their writing that makes their work uniquely theirs. In Moynahan's book, she offers numerous activities in that spirit – to help young writers find their voices, their topics, their stories.

The book is a how-to guide with plenty of questions and open-ended spaces that are designed to get students looking inward at themselves before beginning the writing of their college essays. The book addresses all parts of the writing process, but for me, the emphasis on students knowing themselves was the strongest piece. Moynahan includes topics, suggestions, and a world of quotations from other writers to motivate kids to write. She offers insight about writing about memories, advice for non-standard prompts, and suggestions for remembering the audience.

What the book does not contain are actual student essays, and I think that's good. Too often, guides to essay-writing are simply collections of other people's essays. Here, Moynahan chooses to keep it simple instead, focusing on the teenaged writer. For the student who really has trouble getting started, this activity book offers great tips. Moynahan's reputation as an effective writing coach is based on her success with these tips across the nation. —John Carpenter

I just finished reading How to Write a Successful College Admission Essay. It is a terrific book to teach students how to put together an essay that will impress college admissions officials. I wish it would have been available when I was still teaching high school English. During my final several years teaching AP English, I always allowed a couple weeks in the fall to help students write a college admission essay. I liked the assignment because it helped me learn a lot about my students early in the year, it helped students who were required to submit an essay, and it was very popular with parents. Molly Moynahan's book would have been extremely helpful. It is practical, concise, and fun. It covers everything from the incubation of a topic to the final proofreading and editing. It is certainly user-friendly for students and teachers. I highly recommend this book for students, parents, and teachers! —Jerry Mcginley

Interview for Pitch Perfect: How to Write a Successful College Essay —Caroline Leavittville

Stone Garden

Moynahan’s...novel is about grief. It is also fun to read. Everyone should have a friend like [the narrator] Alice. —New York Times Book Review  

Moynahan’s gift to her reader is this fully realized character; I found myself missing Alice’s voice. —Chicago Tribune

Stone Garden by Molly Moynahan is such a literary treat. Moynahan is a new voice that knows how to tell a story. —Teen Voice

Well-told...moving...Moynahan has crafted an excellent story. —Dallas Morning Star-Telegram

Moynahan’s smooth, playful prose is engaging. —Publishers Weekly

Alice McGuire...is just as smart and funny as Holden Caulfield...[Her] voice is newly wise and altogether heartbreaking....Remarkable. —Trenton Times

Parting is All We Know of Heaven

So honest, so sad and so consistently entertaining . . . Moynahan's first novel will win her more than a few instantly loyal fans. —San Francisco Chronicle

Moynahan is sparse and restrained in her use of emotive language…So absorbed was I by this book that I read it in one exhausting sitting …It is, in a word, powerful. —More Magazine

Full of anger and compassion. —Madison Smartt Bell

Contains more real energy, passion, humour and drama than half a dozen restrained and overwritten yuppie novels. —Alison Lurie

An entertaining first novel ... an effective insight into the raw pain of loss. —Daily Mail

Moynahan is a talented writer who is not afraid to expose every raw nerve. —The Sunday Times