Positive Boost
Editorial Support

Writing about personal experience is deeply personal and can make you feel vulnerable. Application materials share your details with people who don’t know you, which is deeply impersonal. My goal is to help make the process of writing feel less stressful. Writing to make a change in your life, education, or career can feel daunting—it’s time for a positive boost. I enjoy working with people who find writing hard or who have been struggling to overcome personal or academic challenges.

As an editor, my role is to listen to what your stated goals are and help you convey those goals in a clear and compelling way. I help make the writing process feel more neutral and less intimidating. Throughout the editing process, I look for opportunities to use language to show a good fit between you and where you are applying, and make your experiences shine.  

I look forward to getting to know you, helping you uncover your story, and working with you to present yourself in a positive and genuine way. The following list includes various aspects of the application writing process we will focus on.

Know Your Audience.

Writing to introduce yourself to someone who doesn’t know you is a very specific type of writing. To start, it is helpful to:

  • Understand your audience 

  • Make sure your application stands on its own

  • Make sure you have answers to all parts of the question or prompt

  • Show how you will be a good fit for where you are applying and how where you are applying will be a good fit for you

Tell Your Story.

When writing about personal experience, you may wonder:

  • How much should I share?

  • What is a compelling story?

  • How many details should I include?

  • How can I feel confident when writing about something deeply personal?

Highlight the Positive.

It can feel easier to write negative things about yourself, you may wonder:

  • How can I show that I have the capability needed even though I am my own worst critic?

  • How can I convey what I have gained as a result of adversity?

  • How will I be viewed? Judged?

Keep the Spotlight on You.

It is always easier to write about someone else than it is to write about yourself, however the spotlight needs to shine on you:

  • Even when it feels uncomfortable

  • Even when you’d rather talk about someone else like your grandmother, or friend, or teacher

  • You need to be the main character in your story