Hello! My name is Martha, a writer and poet based in Los Angeles. I graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan Helen Zell Writers' Program, where I taught undergraduate writing during my graduate studies. When I was growing up, my parents hoped that I would follow in their footsteps and pursue medicine or engineering. To their dismay, I was placed in the crosshairs of a handful of brilliant English teachers. It was thanks to them that I discovered...
Hello! My name is Martha, a writer and poet based in Los Angeles. I graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan Helen Zell Writers' Program, where I taught undergraduate writing during my graduate studies. When I was growing up, my parents hoped that I would follow in their footsteps and pursue medicine or engineering. To their dismay, I was placed in the crosshairs of a handful of brilliant English teachers. It was thanks to them that I discovered how transformative and liberating writing can be. I would like to show you the same!
Everyone says that being a good writer will help you in any career but there can be a huge barrier to entry--writing is a fairly mystifying craft. I'm here to show you how to find your way onto the page. I want to help you write the kind of things you'd like to read, whether that's a college admissions essay or an AP English assignment. This process usually begins with assessing your level of experience. Then I'll introduce a topic and assign some exploratory writing activities. This can include observational exercises, creative prompts, and so on. This can be tailored to each student's individual needs.
My goal is for my students to approach writing as both a place to play and to think. I aim to instill this across my areas of expertise: essay writing, test prep, creative writing, and editing. I have experience with teaching classrooms of twenty and have also provided individualized support to students and served as thesis advisor to English majors. I have experience working with nonnative English speakers and students in need of learning accommodations.
I was named a finalist in Narrative Magazine’s 15th Annual Poetry Contest and have been published in The Adroit Journal, The Greensboro Review, Best New Poets 2023, and Meridian. I won a University of Michigan Hopwood Graduate Poetry Award in 2023.
