writers.com

Sheila Bender

SHEILA BENDER Bender is a poet, essayist, author and publisher of WritingItReal.com, an online subscriber supported instructional magazine for those who write from personal experience. She has written for The Seattle Times, The World, and Poet Lore Magazine, among other publications. Her work also appears as a chapter in Marry Your Muse by Jan Phillips, and she has served as a columnist and feature writer on writing personal essays, journaling, and writing poetry for Writer's Digest Magazine and The Writer. Her many books on writing include Writing Personal Essays: How to Shape Your Life Experiences for the Page, Keeping a Journal You Love, A Year in the Life: Journaling for Self-Discovery, Writing Personal Poetry: Creating Poems from Life Experience, and Writing in a New Convertible with the Top Down. She is on the faculties of Writing It Real in Port Townsend Writer's Conference and Pima College's Creative Writing Department

Sheila holds a Masters of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Washington and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Keane College in New Jersey and has helped hundreds of students begin to write, continue and publish. Among her favorite achievements is coaching people in writing personal statements for college and graduate school applications, where subtle persuasion is of the utmost importance. In her current online course, she combines over two decades of teaching and writing experience with cutting-edge exercises from her books, articles and content she provided for LifeJournal for Writers (www.lifejournal.com/writers).

For more information visit her Web sites
www.sheilabender.com
www.writingitreal.com

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Comments from Students and Colleagues

Think you can't write poetry? Neither did many of my students. Sheila helped them discover sparkling metaphors, encouraged them to manipulate the words, massage the verses, and imbue them with liquid freshness radiating the inner warmth of the author. To a person, we finished the class with enthusiasm and confidence that we are, in fact, poets.

Sam Turner, Teacher, Writer, Poet

Sheila Bender has the uncanny ability to help writers find the nugget of truth and meaning buried in their prose. I've come to her with unfinished essays, and she has helped me take my writing in unexpected directions, helped me develop my essays to a new level, helped me fully voice what is in my heart. Her gentle feedback process makes the word journey a joy.

Suzan Huney, Administrator, University of Washington

Sheila's three-step response method is fantastic! I didn't feel threatened or criticized once, but each time I received comments, I could see new things to do with my words. And she responded so promptly! ... The more people who know about Sheila and take advantage of the wisdom and breadth of her teaching and editing skills, the better.

Mary Ann Payne

{The class] really got me thinking and nudged me in all the right directions. These lessons and assignments can be used over and over again. [Sheila is] fabulous! Sheila poked, proded, asked questions, and offered up suggestions that made my pieces jump off the page. In fact, one piece became an essay that I've submitted for publication. I have recommended writers.com to my best friend and to my daughter. I've already taken two and I've signed up for my third...

Peggy Campbell

[Sheila] was great and devoted more time to commenting on our work than any teacher I've had in an on-line or correspondence class.

Phylita Joy Virata

Sheila provided us with a lot of room for creativity and to develop individual interests... Sheila is an excellent teacher who provides speedy feedback, and her suggestions helped me dig deeper to get at what I was really trying to say...I enjoy taking classes online because I can "attend class" when it's most convenient to me. This is a wonderful service for busy adults. Thank you.

Linda Kulp

Sheila possesses the unique ability to combine the art of teaching with her sensitivity as a poet. She offered strategies and techniques that allowed me to grow as a writer and offered critiques that respected the integrity of the work I created.

David Durham, Teacher, Colorado

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Sheila, this class has been a joy for me. I have learned so much here, things that weren't covered in other classes. This class appeals on several levels. First, as an emerging writer, I rely on that guidance the lessons bring. On my own, I find it overwhelming deciding how to choose a topic and keep it focused. I tend to go all over the place. Second, I finally feel like my journaling has a purpose. It now feels right, the how to do it has been enlightening.

Michelle Vanstrom

Sheila helped me to rework a skeleton of a poem until it blossomed like a tree bearing fruit. Sheila is always encouraging, never intimidating. I respect her.

Marcia Wall, Youth Inspirational Speaker and Teacher, Louisiana

Working with Sheila is like having your favorite aunt read your work -- and that aunt is the poetry critic for the New York Times. (Is there such a person?) She sees everything, tells you most of it, and makes you feel like you could be the next Maya Angelou. Her insights are right on, and her encouragement is priceless.

Kate Kalb, RN, Washington State

Sheila coaxes out your inner writer by a combination of compassion, humor and sensitivity. With her enthusiasm inspiring you, you can't but become a better writer.

Maria D. Laso,President, Elders Editorial Services

I am indebted to Sheila for her invaluable instruction in both essay and poetry. She indorses, then incorporates your life experiences as she increases your skills. She is incredibly insightful and inspirational -- the best instructor I have known."

Judy Tough

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Taking a class in essay writing from Sheila Bender is one of the best ways to acquire or improve one's skill in a non-threatening but productive manner. Her tender way of encouraging each student to use new ideas and creative thoughts gave me the inner strength I needed to continue my endeavors in writing.

Norma S. Grove

Having written numerous books and articles on writing and keeping journals, Sheila Bender is an expert in her field. Her energy and enthusiasm is infectious and is enhanced by her innovative and creative ideas. She possesses outstanding interpersonal skills in working with students, teachers, and aspiring writers as evidenced by their warm response to her.

Mary Petersen, Community College Instructor

My feelings are passionate but incomplete and free from logic. Sheila reads my drafts, asks questions, penetrates the meaning, and moves things around. The result is publication, the latest a persuasive personal essay last November in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorial pages. I couldn't have done it without Sheila's help.

Christi Killien, Author of Young Adult Fiction, Essays and Instruction

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