askwritefish Jeff May Jeffrey Penn May Jeff Penn May

	Presentations -- Tailored to meet your needs. For example, How to Handle Literary Rejection, Evolution of the Submission Process, Writer Beware – How to Avoid Scams, Thirty-five Years of Rejection Letters - A Personal Journey, How to Celebrate Success. Writing Literary Commercial Fiction -- St. Louis Writers Guild. "Thanks for your illuminating workshop presentation on Saturday. Those I’ve talked to said they thoroughly enjoyed the workshop, and the rest evidenced their enthusiasm through their laughter and applause. I certainly loved it." -- Peter H. Green, Vice President—Programs, St. Louis Writers Guild, Author of Dad’s War with the United States Marines. "Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your workshop, Jeff. You combine knowledge, energy, entertainment, and challenge." -- Gerry Mandel, WriteForYou, authobiographical books and videos Finding Your Fiction -- St. Louis Public Library . Humor in Fiction -- Jefferson County Writers Society. Revving Up Your Read -- St. Louis Writers Guild. St. Louis Alternative Schools -- Educators Consortium for Students at Risk. Fly Fishing for Smallmouth -- Missouri Smallmouth Alliance
	Writing Workshops in association with St. Louis Writers Workshop, est. 1997. The St. Louis Writers Workshop offers writing workshops for adults in a casual, non-academic setting. Adults gain valuable, personalized writing instruction from high-caliber writing teachers and small-group peer input. Our adult students have ranged from 21 to 77 years of age. Among them are graduate students, teachers, lawyers, physicians, technical professionals, retirees, full-time parents, beginning writers, published writers, ‘rusty’ writers, and writers who need a jump-start. The St. Louis Writers Workshop staff are some of the most talented, published, award-winning writers in the entire metropolitan area, many of whom hold MFA degrees or other distinguished publishing credentials. "Jeff’s ability to explain simple concepts robustly was a definite plus." – Chad Schrieber "I would strongly urge beginning writers to consider taking Jeff May’s ficiton-writing workshop. Our group had many helpful and diverse suggestions." -- Eric Mosely. "Jeff’s style of teaching and writing exercises made it easy for me as a first timer to have the courage to participate and share my work!" – Andi Boyd. "This class delivered the comfortable environment I had been seeking to share my writing. It was fun and I turned some things in." – Matt Eversgerd. "I was extremely pleased with the clear presentation of the material and the helpful structure. Jeff's encouraging and generous personality seems well-suited for this workshop. Very glad I did this!" -- Ebba Segerberg "The group dynamic really made the class fun. The willingness of the group to be open and constructive was very encouraging." "This workshop got me started writing fiction – from none at all to really excited about it." "Great class for a beginning writer. I learned so much. Thanks, Jeff!"
	Individual Writing Coach You’ve written a few stories but aren’t sure they’re any good. Or, you’ve written all your life but never shared them with anyone other than maybe your close relatives. Or, you love telling stories and want to write them down but have no experience. Where do you start? With degrees in English, psychology, education and writing, and thirty years experience, I am well-grounded in traditional techniques but also open to experimental work. I enjoy working one-on-one with experienced and aspiring authors. I can help you find your voice, choose your format, organize information, and decide how to begin, guiding you through all phases of the writing process, from first draft to submitting for publication. Send me your work via email. I will review up to five pages. Then we can meet to discuss your writing. Often, one meeting is enough to point you in the right direction. Or you may want to schedule another. All subsequent meetings are scheduled based on your needs.
	Manuscript Editing Content editing for fiction and nonfiction, stories, novels, proposals, manuals, articles, reports, query letters, resumes and more. I will read your work carefully for sense and logic, annotate suggestions, discuss the suggestions with you, clarify ambiguities and misunderstandings, and correct word use, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. (Note: final proofreading is a separate activity best done by someone with fresh eyes.) I will assess your manuscript, give you honest feedback, and help with structure, organization and overall writing and revising. I can also suggest publishing opportunities for completed manuscripts of short and long fiction and for creative nonfiction.