"**Special Rate — $85/hr through Dec 31, 2025 (limit 3 students). As my coaching availability opens up this winter, I'm offering a temporary discount to welcome new Wyzant families. (Usual rate is $225/hr.)**

Hi! I’m Charlene, a three-time published author (Penguin Random House and Scholastic) with more books on the way. I passionately help teens and adults sharpen their voice, deepen their storytelling, and move confidently toward publication, application submissions, and a number of other creative goals.

I work primarily online, offering personalized, interactive sessions where we tackle your writing challenges together.

Whether you're working on a personal essay, high school or college application, award submission, short story, novel, MFA portfolio, or anything in between--I offer personalized guidance rooted in lived experience and formal training.

I earned a minor in creative writing from North Carolina State University and have a certificate in teaching creative writing from the University of Cambridge. I’ve spent years leading workshops and mentoring writers and, beginning in 2026, will be teaching creative writing remotely for a top-25 university as part of its continuing education program. I guide students through brainstorming, idea articulation, drafting, revisions, craft breakthroughs, and publishing strategy. I love supporting students from one milestone to the next.

I specialize in: Fiction writing (literary, commercial, light speculative), personal essays, admissions essays, manuscript development & revision (I review up to ten double-spaced pages per session), MFA and writing program applications, and writing awards submissions.

As your partner on this creative journey, your goals will become mine. I am here to be a confidant, teacher, coach, and strategist--and would love the chance to hear more about what you're working on!" less...