"Almost exactly one year after my first Downtown Writers' Writing Gym, I sold my nonfiction book proposal in a bidding war after years of secretly dreaming of writing a book. I know for certain this impossibly rapid, almost miraculous turn of events never would have happened without this group: the confidence I gained as a writer, the brilliance and generosity of my fellow writers, whose feedback became indispensable, and the guidance, connections, and occasional witchcraft of Katie and Emily, who somehow transformed a private fantasy into a publishing deal. Cannot recommend Downtown Writers highly enough."

— Russell Brown

"The idea for my novel began in one of Katie and Emily’s Writing Gym sessions and from that point forward, they have both been instrumental in helping me finish my manuscript. Their expertise in plotting, dialogue, developmental editing, and investment in my story have been invaluable."

— Liz Hammond

“My book These Bones Are Real (HCI Books, 2027) probably wouldn’t exist without Emily and Katie and Writing Gym. Their craft lessons transformed my writing, and the community of thoughtful, supportive writers kept me going through every stage of the process.”

– Anna Sullivan Reiser

“Crafty didn’t just enhance my narrative, but the direction of my whole book. I have taken many writing classes, but this one was the most impactful. The examples, the prompts, the diagrams (who doesn't love a good flowchart?) changed how I viewed my own story. It was as if I were in a dark room, feeling my way around, and someone flicked on the lights. Eureka…”

— Lorraine Parrish

“Katie and Emily are a dream team sent down to us on earth from the writing goddesses above. They know how to coax truth and poetry from emotion and trauma, how to help turn mere journaling into universal stories, and how to get you to love every step of the process. They are dialogue doulas, narrative midwives, plot princesses, scene and character nurses and true writing angels among mere mortals. You will emerge from their classes with a much stronger and better developed skillset, and a passion for telling the tales you NEED to tell.”

— Sarah Hoover, Author of The Motherload, Simon & Schuster (Simon Element)

“Emily and Katie turned me into a writer. My book is a reality thanks to their incisive comments, clear, digestible direction, and endless patience. Scene Study gave me the tools and confidence to write my first book.”

—Ilana Snider

“These sessions have greatly influenced my writing and my approach to my novel. I'm also just more excited about writing than I have been in a very long time.”

— Alyssa Farquhar