Q&A With WriteByNight Coach Alex Myers

Alex Myers (Vershire, VT) is Director of the Mountain School of Milton Academy and a graduate of Harvard University, where he earned degrees in Near Eastern Languages and Religious Studies. The second edition of his nonfiction book, Supporting Transgender Students, is out from University of New Orleans Press. Alex has also published four novels with Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Severn House, and more: Revolutionary, Continental Divide, The Story of Silence, The Symmetry of Stars, and While We Were Silent. His essays have appeared in The Guardian, Newsweek, and Slate, and he has had three essays named as “notable” in Best American Essays.

At WriteByNight, Alex works with writers through manuscript critiques, workshops, and one-on-one coaching, bringing the perspective of a published novelist, nonfiction author, teacher, and experienced reader.

Request a free consult now to discuss working with Alex

Where are you from?

Paris, Maine (aka, the middle of nowhere. And nothing like the “other” Paris).

Where did you study?

Harvard for undergrad, MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

How did you get your start as a writer?

I got started because I was teaching writing to high school students… and thinking a lot about how certain traditions and expectations around writing had formed for high school students. I worked on redesigning my curriculum and ended up getting engaged in writing my own essays and stories.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Knowing when to give up on a project… when to admit it has a fatal flaw.

What is your favorite word and why?

I have always liked the word “indeed.” It seems pleasantly weighty and, depending on the tone in which it is delivered, has a real range of meanings.

Testimonials:

“Alex was tremendous — immensely valuable. I have already incorporated nearly all of his suggested improvements, and will do more in coming days and weeks. The book will be much better for all this input.”

— Jim D.

“Alex was supportive as well as forthright. I was surprised just how much detail he could recall about the book. It was definitely a positive experience, especially to hear that he enjoyed it and thinks my book is worth pursuing.”

— Mark W.

“I found his experience as an instructor valuable in addition to his experience as an established writer — he explained concepts in narrative development very succinctly in a way that I’ll be able to apply.”

— Shelley E.

“Alex helped me see bumps in my book I was blind to with insightful, flat-out good coaching. I was able to rework my book and get it ready to submit.”

— Lisa C.

Interested in working with Alex? Request a free consult now