Let’s translate your unconscious.
What is trying to speak through you?
Every writer has a truth they circle but cannot yet name. My work is to listen: to you, to your sentences, to the energetic scaffolding of your ideas, and help you locate the pattern that’s trying to emerge.
I don’t just edit what you’ve written. I help writers, students, and seekers identify what’s blocking communication between you and You.
I listen for who else is in the room—the expectations, ghosts, teachers, gods—and we name them, dialogue with them through the noise, so you can orchestrate the tension into insight, structure, and language.
Meet Your Guide
I am a writer and creative mentor whose work bridges literary criticism, spirituality, and the craft of language. I hold a B.A. with Honors in English from Wellesley College, a Master of Divinity from Harvard University, and an M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Iowa, where I was an Iowa Arts Fellow.
My background in literature, theology, and disability studies informs how I view writing—as not just a skill, but as a reflection of voice, identity and truth. I have guided students and writers into programs at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and top law schools.
My work is to support writers in claiming their radiant voice waiting beneath expectations, fears, and perfectionism. I am here to listen for the voice that only you can claim.
Offerings
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For writers, artists, seekers who are:
Refining their voice, brand, and story
Integrating intellect, embodiment, and belief
Writing memoir, hybrid nonfiction, or spiritual essays
Learning to merge scholarship with spirit
This is deep craft guided by intuition. You’ll learn to hold your writing as both mirror and ministry.
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For students applying to college, graduate, or professional programs who want essays that are not just impressive, but true.
We’ll find the throughline that gives your story coherence, clarity, and soul so you can write the essay that could only have been written by you.
My clients have been accepted to Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and top law schools, but what matters most is that they learned how to mean what they say.
How We Work
1:1 online session
Deep feedback on structure, rhythm, and architecture of text
Somatic and ritual practices to unblock creative flow
Essay and application support for students seeking alignment and admission
Guidance for memoir, hybrid, and spiritual nonfiction
Every session begins with listening—to language, to desire, to resistance—and ends with movement. You’ll leave with edits and clarity about what your art is asking of you, what You are asking of you.
Testimonials & recommendations
“I am currently a law student. Connie has read and edited virtually every single application I’ve submitted in my life thus far. Apart from being naturally scrupulous in correcting my grammatical errors, her insights on how I can improve my style and form are invaluable. Yet, beyond merely scraping the page for detailed edits, she cares about English as much as she lives it out.”
—Jesse C.
“I have heard Connie Chen deliver two papers at Hemingway Conferences and both times I marveled at her delivery and her outstanding writing ability. In both instances, she was still an undergraduate but she outclassed her superiors both times. I have been attending Hemingway Conferences since the early 70s and served as a founding member of the Hemingway Society and later as President. I can safely say that Connie Chen is the revelation as a writer of that group, many of whom are superb writers. Her intelligence and clarity are only matched by her style. In short she is a very fine writer, a true crafter of style. Her elders literally marvel at her combination of industriousness and her talent and gift as a stylist. In short, Connie Chen is as good as it gets.”
—Allen Josephs, University Research Professor, The University of West Florida
“Connie has helped me with resume and cover letter editing over the years. During our sessions, she helped me focus on ways to emphasize my strengths and accentuate my abilities for targeted applications. With her guidance, my personality and skill sets were reflected in my cover letter to match what potential employers looked for. I was able to get more interviews and ultimately landed a great job because my application stood out among applicants. Connie brings passion, commitment and professionalism to the job and I would highly recommend her service to anyone!”
—Beryl Z.
“Connie Chen is a superb writer and teacher of writing. She is a very gifted and skillful interpreter of literature—she really knows and understands how to write an excellent analytical essay. Her work for me was not only insightful but also beautifully, creatively written. She is very bright, lively, articulate, and personable. Connie is a gifted explainer and teacher, a terrific tutor. Anyone who works with her will learn a lot!”
—William Cain, Mary Jewett Gaiser Professor of English, Wellesley College
“I am glad to say that I’ve known Connie as a good writer for many years. More importantly, she is a strategist for essays. Connie edited my main essay for my MBA application. She looked at the big picture and gave me detailed reasoning for all her suggestions and editing. She wouldn’t only focus on proofreading, grammar, and word usage, but also building structures and stories. She treats writing like any other wonderful work she crafts. I highly recommend her as a writer and editor!”
—Andy Z.
Booking
Single Session Rates
1 hour $250
One 2-hour session $480
Packages
10 hours $2,450
20 hours $4,800
Payment Plans
I offer payment plans. Please contact me and specify your need.