“Melissa Petro is an exceptional writing teacher. She masterfully balances support and challenge, pushing her students to refine their work while offering insightful and encouraging feedback. Her unique blend of honesty, kindness, and fresh perspective makes her an invaluable guide for any aspiring writer.” 
– Jennifer S.  

“I'm lucky to have found such a terrific mentor in Melissa. Her honest, critical feedback has expanded my writing skills. She also shares her experience as a lifetime writer, synthesizes how the industry operates, and offers best practices for becoming a published author. I highly recommend any course Melissa offers.” 
– Shabana S. 

“I always knew I wanted to be a writer but was too scared to commit to the work- working with Melissa not only held me accountable to finishing my memoir, but made me a better writer. Every time we connected I knew I would be met with honest critique that pushed me past my comfort zone which is exactly what I needed.”
– Shannon O.

"Melissa Petro gave me the expertise and encouragement needed to finally publish my writing. She has helped me to shape ideas, pitches, and drafts into essays for HuffPost, Elle, and Business Insider. Her mentorship has been incredibly valuable to me as a writer and a woman who is turning her most shameful secrets into compelling articles. She's just the best there is." 
– Katie N.

"Melissa Petro is an engaged, knowledgeable and enthusiastic teacher. She provided practical guidance, while also giving us thoughtful personal feedback to each student. Highly recommend her class!"

“Melissa was very knowledgeable, engaging and easy to relate to. She did a great job of answering questions and moving things along but spending the appropriate amount of time on each section. I was very impressed with the structure and pace of the course. I also found the exercises and prompts very helpful. I was genuinely surprised at how professional, informative and truly enjoyable the class was!” 

Tuition Payment:

Full Tuition for the 12-month program is $7,200. You can pay the tuition in full or payment plans of varying installments are available upon acceptance to the course. Accepted writers must commit to the full year and meet all assigned deadlines.

FAQs:

Why not an MFA program?

This program combines the best things about an MFA program—community, mentorship, and intensive craft analysis—with specialized and practical publishing advice.

Why does this class cost so much?

The 12-month mentorship is an MFA-level course, taught by a published memoir/essayist who is also an experienced educator with years of creative writing teaching experience at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Your tuition helps pay your instructor a living wage, and covers the cost of booking guest speakers, arranging second readers, scheduling events, and administering the program.

Can I get a refund if I do not complete the program?

Once paid, your full tuition is nonrefundable. This is a selective program with limited spots. We are making a commitment to you for the full year and expect that you will do the same. For this reason, there are no refunds after your tuition has been paid.

I finished the mentorship When will I get published?

We can’t promise that every writer who leaves the 12-month manuscript generator will get published right away, or ever. Publishing is a tricky business, involving lots of luck and time—as students who enroll in this course will learn! That said, as publishers ourselves, we strongly believe that we can help prepare emerging essayists to better navigate the publishing industry, and that our program and the connections made here will increase your chances of success.

In the course description, there are mentions of meetings with guest speakers. I want the details right now! Why can’t I have them?

People who work in publishing are busy, and we confirm guest speakers on a rolling basis, as their schedules permit.

I barely have an idea for a full-lenght book or collection. Is this class too advanced?

Maybe. How serious are you about the idea? If you just have an inkling, but you’re committed to coming in and focusing on that idea over the course of the year, this class might be the right fit for you. The key thing is that on the first day, you come ready to write. No one will write the pages of your collection for you, but this course can help you apply structure to your idea, and motivate you to finish the draft.

I have written several drafts of a collection, and I can’t seem to find an agent or figure out the next steps. Should I take this class?

Absolutely. Sometimes taking a collection to the next level requires cracking it open and figuring out how it works, and the insight of new readers can help that process along. This class will give you a new perspective on your work and offer concrete next steps for you and your essay collection.

Additional Program Information:

• Tuition is $7,200

• No more than 12 writers will be accepted
  

• Program Starts January 15th, 2026

• The Mentorship is fully online and students may participate from anywhere.
  

• NOTE: Shifting some dates around may be necessary but any changes will be communicated well in advance, if possible.

Contact us HERE if you have any questions about this program.

Click HERE to Apply.