Award-winning writer based in the Bay Area. I help people, nonprofits, academics, and companies tell their stories.
Client testimonials
"I am super picky, and also consider myself a good writer; but Erica makes everything better. She is supremely talented as an editor. I can also say that I am a better writer because I learned so much from her edits. Not only does she have a beautiful mastery of written language, she also goes out of her way to explain why she made specific suggestions. She is not just a gifted writer, this is her craft, you can tell she has studied writing, she knows what is effective and why. I have nothing but praise. She helped me so much and I highly recommend her no matter where you are starting from, she will make things better."
"Erica assisted with editing a college admissions essay. She gave excellent feedback and writing tips with detailed and creative revisions. She delivered revisions quickly, usually within a day. I strongly recommend her to anyone looking for creative writing assistance."
"Erica is an incredible word smith. I’m a PhD who needed last minute editing support on a personal statement and proposal. Erica provided extremely valuable comments and edits quickly and efficiently. She is an incredible word smith who helped me unlock my own voice and story. I highly recommend her editing services—unmatched by any other!"
About me
Figuring out how to tell your story can be a challenge. I'm an experienced storyteller here to help with any stage of that process, from editing college and graduate admissions essays to grant writing and writing web content copy for nonprofits, businesses, and academics.
I’ve held numerous professional writing positions in the nonprofit and journalism industries, where I’ve been responsible for writing everything from 5,000-word magazine features to fundraising grants and website and social copy for local and international NGOs.
I graduated with honors from the Johns Hopkins University's Writing Seminars Program and hold a Master's in journalism from UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. My writing has appeared in a wide range of national magazines and newspapers, from the Atlantic to the Washington Post, and has been honored with numerous journalism grants, fellowships, and awards. I’ve reported across four contents - the United States, Latin America, Africa, and Europe - most recently as a senior correspondent for an award-winning global newsroom. You can learn more about my reporting here.
Additionally, I have more than a decade of experience tutoring elementary, middle school, high school, and graduate-level students in admissions essays and creative writing. I'm currently offering low-income Oakland high school students free tutoring for college essay applications. Previously, I co-taught a high school journalism class and worked as a college essay coach and creative writing tutor in public schools in Baltimore, San Francisco, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. I've also edited a range of graduate school admissions essays, from medical and law school applicants to PhD candidates in film studies and Masters candidates in global development. A recent client who got into all of the graduate programs he applied to -- UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Santa Cruz-- credited my edits with his admission into a highly competitive UC Berkeley graduate program. A faculty advisor told him that they decided to take a chance on him despite his lower-than-average test scores for program applicants due to the strength of his personal statements.
My edits are tough, thoughtful, and thorough--and I know they help my clients get the desired results. I’m based in the San Francisco Bay Area, but am available to travel for consulting engagements. Please contact me if you’re interested in setting up a consultation.