Testimonials
What authors say
“No one has been more helpful in the refinement of my manuscript than Zachary Shore. A superb writer in his own right, he understands how to sharpen arguments and make those arguments accessible to a broad readership. His guidance and edits helped evoke emotion and provide thematic unity. He has helped me produce a much better book.”
“Zachary Shore has been very helpful in reading the manuscripts of several books of mine, contributing both his skills as a historian and as a critical reader. Helpful both in a detailed way—pointing out particular spots where something was turgid or unclear—and in a big-picture way, a skill I’ve found much rarer among editors.”
“I am so lucky that I met Zach Shore before I began my latest book. Over many walks and talks, he helped me to think through my basic arguments with clarity and precision. And then he worked with me at each stage of the process. He helped me to craft a winning book proposal, reading and editing multiple drafts until we got it right. He then critiqued every chapter and each full draft of the manuscript. Amazingly, he had feedback within days, sometimes even hours, of receiving my work. I still don’t know how he does that, especially because his comments are always spot on. I think of Zach as a “Book Jedi,” someone whose penetrating mind helps you express yourself in the most powerful way you can. Yes, I recommend him completely.”
“Zach read the draft introduction of my book and gave me very helpful feedback. He really helped me to sharpen my arguments at key points.”
“Zach Shore is the ideal mentor and guide. He helped me make my way through draft chapters of my dissertation, spotting weaknesses in my arguments while somehow also making me feel capable and confident. For example, his first comment on a chapter I had been struggling with was so encouraging and exactly what I needed to hear in order to steel myself for another round of revision. With Zach's support, not only did my dissertation pass without corrections, but it was quickly accepted for publication as a book. Zach's advice was always useful, and I know that everything I've written since is better because of him.”
“I feel incredibly lucky that such a talented writer took the time to share his expertise with me.”
“I came to Zach when I was still in the early stages of my manuscript. I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed at the prospect of putting my story together, and honestly even though I had a solid writing background, lacked confidence. Zach was an incredible guide, offering me sage insights at a critical point in the writing process. He helped me think through my ideas, gave suggestions on how to structure the narrative, and ultimately helped me build the courage necessary to create an impactful work to share with the world. I'll be forever grateful for his support.”
What professionals say
“Zach Shore is the writing therapist everyone needs in their life. He has a unique ability to listen, really listen, hear the emphasis you place on certain ideas and narrative threads, and help you pull them out and weave them together so your own brilliance can shine. I came to him for help with my dissertation on Vietnamese modernism as seen through the writings of one extraordinary poet. I had been working on this for seven or eight years and still had trouble articulating a coherent thesis. I brought him a tangle of abstract ideas, and somehow, he was able to distill the essence of my work into clear, concise concepts. Once we started working together, I knew I would finally finish. I earned my Ph.D. in part thanks to his help.
I also asked Zach for his advice on giving conference talks. Like many grad students, I worried about looking foolish. It’s scary to present your ideas in front of a room full of older scholars and then have to face their questions. Zach gets it. He taught me how to present my work with confidence and how to handle the Q & A. He gave me the most valuable guidance of anyone I met throughout my time in grad school.
When it was time to find a job, I came back to him for help with writing cover letters. Once again, he listened closely to what I wanted to say and figured out how to help me phrase it in succinct, persuasive prose. He has the distinct ability to help people understand what's important to them and express it with beautiful clarity and impact.”
“I recently applied for a highly competitive teaching fellowship, and the person I turned to for help was Zachary Shore. Zach deftly coached me through three rounds of interviews with humor, insight, and expertise. He made a stressful process fun and was always encouraging and supportive. Each session Zach conducted mock interviews, posing potential questions and helping me to craft intelligent, nuanced answers. I was so excited when I received the fellowship, and my immediate thought was that I couldn’t have done it without Zach.”
What grad students say
“Zachary Shore has helped to ensure my success in being admitted to some of the top journalism programs in the country. After taking plenty of time to listen to my story, he helped me to write a passionate, thought-provoking, emotional essay, and encouraged me in making revisions for the perfect application. I submitted this to various graduate schools. Ultimately, I decided to attend Stanford University’s data journalism program, which is one of the best in the nation. The admissions director reached out to personally compliment the writing in my application. None of this would have been possible without Dr. Shore.”
“I hate writing with a very deep passion. Very deep. But with Zach, writing my Statement of Purpose for graduate school wasn't as painful as I had dreaded. He helped me find the right words, rhythm, and tone of my paper, not by doing the work for me, but by being an encouraging coach. What I found super helpful and unique about Zach is that he is very intuitive about your voice and messaging. Once he gets to know a bit about you, he is very good at placing himself in your shoes as he helps you come up with the right way to say the right stuff. In this way, his coaching allows your work to reflect YOU and YOUR voice, not anyone else's. Ultimately, I got into three of my dream schools - Columbia University, Johns Hopkins, and Yale - and graduated from Columbia with my Master's in Healthcare Administration. I think it's safe to say that his help leads to success.”
“I knew pretty early on in college that I wanted to be a physical therapist, and I also knew that writing the admission essays would be hard. There were so many ideas I wanted to explain. It was frustrating that I couldn’t figure out how to fit them into such short essays. I was so lucky I met Zach. He showed me how to express my passion for therapy exactly the way I needed to. It was a ton of work, but in the end I felt so happy with the essays that it was totally worth it. I got into a great program, and now I have a dream job at UCLA in a hospital helping cancer patients and others to recover quickly. I can’t thank him enough. He is amazing.”
“Zach has helped me talk through salary negotiations, cover letters, and resumes. He painstakingly reviewed my graduate school applications for a masters program in public policy. I applied to seven schools and Zach helped me tailor each application to the specific program I was applying to. Thanks to Zach's writing help, I was accepted to all seven, and got a full scholarship to the number one ranked policy school in the U.S., where I am now studying.
Zach helped me with all aspects of the writing process – including brainstorming, structuring my application essays, clarifying my writing style, and proofreading. He knew exactly the right questions to ask when I was stuck, and gave me suggestions that made my sentences clearer and more concise. Not only did my application essays improve, but I also grew immensely as a writer after working with Zach. In no other point in my life have I received such detailed and structured writing feedback. I still use all the lessons I learned with Zach in my graduate school writing. I learned how to convey complex ideas into clear sentences – an essential skill especially in policy school.
What impresses me most about Zach is his patience and dedication to helping others become better writers. Thank you, Zach, for making me a more confident writer!”
“Zach had been a profound source of support and motivation for me throughout my application cycle for medical school. During our first session, we went through my essay line-by-line, with Zach pinpointing both its strong and weak areas. Zach provided a safe space for me to openly discuss my views with him, and subsequently, helped me present them on paper in a clear, refined manner. I came out of every feedback session feeling even more excited and inspired to write than before! I am especially grateful for the way Zach enabled me to identify and develop a common thread that tied all of my seemingly unrelated activities into an engaging personal narrative. With his expert guidance, I was able to turn my writing from average to admission-worthy in just a few days!
I had the most fun when Zach conducted mock medical school interviews. He would simulate the voice and demeanor of various committee members, ask a wide range of questions, and follow-up tactfully – all while acting out the part! We would then discuss about my performance, with Zach giving me valuable suggestions on how to both frame insightful responses and convey all of my points within the time limit. Although I was initially nervous, practicing with Zach truly molded my perception and allowed me to regain trust in my own skills as an interviewee. By the day of my interview, I felt fully prepared and was able to provide concise, confident responses that ultimately helped me get into medical school. It was an absolute honor to have had the opportunity to work with such a seasoned veteran in the field. All in all, if you want an incredible mentor who is meticulous, thoughtful, efficient, and friendly to help you strengthen your essays and train you to ace your interviews, look no further than Zach.”
“Being a non-native English learner, no matter how little I have to write, I am always nervous at the daunting task. I am lucky to have found Zach, and with his help, not only could I remarkably improve my writing but also dealt with such anxiety.
Zach is the major reason I was able to make it into and through grad school. He helped reformulate what I thought to be a disadvantage - a maverick long gap between my college graduation and the time I decided to apply for grad school – into an interesting part of the personal statement, which I believe significantly contributed to my acceptance. And his role in guiding me through the thesis writing process was essential, from re-organizing my initial ideas into a well-structured primary draft to the polishing of the final thesis. For those who have been struggling in grad school as I had been , his book Grad School Essentials: A Crash Course in Scholarly Skills will be a helpful tool.
Not only in grad school, Zach is my go-to person for any writing need, be it a job application, a teaching statement for periodical review or a presentation paper for a workshop. Once I had to translate a long article into English for a peer-reviewed academic journal, and certainly I enlisted Zach as co-author. He deftly added an aesthetic dimension to my otherwise pedantic translation and the piece was well received. Like a master jeweler, Zach can spot out the diamond in the rough in your writing and optimize it with his masterful touch to make the most presentable work of art to the owner’s highest satisfaction. If you are a non-native English writer, bring your writing to Zach, he can better it and make you feel better about it.”
“I applied to a dual masters program in Behavioral Health and Public Health, and it was my one and only graduate school application so there was a lot riding on getting accepted! My first thought was to turn to Zachary for help since he’s the author of Graduate School Essentials and is generally a very encouraging person. He reviewed my essay responses and gave valuable tips on the interview process, helping me stand out amongst a sea of other applicants. The professor interviewing me was so impressed by the finished result of my application that she referred to me as a “gifted writer.” I am confident that Zachary’s help played a huge role in ensuring that my application set a really great first impression. It also made the application experience flow smoothly and even be fun! Highly recommend working with him!”
“I had been in a doctoral program for nine years and was struggling to write my dissertation. My wife and even I were beginning to doubt whether I could actually finish. When I met with Dr. Shore, he knew exactly what questions to ask to help me figure out what I was trying to say. Within one session, I had a clear and coherent argument for my dissertation, a logical structure, and a succinct argument for each of my seven chapters. We also created the perfect title – a skill at which Dr. Shore truly excels. Over the next ten months, he tirelessly worked with me as I developed each chapter with purpose and clarity. Dr. Shore read numerous drafts, always challenging me to be concise and focused on supporting the main argument. He is the most patient and encouraging writing coach I could imagine. Thanks to his efforts, I earned my PhD with a manuscript that was really well received and is now widely cited in my field. Recently he helped me prepare for an academic job interview. It’s a dream job, and I landed it. His guidance is amazing.”
“The only obstacles standing between me and my dream of attending graduate school were two admission essays. I knew what I wanted to say – I just didn't know how to say it. That's when Zachary Shore stepped in. In his witty, calming manner, Professor Shore somehow drew out of me the perfect material for those essays. Then he helped me to craft them into moving, powerful stories that encapsulated exactly why I wanted to enter public health and what I hoped to achieve in my career. Writing those essays took time and effort, but in the end I got into my first choice, UC Berkeley. I graduated a few years ago and now have a job I genuinely love. Thank you, Prof. Shore.”