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.
— Former U.S. National Security Advisor, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) H. R. McMaster, Author of the New York Times best-seller Battlegrounds.
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.
— Adam Hochschild, Author of King Leopold’s Ghost, Spain in Our Hearts, Lessons From a Dark Time, and many other award-winning, best-selling books.
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.
— Kim Scott, Author of the best-selling Radical Candor and the forthcoming Just Work.
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.
— Prof. Tuong Vu, University of Oregon, and Author of Vietnam’s Communist Revolution
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.
— Dayna Barnes, Associate Professor of History, City, University of London, and author, Architects of Occupation.
I feel incredibly lucky that such a talented writer took the time to share his expertise with me.
— Haben Girma, Author of Haben: The Deaf-Blind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law.
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.”
— Trang C.
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.