Testimonials
“Another thing I learned from Betsy Kalman is the power of gossip and our personal history in story-telling. A good bit of small-town gossip, a captains yarn, a lost seaman’s journal, and the character flaws of guys liked Tony “One-Eye” are all compelling elements of story that can and should be incorporated into creative nonfiction. Betsy Kalman does these things with her writing and she does them very well.”
– Todd Johnson
“[I learned from Betsy] how to write about tragic circumstances without making myself sound like a victim.”
– Lindsay Jones
“Writing with Betsy has shown me a different way of looking at things — a way to let my family stories flow together into something sweet and lasting.”
– David Jacobsen, author of Rookie Dad: Thoughts on First-Time Fatherhood
“Betsy Kalman has taught me how pivotal a person’s memories are in shaping writing. When she shared her stories and essays in workshop, I laughed out loud and sometimes cried as she eloquently shared key moments from her life, which is exactly what I think good writing should do. Betsy is much like her stories: informative, clear-eyed, hospitable, and surprising. I should be so lucky to come to a point in life where I workshop with her again.”
– Derek L. Smith, Magical Teaching
“Betsy’s attention to craft is only exceeded by the warmth and generosity she offers her colleagues in writing. I’m proud to have worked with her.”
– Kolby Kerr
“If I could find a way to get to Nantucket this summer to participate in Betsy Kalman’s Creative Writing Workshop, I would sign up in a heartbeat. I love her beautiful, hilarious, brave storytelling and am drawn to her natural teaching ways through her tireless curiosity and imaginative investigation of her world and relationships as they intersect with universal human experience.”
– Sheryl Cornett