Taking care of the writing by taking care of the writer

Our Story
Blue hand reaching for a pencil, with a bird flying by.
photo: close-up of hand writing in notebook
foldable map

Instructive Companionship

The path from idea to final draft involves acts of imagination, honesty, precision, and revision. At the core of our practice are the instructive interactions we design to inspire and align these acts.

OUR PRACTICE

photo, two Hillside coaches looking at laptop and talking.

Creative Insight

Each Hillside coach is an accomplished writer, teacher, and editor responsive to the emotional experiences of writing. We model close attention and honest self-reflection.

OUR COACHES

Ways to Work with Hillside

Our coaching services reflect our belief in writing as a lifelong pursuit.

Our support for college-app writers ranges from single exploratory sessions to comprehensive one-on-one courses. We also support other applicants.

We cultivate a lively and imaginative artistic connection that is serious about pursuing the art of writing with fun and inventive approaches.

boy in room with computer and notebook, writing.

Whether providing a new writer with instruction and inspiration or an established author with feedback and direction, we uncover opportunities for progress.

African American woman leaning against tree and writing in notebook.

In live talks, webinars, and junior class workshops, founder Allan Reeder opens fresh ways of seeing and thinking for students embarking on college-app writing.

Founder Allan Reader giving a talk, standing in front of a screen with an illustration of a brain surrounded by the words: objects, images

What Clients Are Writing About Hillside Support

I was blown away by what Hillside helped my son to accomplish. I wasn't privy to anything but the final work. His essay really captures his personality. I almost had tears reading it. He is not a kid who uses superlatives, but he raved about the assistance and advice. I can't thank you enough for all your help.
Parent, Newbury, MA
Thank you so much for all of your help, support, and encouragement in this challenging time for me. It meant a lot to know that you believed in me and in what I had to say. I will always laugh at that pessimistic kid who said he did not have anything to write about.
Student, Lexington, MA
I really appreciate your focus on process. You've encouraged my daughter to slow down, and in doing so allowed space for reflection and self-discovery. I think that with teenagers, especially girls, the tendency is to deflect attention away from yourself. Looking inward is inherently more challenging.
Parent, Sudbury, MA
You’ve been an invaluable mentor, kindling in me a passion not only for words but also for the often overlooked images in daily life and complexities in characters. Thank you for your meticulous and innovative coaching!
Writer, Los Angeles, CA
My daughter had never had such one-on-one instruction, and I think your very thoughtful, gentle, and inquisitive approach to helping her express herself was a tremendous gift to give her. You always made her feel that her thoughts and impressions were important. I'm so thankful for the attention you paid.
Parent, Wellesley, MA
Our son feels that his writing has improved enormously from working with you. His confidence has certainly been boosted. What a great experience for him!
Parent, Belmont, MA

Free Seminar at the Wellesley Library

Please join us for Founder Allan Reeder’s instruction on launching the college-app essay!

Thursday, June 8, 2023
7:00-8:30 p.m.

register

Sponsored by the Friends of the Wellesley Free Libraries

The Latest from Hillside

River The Value of What We Do

I recently wrote a message to our team in anticipation of our summer work with students who will be writing out of their life experiences for their college applications. I share my reflection here because it provides a look inside our coaching for those who are curious to know who we are, what we do, how we think, what we talk about.

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On Choosing a Coach

We emphasize student ownership of the writing process, and choosing a coach is a great place to start! Our best advice is to have the student visit our coach profiles to learn about our creative projects, our experiences, our curiosities, and our quirks!

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Chat TYS (To Your Self)

I’ve been tickled by the arrival of Chat GPT, the sleek, A.I. algorithm that can transform our jumbled brainstorms into pristine sentences. I’ve been asked if I was worried, but I’m not terribly concerned. In fact, Chat GPT and I have something in common: the “chat” element. 

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