About Laura
Laura Van Prooyen is the author of four poetry collections: Sorry, We No Longer Offer Bereavement Fares; Frances of the Wider Field, Finalist for the Texas Institute of Letters Helen C. Smith Memorial Award for Best Book of Poetry; Our House Was on Fire, nominated by Philip Levine, awarded the McGovern Prize and the Writers’ League of Texas Best Poetry Book Award; and Inkblot and Altar. She also co-authored the book of writing lessons, Text Structures From Poetry. Her poems have been published in American Poetry Review, Ploughshares, and The Southern Review, among others.
Laura is the Founder and Director of Next Page Press. She facilitates free, weekly online writing workshops for healthcare workers with the non-profit, Mission Belonging. She also teaches part-time at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX where she designed the course “Poetry as Medicine: How Reading and Writing Can Facilitate to Healing” for students interested in medical and health humanities. Laura earned her M.F.A. in Poetry at Warren Wilson College.
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Yes! Email me!
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A creative mentorship is an individualized, one-on-one working relationship. Together we build a plan for monthly exchanges of both critical and creative work based on your goals and desires. As your guide, I offer personalized reading suggestions, in-depth discussions, and detailed feedback. This is a good option for sharpening craft, building a body of work, and learning about literary publishing. The initial commitment is for three months, with the possibility of continuing.
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Yes! Consultations vary and typically require 1-2 exchanges. I provide full, deep-level consultations that include feedback on the strength of the manuscript as a whole, sentence-level edits, suggestions for possible publication, and a one-hour phone call. I work with beginning and established writers.
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Here’s what people are saying . . .
“As a non-native English speaker with a science background, I always felt insecure about sharing my writing. Laura made me feel safe with her kindness and professionalism. Since we began working together, I’ve witnessed my work evolving with a speed that has surprised me. From the beginning of the Creative Mentorship, I noticed the benefits of Laura’s honest feedback on my work as well as in the way I look at my own potential. She has given me excellent reading recommendations that she has tailored with care to my evolving needs and focus. Laura is a pleasure to work with and always leaves me feeling curious and inspired.”
Monica Pernia Marin, MD
“I worked with her on my first book of poetry. She was thoughtful, attentive, and able to see patterns in my work that I would have never seen on my own. She worked with me to maintain my manuscript schedule at a pace that felt intentional and user-friendly. Some of my material required a deep personal dive, and she gave me helpful writing exercises that assured me I would not be overwhelmed. She is an excellent advocate, and I highly recommend working with her.”
Mary Jane Philpy-Dollins, MSN, RN
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If you are a healthcare worker or if you work in any broadly-defined “caring profession” please join the writing workshop offered every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Central. REGISTER HERE
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I teach and create generative writing workshops for writers of all levels. I also design and facilitate customized workshops in the workplace to meet both individual and organizational wellness needs. Email me for details!
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Email me!