Melissa Hart
Writer & Teacher
Biography
Melissa Hart grew up in Southern California. She earned her B.A. in Literature from U.C. Santa Barbara's College of Creative Studies, and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Goddard College.
She taught at Ventura College and Santa Barbara City College before moving to Oregon. She teaches Magazine Writing at the University of Oregon, and teaches Introduction to Memoir for U.C. Berkeley's online extension program. The latter course is available to the general public.
Melissa has led workshops for Oregon Writers' Colony, for the Willamette Writers and Oregon's chapter of The Soceity of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and for North Coast Redwood Writers. She teaches distance-learning Humanities courses for Laurel Springs School, and writes resource books for Teacher Created Resources.
She lives in Eugene with her husband, photographer Jonathan B. Smith, and their three dogs, five cats, and four rabbits. She enjoys international and local travel, gardening, running and hiking, and working with owls at the Cascades Raptor Center.
She taught at Ventura College and Santa Barbara City College before moving to Oregon. She teaches Magazine Writing at the University of Oregon, and teaches Introduction to Memoir for U.C. Berkeley's online extension program. The latter course is available to the general public.
Melissa has led workshops for Oregon Writers' Colony, for the Willamette Writers and Oregon's chapter of The Soceity of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and for North Coast Redwood Writers. She teaches distance-learning Humanities courses for Laurel Springs School, and writes resource books for Teacher Created Resources.
She lives in Eugene with her husband, photographer Jonathan B. Smith, and their three dogs, five cats, and four rabbits. She enjoys international and local travel, gardening, running and hiking, and working with owls at the Cascades Raptor Center.
Useful books for writers:
Goldberg, Natalie Writing Down the Bones, Wild Mind, The Long Quiet Highway
James-Enger, Kelly Ready, Aim, Specialize!
King, Stephen On Writing
Lamott, Anne Bird by Bird
Larson, Michael How to Write a Book Proposal
Rogers, Bruce H. Word Work
Zinsser, William On Writing Well
Melissa Hart is a contributing editor to The Writer Magazine.
"How to Find the Perfect Agent for You"--The Writer, June 2007"Respond to Public Criticism with Grace and Humor"--Writer's Digest, 2006
"Educational Writing 101"--The Writer, August 2006
"Make 'Em Laugh"--The Writer, March 2006
"No Blood, No Gore: Writing a Cozy"--The Writer, March 2006
"Gay Markets Meet Growing Demand"--The Writer, July 2005
"Attract Teen Readers with an Edgy Plot"--The Writer, October 2004
Organizations and Helpful Websites for Writers
For children's/young adult writers:
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
For Northwest writers:
Willamette Writers
Lane Literary Guild
Oregon Writers Colony
Pacific Northwest Writers Association
For writers looking for a literary agent:
AgentQuery
Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents
For writers looking to sell writing directly to magazines, newspapers, and publishers:
The Writer Magazine
Writer's Digest
Writer's Market
For writers looking for writing conferences:
Shaw Guides
For children's/young adult writers:
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
For Northwest writers:
Willamette Writers
Lane Literary Guild
Oregon Writers Colony
Pacific Northwest Writers Association
For writers looking for a literary agent:
AgentQuery
Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents
For writers looking to sell writing directly to magazines, newspapers, and publishers:
The Writer Magazine
Writer's Digest
Writer's Market
For writers looking for writing conferences:
Shaw Guides
