Writing Mentorship
Whether you are a fledgling scribe or a published professional, Dr. Knafo can help your article, book, dissertation, or writing project say more, say it better, and say it so others will want to read it.
Do you have a paper or book inside bursting to get out?
Would you like to overcome writer’s block?
Do you need dissertation help?
Would you like to write a professional journal article?
Would you like help developing a literary voice?
Do you want to write a story, play, memoir, or other creative work?
Do you need help in character development?
Dr. Knafo can help you reach your personal and professional writing and publishing goals.
A member of the Author’s Guild, Dr. Knafo has published nine books and dozens of articles and essays, book-doctored fiction and non-fiction, and mentored numerous authors. As someone who has written about the creative process for over twenty years, she is well acquainted with the kinds of obstacles that get in the way of writing, as well as techniques to overcome them.
Testimonials
When I started working with Danielle Knafo as a writing mentor, I had harbored a desire to write for over a decade but not a word to show for it. After joining her group, and also working with her individually, I have published an article, am working on editing a book, and have been asked to submit several other pieces of writing for publication. It is quite amazing. Her warmth, support, keen eye for editing, and love of writing are inspirational and were indispensable to me. Thank you, Danielle!
Wendy Miller, Ph.D., Psychoanalyst
I have been a member of Dr. Knafo’s writing group for the past three and half years. She has helped me craft a book, fine tune query letters, work on conference presentations and develop journal articles. Dr. Knafo has been exceptionally skilled in helping me to find my voice as a writer and develop my abilities in this area. She helped me learn to write in a more immediate and vivid manner and to better weave theory and personal thought in my writing. The group work has been both informative and very enjoyable. Dr. Knafo is an exceptional writer, supervisor and coach in the field of psychoanalytic writing.
Beth Feldman, PsyD., Psychoanalyst
I have been in a Dr. Danielle Knafo’s writing group for the past few years. She has been extremely encouraging of the writing process and her feedback has been consistently nonjudgmental and honest. Danielle has created a sense of safety in the group that has enabled me to develop nascent ideas and share personal experiences that I want to incorporate in my writing. Instead of focusing on what other theoreticians have said, I have become better able to present myself as a subject.
Danielle has a wide range of knowledge in psychoanalytic theory and literature. She can spontaneously provide a list of references to anyone in the group to help them reinforce, broaden, and conceptualize their ideas and integrate these in their writing. I have learned quite a bit from the feedback and references she has given me and other group members when they present.
Through her feedback, Danielle has offered help on how I can expand on my ideas and enliven my writing. I have been encouraged to work on professionally oriented pieces as well as more personal writing and memoir. I can say that regardless of the type of writing, Danielle is creative and has guided me so my life stories can be told with words that hold interest, reflect true feelings, and be imbued with meaning.
Joan Lipton, Ph.D., Psychoanalyst
I’ve worked with Dr. Danielle Knafo on many writing and publishing ventures—academic, non-fiction, fiction––and have consistently found that she has an impeccable and unerring sense of what a piece of writing needs to maximize its potential to communicate, excite and inspire. She knows how to imbue writing with creative power, tightly linked and powerful arguments or story lines, and well-organized content. She has an eagle’s eye for what’s too much or not enough, and could give the best of editors a run for their money. Whether you’re writing a doctoral thesis, an academic paper of the highest scholarly magnitude, a novel, or a magazine piece, Dr. Knafo will help you make it as good as it possibly can be. She’s the gift the writer dreams about.
–Rocco Lo Bosco, author of Buddha Wept and Nintey-Nine
I first worked with Dr. Danielle Knafo as a writing mentor while developing my dissertation throughout my psychology doctoral training. Since the time I began working with her, she challenged me to push the limits of my own expectations for my writing. Dr. Knafo taught me how to make my writing flow. She showed me how to weave together a story, how to organize my ideas, integrate theories, and find my own voice as a writer. Her knowledge of theories, literature and the contemporary transformations in the field of psychology helped me to broaden the scope of my thinking and writing. Throughout the collaborative process of working together, her dedication was reflected in her thoughtful and honest critical feedback. Nearly a decade since my graduation, she has been instrumental in my continued writing process and motivation to publish my work. She encouraged me to join a writing group to receive feedback and support from fellow writers and peers and worked with me as a coauthor to publish my dissertation as a book. Currently we are working together on a second book and she continues to inspire me to push the limits of my creativity, discover opportunities for growth in my role as an author, and remain open to further developing my skills as a writer. I have nothing but gratitude for her mentorship.
–Dustin Kahoud, Psy.D.
In just a few months working with Danielle and the writing group, I find I’m working with greater purpose and focus. Aside from her writing expertise, Danielle is helping with practical issues related to getting my writing in print. The group is supportive, collegial, and devoted to helping each member improve their work.
Alan Weiss, Ph.D., Psychoanalyst
Danielle Knafo has been supportive to my nascent writing efforts beyond what I expected in a writing coach. She was able to immerse herself in my writing ideas without imposing her own agenda. She quickly grasped what I wanted to convey and generated a prolific amount of ideas for how to approach and think about my projects. With great flexibility she is able to advise me in my effort to write an academic paper for journal publication as well as a broader endeavor written for a different venue. She also strikes a needed balance between giving practical advice on how to structure and go about writing a particular piece and thinking about the creative content. Finally, and of great importance, Danielle coaches with a generous spirit in which one has the impression that while she is working with you, she gives you and the work her all.
–Therese Rosenblatt, Ph.D.
Dr. Knafo has the rare ability to support and critique in a kind and productive way. She was my writing coach for a paper on psychoanalysis and architecture. We had fun conversations talking about my ideas and how they fit within the literature. Dr. Knafo suggested additional reading and made sure I didn’t miss an important reference. She helped emphasize the paper’s main suggestion and eliminate what was tangential. Our time spent together was both pleasurable, stimulating and very productive, and I would wholeheartedly recommend working with Dr. Knafo.
–Esther Sperber, Studio ST Architects, NYC
Dr. Danielle Knafo has been my advisor for the past five years. A significant part of our work together focused on writing projects. Dr. Knafo was my consultant on various writing endeavors, from personal essays, a book chapter and my academic dissertation. Dr. Knafo is a wise, methodical, and creative writing consultant, approaching writing as a joyful art. Her insightful comments and astute logic elevated my writing to its full potential. Dr. Knafo helped me organize, adhere to the professional requirements of APA, and at the same time, made sure my authentic voice and style were maintained. The evident pleasure she took in writing and editing made working with her an exciting and rewarding process. Aside from being an intelligent professional, Dr. Knafo is also a kind, warm, and caring person. She has a wonderful sense of humor and abundance of patience. She not only worked on my writing projects, but also rooted for me and supported me until the completion of each project. Dr. Knafo is a true mentor and any student or writer would benefit from her services.
–Adi Avivi, Psy.D.
