Hillside Writing – Young Writers Creative Mentoring

Hillside Writing – Young Writers Creative Mentoring offers one-on-one mentoring and group workshops focused on creative writing and college-application essay writing. The program includes college essay support, project-based coaching for students in grades seven and up, and asynchronous e-feedback on drafting. Coaching services are available for college applicants, young writers, adult writers, and schools, and include programs such as The Uncommon Essay (Discovery + 4 weeks), The Draft Intensive (2–3 weeks), Exploration Sessions (flexible timeline), E-Feedback (timeline varies), The Supplements Launch (3–6 weeks), and The Transfer Essay (4–6 weeks).

• Ages: 12–18 years old

The program’s mission is to help student and adult writers discover and tell their authentic stories by teaching skills and insights and establishing relationships through which writers find and refine their voices. Its stated values include curiosity and connection, authenticity and insight, voice and integrity, imagination and process, and a belief that everyone has meaningful stories to share. Hillside also works with schools and groups by providing live talks, webinars, and junior class workshops on the college-application essay.

Coach Eliza Turner is a fiction writer, a former teacher, and a mother of three. She began her teaching career as an intern at the Shady Hill School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and later taught elementary and middle school grades in San Francisco. She completed graduate work in literature and writing at Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English and attended the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she studied with Marilynne Robinson, taught creative writing to undergraduates, and worked with them on their creative progress. After returning to San Francisco, she led writing workshops for adults through U.C. Berkeley Extension, mentored students in the California College of the Arts MFA program, and tutored students in grades 4 through 12. Hillside’s founder, Allan Reeder, is mentioned as the founder who gives talks and workshops.

Parent and student testimonials describe Eliza’s work with college-application essays and creative writing. Parents from Brookline, Menlo Park, Newbury, Dedham, Wellesley, Belmont, Cambridge, and Goa, India, and students and writers from Newton, Woodside, Lexington, and Los Angeles report experiences such as guidance in creating authentic essays, increased confidence in writing, support during the college-application writing process, attention to process and reflection, and detailed, innovative coaching. Several parents and students specifically mention that Eliza’s one-on-one instruction, thoughtful and inquisitive approach, and focus on their individual ideas and voices were important to them.

Last updated May 22, 2026.