Hi, I'm Rachel Thompson
I’m an author, editor, and teacher of creative writing. I help writers develop their craft, deepen their drafts, and discover new possibilities in their work.
I am here to help you write, publish, and shine.
I share free resources in the form of articles and love letters to luminous writers, and I teach courses on writing, self-editing, and getting published.Â
Whether you are writing literary fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction, flash, prose poetry, or hybrid forms, I am here to help you see your work more clearly and take the next step with confidence.
How I Work with Writers
As a member of the editorial collective and former Managing Editor at Room magazine, I’ve read thousands of submissions. That experience reinforced something I deeply believe: publication matters, but the real work is the return to the page.Â
Again and again, I’ve found that the most exciting writing isn’t necessarily the most polished. It’s the writing that carries real energy and is reaching toward something honest. My work is helping you recognize and develop that momentum.Â
Redrafting is one of my deepest interests. I don’t think of it as fixing what’s broken; I think of it as discovering what else might be possible.
In practice, that means:
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Finding the hidden thread beneath a messy draft.
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Strengthening the narrative structure so a piece can hold.
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Focusing on the mechanics that matter, like hinges, motifs, and specificity over summary.
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Helping you trust an instinct you nearly edited away.
Everything I teach is informed by what I’ve learned the hard way as a writer myself. My practice is rooted in community, curiosity, and equity. In my creative and learning spaces, I work to practice racial, LGBTQIA2S+, and disability justice, striving to ensure every writer feels supported, challenged, and welcomed exactly as they are.
A Short Bio You Can Use If You Need It (and the above headshot)
Rachel Thompson is an author, editor, and creative writing teacher who offers courses, workshops, and editorial coaching for writers around the world. Her debut book, Galaxy, won Simon Fraser University’s First Book Competition and was published by Anvil Press. Rachel is part of the editorial collective at Room magazine and currently lives in Egypt by the Red Sea.
My Background
When I was a child, I drew a self-portrait as a bottle brimming with swirling ink. Looking back, it feels surprisingly accurate. I’ve always experienced the world intensely. Growing up, expressing deep emotions was often considered “too much,” so I turned to books. Reading showed me there were other people asking the same questions I was, and a rebellious teacher who encouraged me to write helped open the door even wider.Â
Today, I’m the author of Galaxy (Anvil Press), winner of Simon Fraser University’s First Book Competition, and the creator of Writerly Love and Lit Mag Love, where I share reflections on writing, self-editing, and publication.Â
As a settler Canadian, born on Treaty 1 territory and raised on Treaty 2 territory in Manitoba. I have been a guest on many lands, including the traditional territories of the Kanien’kehá:ka and Anishinabeg peoples in Montreal, and on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh lands in Vancouver.Â
These days, I live with my Egyptian spouse and our children beside the Red Sea in South Sinai, Egypt. When I’m not teaching, editing, or writing, you’ll usually find me reading in a hammock, running in the desert, or filling notebooks with observations.
Ways to Work Together
Weekly Writerly Love Letters
Free craft notes, redrafting practices, and publication guidance. Subscribe Now
Write, Publish, Shine Podcast
Tune into Write, Publish, and Shine for a behind-the-scenes look at building a writing life and getting published. Listen Now
Creative Writing & Editing Courses
Hands-on programs featuring direct editorial feedback, designed to help you develop your craft, shape your prose, and navigate the submission process. View Courses
One-on-One Coaching Packages
Supportive, precise editorial feedback and structured redrafting plans to help you stay focused and deepen your connection to the work. Explore Coaching
Thanks for reading all about me! I’m so glad you’re here.
Stuck with submissions?
FREE Guide to Help You Get Published In Lit Mags
This free guide, filled with my advice on publishing your writing, comes from my experience editing for a lit mag and dozens of interviews I’ve had with editors about what they want to see in submissions. (And what they never wish to see again!)