Are you ready to begin writing your story? Or have you completed a first draft and are now ready to revise?

I work with memoirists and fiction writers at every stage of the creative process—from early exploration to full manuscript revision. Through coaching, developmental editing, and sustained engagement, I help writers discover the emotional and thematic shape of their work.

Wherever you are in your process, my feedback is designed to be extensive and specific. I focus on the elements that matter most to narrative: voice, structure, pacing, dramatic tension, and the overall narrative arc of the story. Each manuscript is approached as a cohesive whole, with attention to both what is already working and what remains to be developed.

Ultimately, I work with writers, not just manuscripts. My role is to meet writers where they are in the creative process and help them discover, develop, and shape the stories on the page. I aim to provide writers with a clear and actionable path forward—one that strengthens both the larger architecture and the finer details of the manuscript. I am also happy to recommend relevant readings, narrative models, or structural approaches that may deepen and support your work.

What interests me most is helping writers identify the underlying intention that makes a story distinct. Whether working on memoir or fiction, I focus on clarifying the emotional and narrative movement of the manuscript while preserving the integrity of the writer’s vision.

I view editing as a collaborative process grounded in trust, attention, and ongoing conversation. My role is not to impose a formula, but to help writers recognize and strengthen what is already taking shape in the work. Together, we will chart a clear path forward, one that centers on where you in your process, and enables you to reveal the story you want to tell on the page.

“Sylvie deeply connects with your narrative and provides unparalleled expertise to help you capture your ‘why’ and bring your memoir to life. Working with Sylvie has been a truly transformative experience. I am incredibly grateful for having such a phenomenal instructor and mentor in my corner!“

Toni S.

A bit about me…

My name is Sylvie. A native French speaker, I was born and grew up in Montreal. I am a writer, editor, and teacher based in Brooklyn, NY. I have degrees in Communication and Literature (DEC, Montreal), Political Science (BA, Hunter College), and a MA in Cultural Anthropology (Princeton University). Since 2018, I have taught Fiction and Memoir workshops at The Writers Studio, where I work with both beginning and advanced writers through a craft-centered approach focused on narrative voice. Over the years, many students have continued working with me across multiple workshops, sometimes for several years as their writing deepens through continued exploration and revision. This ongoing process continues to shape the way I approach both teaching and editorial work.

I am also the proud co-founding editor of Cagibi, a literary journal invested in sharing the universal human experiences to be found in works of prose and poetry set within places unfamiliar to readers, and with an expressed interest in international literature and works in translation.

Beyond The Writers Studio, I lead workshops in partnership with Cagibi and co-facilitate creative retreats throughout the year.

My stories and poems have appeared in Peregrine Journal, Epiphany, Cleaver Magazine, Alexandria Quarterly, and December magazine, among others. I received a Pushcart Special Mention in 2018 and was a finalist for the 2019 Jeff Marks Memorial Poetry Prize, judged by Kim Addonizio.

You can read a writing tip I wrote for Cleaver Magazine right here.

_{Chilling in Lourmarin, a small village in Provence (photo credit: Felixe Ross)}