Martha possesses a remarkable ability to pinpoint where the real story begins and nurture its development from the dark womb of memory to the glimmering independence of sentences on a page.

—Kate Holt, Writer
Read NY Times Modern Love: Tiny Love Story

My writing completely transformed in Martha’s class. The class structure and Martha’s expert guidance held up a mirror for me to see where my writing needed work. In the beginning, it needed a lot of work, but as time went on, Martha’s teaching served a different purpose. It went from teaching me to write to helping me find my voice and to developing confidence in myself as a writer. I found many of my strengths in her class and have since gone on to produce a full-length play and a one-man show with many of the pieces I wrote in her class. I’ve also completed an MFA in Screenwriting. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of that without the confidence that I developed in her class. I’ve heard Martha called a “book whisperer,” and that seems very appropriate as she gently pulls the stories from her students and guides their writing, letting them uncover themselves as writers. Martha Fuller is a gem and I am in her debt.

It’s been a few years since I was in Martha’s class, but I think about her and the things I learned with every line I write. I’m currently finishing a non-fiction book about humour and a science fiction novel and I lean heavily on Martha’s teachings. I’m always pushing to write without judging myself, focusing on what’s in front of me, and listening to the words. Martha used to say, “Keep writing and the story will emerge.” I aim to keep writing.

—Doyle Hanks, Writer

I’ve been a student of Martha’s for many years and always learn something new each time I work with her. She has a great deal of experience with writing, editing and just knowing when something works. Students of any level will benefit from her instruction and from the nurturing atmosphere of her classes and workshops. I’ve recently had a few pieces published, which was just a dream when I was starting out, but Martha’s expertise and encouragement helped make it possible.

—Jennie Gaborno, writer of micro memoirs and more
View Video—NY Times Modern Love: Tiny Love Stories
Read Micro Story—Los Angeles Press

I will forever hold the image of Martha, head bowed, eyes downcast, listening deeply to the drafts of aspiring writers seated around her kitchen table. She has the ability to get under the skin of those who come to her, to find the essence of what a writer is trying to say. Then with a nip here, a tuck there, she helps turn once hazy sentences into clear, honest gems. Writers come up with many reasons not to write, but Martha is a truly encouraging muse who has the tools to make facing the blank page less intimidating and the heart to bring to the surface writers’ authentic stories in their own unique voices. And she does it with lightness and humor that keeps people writing, and that’s a rare talent.

—Robin Pierson, Journalist

Martha and multitasking; if cultural multitasking was an Olympic sport, Martha would certainly reach the medal podium. Her academic degrees alone would earn a Bronze.

She has been involved in creative pursuits in Arts and Letters for two decades and counting, and has become a sought after teacher, workshop leader and creative coach.

Her visual work has been exhibited, won awards and placed in permanent collections.

She has traveled widely, has been to almost all of the continents and always returns with vivid impressions, photographs, drawings, and artifacts with which she creates elaborate, complex hand-produced unique visual books. Each page of these books represents a complete work of art, but in concert they achieve an impact of a book of stunning visual poetry.

—Darryl Curran, Artist/Photographer

I still remember my trepidation walking into Martha’s class “Memoir, Autobiography & Fiction” at Otis College of Art & Design. I had neglected my writing for years, and it was my first creative writing class since being an undergraduate in college. Martha’s commanding yet warm presence put me immediately at ease. Within the first few minutes I knew she was going to be a rigorous teacher, which is exactly what I wanted. One night after class, we chatted for a while in the parking lot. I cannot express in words how much her encouragement meant to me at that time, and how profoundly it would affect my life moving forward. Our conversation began a private mentorship that lasted several years and prepared me for my MFA in writing and literature at Bennington College, where I am now a candidate in poetry. With her unequivocal eye, sharp ear, and wit, she taught me not to hide behind language. She once said something about my poems that’s never left me: “Sometimes I see you off in the corner of the room, dancing by yourself.” Martha made me realize I didn’t want to dance alone. And with great care, showed me how to come into the center of the room.

—Claressinka Anderson 
Visit Site & View Publications

I am a screenwriter who has been mentored by Martha for over ten years now. She is an instinctively visual writer who understands how to develop a character-driven film. Possessing a formidable knowledge of literature, cinema, and art, she brings context and what I call ‘story wisdom’ to every session. Martha combines no-nonsense honesty with a world-class mind to provide expert screenplay analysis. Whether it’s my fiction, my art or my resume, Martha has taken it from good to exceptional, plain and simple. I highly recommend her. 

—Elizabeth Hayes, Writer

Without Martha, a decent idea and 211 words of dialogue would never have been transformed into Easy, Steady, Together which now sits on the top shelf of a specialty retailer. Regardless of the number of editions, which leave that perch, the pushing, prodding and collaboration with Martha—from editing to layout to illustrating to printing—was a path most happily travelled. And to now see something that ties to family, important friends and magical past moments in the rearview mirror—well, that is a gigantic checkmark in the face of procrastination. And then some.

—Alex Johnson
View Book

Martha Fuller is a gifted literary editor, mentor, and teacher. I’ve worked with many writing professors, but Martha is uniquely insightful, talented, and supportive. She’s an expert at guiding writers to their strongest voice and identifying a work’s strengths and weaknesses. She also possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of craft across many different genres. I’ve learned so much from her—everything from trendy punctuation to how to use or not use dialogue tags. Most of all, she is an absolute pleasure to work with. Her deep understanding of creativity and language is both inspiring and motivating.

—Nilou Panahpour

Luck, instinct and taking timely action have played out over and over in my life. This applies to my experience with Martha and her expertise with editing and publishing my memoir Living the Gift of Time — a collection of life changing experiences. At her suggestion, I included images of “B” flicks posters I designed in the 50s for the creative advertising campaigns of American International Pictures, and album covers I painted for Capital Records. I am forever grateful to Martha for orchestrating this lifetime project.

—Albert Kallis
View Book

Martha taught me how to put the words inside my head onto paper in a meaningful way. Her knowledge and natural instincts are remarkable. I would not still be writing today if not for her. And I would never have published my Illustrated Children’s Picture Book Mandy and Mew-Chi without her guidance and expertise.

—Linda Shaffer, Writer & Illustrator
View Book

From novices to novelists, Martha Fuller has a tremendous ability to help develop and bring to life a writer’s authentic voice. Whether I’m working on memoir or fiction, her insights spark inspiration and help guide me on my writing journey. I always find Martha’s workshops foster a creative, engaging and interactive space to explore new ideas and writing styles and sharpen my skills.

—Joel Zlotnik, Communications Professional

Since Martha is also a visual artist, she showed me that words are more than silent letters stuck on a page. As a teacher she is professional, supportive and nonjudgmental. She encourages her students to be explorers and to be unafraid to dig deep. As I got older, I wanted to leave some of my history for future generations. In Martha’s workshops, I wrote many poems (and prose) about significant moments of my life. She surprised me by suggesting I gather all the pieces to publish a collection. I resisted but she gently and steadily assured me to go ahead with the project. We set out to work together on shaping, editing and revising. With Martha’s experience and expertise, she guided me through the process of making innumerable decisions and a book was born.

—Susan Brown
View Book

I first met Martha Fuller when I signed up for a beginner writing class at UCI in 2004. From that day my life changed. Martha instructed the class in an eye opening way, with encouragement, not criticism, enthusiasm for every sentence produced and tactful guidance on writing technique.

I began writing wishing to tell my story, but with Martha’s encouragement changed to believing I could actually write a book, and finally publishing a 400 page memoir in 2016.

I cannot say enough about her cool ability to lead and encourage a budding writer to their full potential. Martha is one of the very best and I have so much to thank her for.

—Dorothy Ralphs
View Book

I came into Martha Fuller’s class a complete writing novice. She has an absolute gift for meeting writers where they are. I started with the feeling I had something to say and with her guidance

I have been able to turn that feeling into pieces that are compelling for others to read. I have learned as much from watching Martha work with seasoned writers as I have  from working with her on pieces of my own. Many of us take her classes and workshops over and over again. She always has a next level that she pulls out helping to transform our writing.

—Katherine Copeland Anderson

I have worked with Martha for over fifteen years. She’s a fabulous teacher, both supportive and constructive. When I started writing, I was a ‘tell-er’ not a ‘show-er.’ It took me a long time to understand the difference and adapt the concept into my writing. I can still hear Martha, in my head, telling me over and over, ‘Detail, Detail, Detail.’

She spent many hours with me editing my self-published novel, A Flawed Promise.  I had no idea what went into that process from choosing the cover, to the font, to the paper, and on and on. Martha’s help was immeasurable and for that I am very grateful.

Working with Martha will put you in good hands.

—Ellen Schmalholz
View Book

I met Martha at a UCI (University of California, Irvine) extension class she was teaching – Autobiography, Memoir or Fiction. Perhaps teaching is the wrong word, for it inadequately describes the process by which she drew stories, life experiences and confessionals from that group of would be writers. And what a disparate group we were: retired businessmen, housewives with toddlers, young adults, émigrés from distant lands and transferees from other programs. What we all had in common was a desire to make sense of the narratives of our lives and imaginations, but we lacked the skills or techniques to bring them to life. Martha coached, cajoled and gently corrected us when we fell into the all too common traps of clichés and repetition, mixing our tenses and mangling our metaphors. She structured the classes in a way that made us think about our own work, even as we were critiquing others, and she did it all with good humor and unfailing support. It is a tribute to her inspirational style, that many of us joined her in private group workshops afterwards, keen to continue exploring our literary possibilities.

In the time since that first class, I have completed a novel for which I am currently seeking representation.  I am in the midst of finishing a memoir and have begun a second novel as well. My short stories/memoirs have been published in Newtown Literary and Gravel magazine, and my poetry in Celestal Review and the online poetry project Queensbound.  I have read my work at literary events in New York – at First Tuesdays, Linebreak, and Queens Writers Resist. When I lived in New York City, I was the president of the Newtown Literary Alliance. Who knows if this would have been possible had I not met Martha? But I am forever grateful that she encouraged me down this path of self-expression.

—Malcolm Chang

I wanted to write my personal memoir, but was unsure of myself and needed to learn the skills of writing. I ended up taking 10 quarters with Martha, during which time I wrote 80% of my story and went on to work privately with her for 3 more years. Martha helped me to find my voice and expand my creativity. She didn’t blindly praise me, but her astute observations encouraged rather than discouraged me and spurred me on to complete my now published memoir Grace Notes.

—Sang Bukaty, Writer
View Book

Martha Fuller is indeed a Renaissance woman. Her many accomplishments in various fields of artistic endeavor would daunt most aspirants. I have known her for several years and become increasingly impressed with her generosity of spirit as well as her amazing flexibility and acute intelligence. It is my privilege to recommend her.

—Elaine Barnard

I employed Martha Fuller as an instructor and lecturer for several classes and programs and always found her to be a responsible and responsive instructor, both with large groups and in small workshop settings. Moreover, she is an inspiration to her students and encourages them to stretch in ways that they never imagined. Her own work, whether a visually beautiful photograph or a piece of elegant prose, is always both thoughtful and poetic. It is rare to find someone who is equally adept in the written and visual arts and who interweaves both disciplines into her own work and her teaching. Using reading to inspire writing and observing to inspire visual creations, she enables those under her tutelage to dig deep within themselves to understand the world and their place within it. She is a kind soul, who radiates calm, warmth, and positive energy. More a muse than a traditional teacher, she creates unforgettable, even life-changing, experiences for her students.

—Maxine Gaiber

Martha Fuller is a gifted and immensely talented book whisperer, art consultant and muse to all who seek to bring alive their authentic creativity. In her teaching career at UC Irvine she has touched the lives of hundreds of people who are following their calling to be true artists in the world.

—Kirwan Rockefeller, PhD, UC Irvine Extension

I have taken several visual art classes and workshops from Martha and always come away not only having learned some inspired new techniques – but feeling both challenged and creatively renewed as well.

The experience of working with an artist as remarkable as Martha is bound to take your work to another level. She instructs and collaborates with an effortless grace that very quickly helps clarify your own process and vision. Beyond that, Martha is also a peerless professional and a sincere pleasure to be around. I wholeheartedly recommend her services to anyone without reservation.

—Janice Van Wagner

For many years I had an unfulfilled desire to write my story. It wasn’t until I started working with Martha that I found the key to unlocking my potential to do just that. Martha is not just an editor and not just a writing teacher. She is a guide on a journey. She helps people to find their purpose and passion in writing, to engage in the writing process, and to bring out the truest parts of themselves and put those parts onto paper. I trust her instincts and value her creative insights like those of no other. If I had never met Martha Fuller, I not only would have never fulfilled that dream to write my story. I would quite simply not be the person that I am today. I would have missed out on the unique personal journey through which Martha guided me.

—Holly McKinley

I worked with Martha for a few years when I was working on a memoir about my experiences as a ballet student in New York. I found her to be insightful, compassionate and always full of helpful, constructive suggestions. She has an unerring ear for the “wrong” word and can always spot when you need to delve deeper into a scene or a topic. There were three of us all working on memoirs who worked together with Martha as a group. I’m happy to say that all three of us successfully completed our manuscripts.

—Kathleen Peterson

Martha excels at hearing your voice. Coaching the writer to listen and recognize their own song is Martha’s gift. No matter how scattered the notes in the cacophony, Martha plucks them into rhythm and the novice hears the music within. The writer’s voice, the fingerprints of your lyric, intuited by a master musician ( a muse after all) becomes your motif. Martha reveals your voice and allows you to recognize it.

—Lisa Roseman

Martha’s wit, clarity and vast knowledge make for an outstanding learning experience.  She took me from writing novice to finding my own voice and developing my own style. I will be forever grateful for our time together.

—Linda Goldman