Amanda Oliver
Amanda Oliver is the author of the nonfiction book Overdue: Reckoning With the Public Library (Chicago Review Press), named a Best Book of 2022 by Esquire. Her essays have appeared in Electric Literature, the Los Angeles Times, the Rumpus, PANK, and Medium, among many others. She was the nonfiction editor of Joyland Magazine from 2018 to 2023, and she has taught creative writing for the University of California at Riverside. She holds a BA and an MLS from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and an MFA in nonfiction from the University of California at Riverside.
Learn more about Amanda at our interview here: https://writers.com/feature/introducing-amanda-oliver
Student Feedback for Amanda
Amanda is the best writing teacher I have ever had. In her classes she creates a culture of constructive kindness — she helps students find ways to write more consistently and offers useful feedback while always being gentle and encouraging. Without her guidance and support I never would have had the courage to write and publish vulnerable work. Amanda made me a better writer. Tara P.
In Amanda’s writing classes, writers feel accepted in bearing their hearts through creative writing by creating a space where people feel comfortable embracing vulnerability. Her two-fold teaching style emboldens one’s experiences—workshops become a supportive community space for all participants to support one another, while one-on-one time allows her to work with you on your piece in depth. She is skilled in discerning the essence of your work, offering constructive critiques that foster its growth, all the while preserving its core sentiment. Kyrié O.
Amanda pivoted me to re-think my writing—not in a discouraging way but in a way where fresh eyes would understand the story. She was like a fog light on a stormy night, guiding me in. Yvette C.
