Most of our students and graduates live in the United States and Canada, but they are also found in virtually every place in the world where English is read and spoken.  More than 1,200 of them have already been published in magazines, other periodicals, books, and on the Web. 

The testimonials that follow were provided by them, in their own words, voluntarily, and without remuneration.

“My experience with Long Ridge Writers Group has been positive from day one,” reports Kathryn Tatsu of Ontario, Canada. “My instructor suggested I write about my biking experiences. When she read my article she suggested I submit it to Mature Living. I followed her advice and to my surprise the article was accepted for publication. This was the very first article I had ever submitted. Thank you for your . . . great course.”

“Thank you for renewing my faith”

      “Thank you for renewing my faith in the great American way,” writes Chuck Mayer of Nebraska. “When I received your writing test I figured it was just another scam and that no matter what I wrote you would come back with a high-class sales pitch. So I tried to ‘flunk.’ (I have edited a weekly newspaper for over 20 years and thought I would test your test.)

      “I must admit I was more than just a little surprised when I received your letter telling me I did not qualify. I will long remember Long Ridge Writers Group as a school that can be trusted.”

New York Times reviewers call it

“haunting,” a “must-read”

      “After using the tightening skills my instructor taught me,” says Barri Bumgarner of Missouri, “I landed a publisher for my novel and sold a play, plus I have two agents who want to market my other novels. I already have 17 press engagements, 122 newspaper interviews, and an appearance on a local TV show. Reviewers for the New York Times have called [my book] ‘haunting,’ a ‘must-read,’ and gave it three stars on a four-star scale. Thank you so much Long Ridge!”

“Thank you for the leg up!”

      “The course has helped me develop skills I knew I had and increased my confidence,” says Jean Peterson Stevens of Florida, who sold an article to The Single Parent. “Without the marketing information provided by the school (and The Best of the Magazine Markets), I would have had no idea how or where to submit for publication. Both of my instructors have been absolutely wonderful—professional, knowledgeable, encouraging—and made me feel as if we were sharing a cup of coffee. Thank you for the leg up!”

“It’s never too late”

      “About three years ago, at age seventy-eight, I enrolled in your course,” writes Fred Joshu of Missouri. “My only goal was to see just one piece in print. I succeeded with a sale to Mature Living. My instructor is responsible for my success. She led, advised, and coaxed me through the course. Without her I would not have survived the first assignment. So she was right—it’s never too late to write what you know.”

“My bible of enlightenment”

      “Long Ridge has helped me immensely,” says Rebecca Mixon of Michigan, who was recently published in Sun Magazine. “My instructor was meticulous in reviewing my work and noting areas that required improvement. Not only were notes in the margin but an accompanying letter described strong points and weak points. I still have those and often refer to them, and to the manual that is my bible of enlightenment when things become foggy.”

“I can now say that I’m a writer”

      “That moment of receiving a paycheck, coupled with a sample issue of House, Home, & Garden with my published article, was without a doubt the happiest moment of my life,” writes Tony Curtis of Mississippi. “My instructor’s editorial help, including her expert, one-on-one, heartfelt evaluation of my writing assignments, has been invaluable to me. I can now say that I’m a writer.”

“Almost any question I can think to ask is answered”

      “The material for lesson 5 is filled with tremendous instructions,” says Barbara Derrick of South Carolina, who was recently published in On the Mountain. “The references from the Student’s Manual to other books I have received fill in gaps I have always wondered about since I have been writing. Almost any question I can think to ask is answered somewhere in this material. Long Ridge is certainly to be commended.”

“Your instruction . . . gave me the push I needed”

      “I cannot believe that I am able to write this letter to you, much less include my first published book, Hijinks at Six Feet,” writes J. D. Botsford of Minnesota.

      “I remembered all the advice I received through the Long Ridge course and, even though I chose to go the route of a novel, your instruction on article creation gave me the push I needed, and the knowledge I required, to move to the next step of becoming a published author.”

“An invaluable resource”

      “My instructor has been an invaluable resource and support,” reports Mary Freeman of Alabama, author of Concealed Carry. “Knowing that there was someone expecting me to submit something helped push me to write. She assisted me in pulling out the extraneous and adding the imperative. I still struggle, but I’ve made major strides with her help. I am sure, that if left to my own devices, being published would have taken a lot longer, or I wouldn’t have been published at all. Your organization has been instrumental in allowing me to work on and develop my skills as a writer.” 

“. . . like a dream come true”

      “I didn’t consider myself a writer until I started your course,” says Karen Hager of Minnesota. “My instructor is a gem. She has so many excellent suggestions for me. I just can’t say enough good things about her. Everyone at Long Ridge has been a great help. Good Old Days magazine is going to publish my first story. It’s like a dream come true.”

“She is . . . so right on target”

      “What a wonderful instructor!” says Pat Reeder of California.  “She is professional, considerate, and extremely helpful. Her notations and letters on my assignments were so right on target. I felt as though she and I were in the same room talking about my work. Using a lot of her suggestions helped get my article published in Camping Today.

      “My copy of your marketing guide looks as though it has exploded . . . there are so many post-it notes and pieces of paper marking magazines I want to query about future and current articles. It was there that I found the magazine that published my article.”

“The lessons really stick”

      “I would not have been published without the help of Long Ridge Writers Group and my instructor,” says Sharon Mortz of California, whose article was published in Fate Magazine. “The individual critique of each writing project was a valuable method of teaching, and my instructor’s expertise and comments made the learning process individual. The lessons really stick. When I received my instructor’s letters with her comments regarding my latest assignment, it was like Christmas.”

“My instructor was phenomenal”

      “I received $300 for my story in Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul,” reports Christine Learmonth of New Hampshire. “Your course was great and my instructor was phenomenal!”

“A note of appreciation”

      “This is a note of appreciation for two things,” writes Robert Mills of Washington. “One, for the excellent training materials provided in Breaking into Print. Two, for the superb help that my mentor provided during the course.  Several days ago The Family Digest accepted my 1,000-word article (based on a course assignment) for publication. Thank you.”

“. . . meaningful in a way I hardly expected”

      “This course has been meaningful in a way I hardly expected, by improving my style of sermon writing,” says Grady Allison of Florida. “As I read some of my sermons from before taking this course, I realize why they didn’t work and wonder how I got away with it all these years.

      “All of this is simply to say the course has been challenging and exciting—all I could have expected. Your letters and editorial work have been clear, constructive, always on target, and encouraging.”

“Writing is something I must do”

      “I have a full-time job and church and family responsibilities, so my writing success is slow,” says Sue Tornai of California, who reports a sale to Lookout magazine. “In addition to submitting devotions and articles for publication, I write for a Christian writers’ newsletter; I edit the bimonthly newsletter of a crisis pregnancy center; and I write for my blog. Writing is something I must do, and Long Ridge helped me in my lifelong endeavor to develop my craft.”

“Gracias”

      “Long Ridge is one of the best things that ever happened to me,” writes Kofi Otg Gyang of Georgia. “I asked my instructor for the key to writing and she passed it on to me with speed, good advice on its use, and without any reservations. I would like to thank her for the teaching, passion, and knowledge. I was promised a publishable story; I believe I have five. Gracias.”