Welcome! My name is Gemma Cooper-Novack, and my life and work revolve around writing.
Photo by Sean Riva
As an education researcher, currently a doctoral student at Syracuse University, I focus on the intersections of writing pedagogies and social justice, the development of writer identity in community, and the significance of arts education and creative writing in literacy education in and out of school.
As a practicing writer—a poet, a playwright, a fiction writer, and an academic writer-researcher—I derive joy and purpose from my connection with a range of academic, literary, and artistic communities.
As a writing educator and writing coach, I am invested in supporting writers who struggle with structure and practice and teaching in both community education and school settings.
I would love to talk to you! Please feel free to look around the site and contact me below!
Testimonials
From an actor's perspective, Gemma's ability to combine serious accountability with an encouraging, supportive rehearsal atmosphere makes her one of the best directors you'll ever work with.
actor
What strikes me in particular about Cooper-Novack’s work is the way in which a compressed narrative seems to inflate into a miniature world as the poem unfolds.
Tom
writer and writing teacher
The thought-provoking script [of Gemma Cooper-Novack's Blindside] clearly illustrates how the level of violence in war affects all of us long after the actual events.
Joette Waters
Chi-Town Daily News
Gemma was an excellent support to me in chunking and organizing my work in to manageable pieces and supporting fluid thinking in my writing.
Suzanna
graduate student
Gemma helped me pass the writing portion of the communication/literacy MTEL! She provided me with useful strategies that made the test so much easier.
Joanna
student teacher
Get in Touch
Contact me to collaborate on writing, editing, education, and theater!