“Dave is one of my favorite editors to work with—he’s knowledgeable, patient, funny, creative, and excited about the possibilities of what a magazine and cultural criticism can do. (But not annoyingly excited—crucially, he’s very low-key.) His light touch does not prevent him from pointing out horrific, glaring problems. I’ve never once felt wronged or that my pieces had irrevocably changed for the worse while working with him, and that is extremely rare.”

—Lauren Oyler, critic and author of the novel Fake Accounts

“Dave is a generous, wise, and perceptive coach whose blend of craft, conceptual insight, and incisive guidance has made him an invaluable thought partner as I work on my book. Our conversations range from the granular details of a sentence to the foundational questions of voice, and from the undertow of an idea to the broader dynamics of a cultural phenomenon. Working with him has honed not only my writing but also my thinking.”

—Lauren Mackler, writer and curator

“As any writer who has spoken to me since I started working with David already knows, there is nothing I like more than telling every writer to consider working with David as an editor and coach. In just a few months I feel like he’s provided me with the very best tools, support, and guidance, all of which have become necessary to my current writing and indispensable to my future. I am so grateful to him for providing the services he does, and am certain you will be too. 

—Haley Mlotek, organizer, editor, and the author of No Fault: A Memoir of Romance and Divorce

“When I work with Dave as an editor, I feel seen as a writer. He turns cut-to-fit necessities into opportunities to sharpen a draft without sacrificing essential substance, style, and voice. I feel just as seen when Dave’s my coach. He has a gift for soliciting words as well as excising them. With a landscaper’s eye, he encourages my bramble of prose to grow one way rather than another.  He’s blunt as a building contractor telling you a structure won’t hold up, kind as a neighbor who helps you fix what’s broken. Our regular sessions during my last big project were the highlight of my working week.”

—Susan Stryker, lapsed academic, autotheorist and author of Changing Gender (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2026).

“Dave has been my editor at Bookforum since 2014. We’ve published fourteen pieces together, including essays and reviews. The writing I’ve done with Dave is the writing I’m most proud of. He expanded my sense of the topics I could cover, made my arguments more graceful, and refined my voice on the page. Respectful without being passive, he always asks the questions I haven’t thought of. It’s fun to work with Dave. I wish there were more editors like him.”

—Jesse Barron, journalist and contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine

“David O’Neill is a dream for an editor—and a reader. An exquisite thinker with a sharp eye, he writes with great generosity to produce truly gorgeous prose. Working with him is always a delight, made even more interesting by the fact that he’s also a terrific editor, which means I learn a valuable thing or two every time I edit him. I can’t recommend David highly enough. He’s simply one of the best around.”

—Jennifer Krasinski, art writer, editor, educator, and former digital director of Artforum


“Dave is a kind, clear editor who treats my writing with respect and care. He works fast, and is nice when I don’t. I’m always happier with a piece after he’s had a hand in it.”

—Charlotte Shane, critic, author, and co-founder of TigerBee Press

“Dave cut his teeth in the unfeted trenches of short-form reviewing and it shows in all his writing—every word counts. But distilled prose doesn’t have to be dense. In his work, rascally asides, sleights of hand, and subtle provocations put pressure on the form (any form). He’s the best.”

“Dave is a patient and thoughtful coach whose experience and insights are invaluable to any writer. In only a few sessions, he has helped demystify the writing process, refine my work, and unlock new directions.” 

—Josh Greenblatt, coaching client and freelance writer

“For years, I resisted seeing a writing teacher out of some misguided belief that writing was an art to be endured alone. My weekly meetings with Dave have dispelled that myth. From the basics of pitch crafting to the rigors of developing an idea, angle, theme, and tone, his wisdom and generosity have been essential to my development as a writer. The results (pieces conceived, written, accepted) speak for themselves; but more than the results, Dave’s steady guidance—his tips, tricks, and instincts, all hard won by a life in letters—have helped me rededicate myself to the craft. I feel lucky, grateful, to have him as a teacher.”

—Conor McEvily, coaching client and freelance writer


“As a new non-fiction writer struggling to find my voice, style, and footing, I was looking for a coach with a strong essay-writing passion—Dave has been a perfect match! We share a passion for a lot of the same authors and styles. He has helped me elevate my writing to a place I never thought possible. He is kind, thoughtful, and deep in knowledge. Writing is hard, but Dave has helped me navigate this treacherous landscape and find where I belong.”  

—Simon Højberg, coaching client and author of Programming Is Collaboration

“Dave O’Neill is a stellar writing coach. For me, he was the perfect blend of advisor, encourager, and accountability partner. He didn’t accept me being discouraged or flinch when I questioned how or why an approach might work. He was thoughtful and thorough, and I found our sessions to be inspiring and elevating. He helped me develop my book proposal and also offered opinions and thoughts on my writing and technique. He made me better.”

—Emily Carter, coaching client and essayist