Sarah Birnbach

Entrepreneur, professional presenter, award-winning essayist; author of the forthcoming A Daughter’s Final Gift

Eloquential on Sarah

Even the most gifted writers and presenters can find it a struggle to edit their own work. Sarah’s award-winning essay, gripping and poignant, told of her determination to honor her father’s memory while defying a centuries-old tradition. Sarah’s challenge: to distill 10 pages of this emotional and spiritual journey into a four-minute excerpt for a public reading. How does a writer take a riveting and masterfully crafted story, already economically structured, and strip it down to the bare bones? 

Sarah on Eloquential

I first contacted Eloquential for help in reducing a 20-minute presentation to fit a 4-minute time frame. Tim and Carolyn helped determine which words were most significant and to structure the piece for the maximum impact. Thanks to Tim and Carolyn, I delivered a compelling presentation to an enthralled audience in the allotted time while maintaining the integrity of the content.  Since our first work together, they have each edited various stories of mine that have gone on to win national writing awards. By gently asking pointed questions, they have challenged me to uncover the deeper story, to shape my words to deliver their intended effect with the greatest eloquence, and to express my personal experience in a way that is simultaneously universal. Working with them is both a pleasure and a privilege.