Scott J.

I am an established writer and editor with an MFA in Creative Writing from The University of Montana and a BA in English from The University of Texas. Over the last six years, I have edited over one hundred manuscripts, including academic essays, dissertations, novels (contemporary fiction, mystery, fantasy, science fiction, horror, etc.), memoirs, and self-help books. I edit using track changes in Microsoft Word, and I have thorough knowledge of The Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition) and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition). As a writer, my work has appeared in over fifty journals, and I have received a variety of travel grants and literary awards, including a 2008 Excellence Fund from the President of the University of Montana for traveling to the Czech Republic to research the Prague Spring, a 2009 Writer\'s Residency at The Montana Artists Refuge, and the 2011 Nancy Dew Taylor Award from Emrys Journal. As a freelance editor, I focus on both the detailed elements (grammar, spelling, punctuation, and typos) and the broader conceptual aspects (plot, character development, consistency, and overall cohesion). My educational background, publishing credentials, and experience as the co-founder of a literary magazine (Zero Ducats) and the nonfiction editor of a university academic journal (CutBank) provide a literary edge to my editing style. I am available for creative manuscripts, such as novels, short stories, and plays, as well as academic writing, such as essays, articles, and dissertations. Quite simply, my goal is to help things flow as tightly as possible, while maintaining your distinct authorial voice and intent.