Laura Mae Isaacman

Laura Mae Isaacman – Editor

I specialize in literary fiction and have worked with Lydia Davis, Joyce Carol Oates, Lara Vapnyar, Aimee Bender, César Aira, etc.

Overview

Looking to wildly improve your writing and publish a book you're proud of?

The key to a successful book is simple, so long as you can master a few elements. You've got to know your narrative voice and make it relatable . Choose only the most explanatory details for your characters, scenes, and storyline. Keep your dialogue sharp. And organize your scenes for impact, tension, and pacing.

Even if you're just starting, you can wildly improve your creative writing and editing skills.

As co-founder of the literary magazines Tweed's and The Coffin Factory, I've worked with award-winning authors, including Joyce Carol Oates, Lydia Davis, Lara Vapnyar, Noam Chomsky, T.C. Boyle, Reza Aslan, Bonnie Nadzam, Aimee Bender, David James Poissant, Kathleen Alcott, Andrés Neuman, César Aira, Edwidge Danticat, John Freeman, Charles Simic, Amy Grace Loyd, Enrique Vila-Matas, and Sergio Chejfec.

For more information, visit my webinars on Writer's Digest, or sign up for my free 10-day writing course on Reedsy Learning, 'How to Craft a Killer Short Story.'

I'd love to work with you!
Services
Fiction
Anthologies Literary Fiction Short Story
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

BuzzFeed

May, 2018 — Present

Lead copy writer for multi-city marketing tours—
Kamp Kona, in partnership with Hyundai
50 Under 50K, in partnership with Bank of America

The Center for Fiction

Feb, 2018 — Present

Editor for the NYC Emerging Writers Fellowship at The Center for Fiction.

Self-employed

Nov, 2016 — Present

A boutique editing company that helps writers bring clarity and cleanliness to their short stories.
We also run writing workshops in Brooklyn, New York.

Tweed's Magazine of Literature & Art (formerly The Coffin Factory)

Apr, 2011 — Dec, 2015 (over 4 years)

Acquired and edited work by award-winning and bestselling authors, including Lydia Davis, Joyce Carol Oates, Charles Simic, Edwidge Danticat, Lara Vapnyar, László Krasznahorkai, César Aira, etc.

Interviewed Noam Chomsky, John Banville, T.C. Boyle, and Amy Grace Loyd.

Featured in New York Times Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Poets & Writers, and The Library Journal.

Portfolio

Seiobo There Below

Laszlo Krasznahorkai

The Dark

Sergio Chejfec

"Early in Sergio Chejfec's The Dark, the nameless narrator describes his disorientation when looking over a landscape as 'the vertigo of simple things.' This phrase describes the experience of reading Chejfec's novel. . . . These moments, when Chejfec combines... read more
Happiness, Like Water

Chinelo Okparanta

"Astonishing. Okparanta’s narrators render their stories with such strength and intimacy, such lucidity and composure, that in each and every case the truths of their lives detonate deep inside the reader’s heart, with the power and force of revelation."—Paul ... read more
The Things We Don't Do

Andrés Neuman

"Good readers will find something that can be found only in great literature, the kind written by real poets, a literature that dares to venture into the dark with open eyes and that keeps its eyes open no matter what . . . . The literature of the twenty-first... read more
Flings: Stories

Justin Taylor

The acclaimed author of Everything Here Is the Best Thing Ever and The Gospel of Anarchy makes his hardcover debut with a piercing collection of short fiction that illuminates our struggle to find love, comfort, and identity.In a new suite of powerful and inci... read more
What's Important Is Feeling: Stories

Adam Wilson

Bankers prowl Brooklyn bars on the eve of the stock market crash. A debate over Young Elvis versus Vegas Elvis turns existential. Detoxing junkies use a live lobster to spice up their love life. Students on summer break struggle to escape the orbit of a seemin... read more
ATTENTION!: A (short) History

Joshua Cohen

You've paid money for this book in order to pay attention. You are skeptical, which is to say, unforgiving. You have enough money to afford this book or you have family or friends who do and who don't mind your borrowing, or you have the type of family or frie... read more

Laura Mae has 26 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Ingrid D.

Ingrid D.

Jan, 2019

Laura, is an excellent editor. Her feedback enhanced my novella and helped me gain valuable writing skills. So glad to have worked with her.
KS W.

KS W.

Aug, 2018

Laura has been the perfect editor for my book! She provided me with incredibly helpful insight about plot, clarity, purpose, etc. She responds quickly and thoroughly to all of my questions and completed all work in a timely manner. On top of that, she is very positive and kind even while providing constructive criticism. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for editorial feedback!
Suzanne C.

Suzanne C.

Aug, 2018

Laura was great, she was insightful, experienced, communicated her points very well, and could explain and understand more than I could, which was the point.
Rae B.

Rae B.

Jul, 2018

Great stories come from dedicated writers, yes, but they are also the product of great editors. Laura is a great editor. She reads with a keen understanding of character development and craft, and more importantly, a dedication to the writer's voice and intention. I highly recommend her.
Ingrid D.

Ingrid D.

Jul, 2018

Laura provided incredible insight and has helped me rethink about how to best craft my story. She is truly excellent. I will definitely work with Laura again.

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