Broc Rossell, Editor in Victoria, BC, Canada

Overview

With twenty years' experience in editing and publishing, an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and a PhD in literary arts, I work with books at every stage of development, and with writers at all stages of their careers. I specialize in literary fiction, especially speculative and historical; narrative nonfiction, including memoirs, journalism, and environmental writing; personal, literary, and academic essay collections; children's literature; and poetry of all kinds. I’m also the author of a novel for young readers, a memoir, and three collections of poetry; and the editor of a peer-reviewed collection of literary criticism.

I’m a Swiss army knife who can identify and provide what your book needs at every step of the way, and I'll work collaboratively and strategically with you to realize your book's greatest potential.

"Broc is the most extraordinary editor I have worked with in my twenty years as a writer across multiple genres." --Jordan Scott

"Broc draws on a broad range of experience in fiction, non-fiction, poetry publishing across academic, trade, and independent presses, guiding an author’s work from concept and draft to finished product with the goal of positioning it within the publishing landscape. Timely, professional, and receptive, he never loses sight of the goal—to prepare the best possible version of the work." --Johanna Drucker

Services

Developmental Editing

Copy Editing

Editorial Assessment

Query Letter Review

Book Coaching

Non-Fiction

Humanities & Social Sciences Nature Sports & Outdoors Travel Writing & Publishing

Fiction

LGBTQ Fiction Literary Fiction Poetry

Languages

English (CAN) English (US)

Awards

Canada Council for the Arts, Literary Research and Creation Grant, nonfiction
Canada Council for the Arts, Literary Research and Creation Grant, poetry
Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, Writer’s Retreat
Vermont Studio Center, Artist Residency Grant
Canadian Council for the Arts, Emerging Writer’s Grant
British Columbia Council for the Arts, Writer’s Grant.
Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Teaching-Writing Fellowship
Editor of Daniel Borzutzky’s The Performance of Becoming Human (Brooklyn Arts Press), National Book Award for Poetry

Certifications

PhD in creative writing
MFA in creative writing
Cornell University School of Criticism and Theory, Certificate of Completion

Work experience

Publisher and Editor-in-chief

Self-Employed

Jan, 2017 — Present

As founding publisher and editor-in-chief of a small press, I oversee everything from soup to nuts: contest submissions, acquisitions, manuscript development, copy editing, proofreading, marketing strategies and publicity, and events. I edit every book, write copy for all titles, design press release and web content, and oversee digital multi-media products.

Editor-at-Large

Milkweed Editions

Oct, 2022 — Nov, 2025 (about 3 years)

As Editor-at-Large at a non-profit trade publisher I analyzed, evaluated, and reviewed project proposals and book manuscripts. I also developed and finished book-length manuscripts at all levels of the editorial process, from developmental and substantial to line editing and proofreading.

Managing Editor

Milkweed Editions

May, 2021 — Sep, 2022 (over 1 year)

As the supervisor of the editorial department, I evaluated our performance and reported directly to the publisher, I mentored editorial and design fellows who were new to the company (and industry), and I worked hand-in-glove with the design team to produce flawless books for the marketplace. I worked closely with the marketing team to write web content and with authors to draft biographical and descriptive copy. I also edited for substance, line, and copy; proofread hard and soft proofs; administered contests; and liaised with our distributor and printers.

Assistant professor of creative writing

Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

Jan, 2019 — Apr, 2021 (about 2 years)

I taught a wide range of courses in creative writing: fiction, non-fiction, multi-media, and poetry, at levels ranging from introductory to graduate.

Lecturer in critical and cultural studies

Emily Carr University of Art and Design

Aug, 2014 — Dec, 2018 (over 4 years)

I taught a wide range of courses that covered many different kinds of writing: expressive, expository, descriptive, argumentative, critical, and creative. Genres and topics included art, literature, theory, history, culture, and the humanities.

Senior Editor

Brooklyn Arts Press

Jan, 2011 — Dec, 2016 (almost 6 years)

As senior editor at Brooklyn Arts Press I read submissions, advised the publisher on acquisitions, and developed manuscripts of poetry and prose. I left to start The Elephants in 2017, but not before the last book I edited, Daniel Borzutzky’s The Performance of Becoming Human, won the 2016 NBA for Poetry.

Humanities Specialist

Macmillan Publishers

Mar, 2006 — Feb, 2009 (almost 3 years)

At Macmillan Learning, I supported salespeople selling titles in the humanities across all of Macmillan's imprints (FSG, Faber, Hill & Wang, Picador, etc.) and especially imprints in Macmillan's Learning division, like Palgrave and Bedford/St. Martin's Books. I was promoted to humanities specialist after being named the top new salesperson in North America.