Emma Borges-Scott – Editor

I’m a freelance editor based in Los Angeles, California. I received an MFA in Fiction from The Iowa Writers’ Workshop (2010), where I was the recipient of an Iowa Arts Fellowship, and spent eight years working in top New York City publishing houses and literary agencies.In 2019 I made the decision to return to my home state of California and go out on my own, so that I could put all of my time and focus into working directly with writers. My time on both sides of the desk--as a writer and an agent--informs my approach to editing work.During my time in publishing, after short stints at an independent publisher (Overlook Press) and Simon & Schuster’s literary children’s imprint (Atheneum), I found my home at the boutique literary agency McCormick Literary (formerly McCormick & Williams). During my time at McCormick Literary, I edited books and nonfiction proposals across an array of genres, including literary and commercial fiction, young adult fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, and food.The books I’ve worked on have been named to “Best of the Year” lists by The New York Times, The New Yorker, NPR, Library Journal, the New York Public Library, and Harper’s Bazaar; been on New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post bestseller lists; and been shortlisted for and won prestigious awards.I take great pleasure in helping identify the unique merits of a work and collaborating with writers to hone their art into its ideal version, and I can offer valuable insight into the commercial potential of a book or idea, and how to position your project to attract publishers.I hope you'll consider working with me as your editor.