Jeff Alessandrelli - Editor
Best-selling writer of poetry and nonfiction providing developmental, substantive, and copy editing, manuscript evaluations, and coaching.
Request a quote
Verified identity
Overview
The founder and executive director of an innovative literary arts nonprofit, I've shaped and edited titles by multiple Pulitzer-Prize winning authors, with accolades received by venues such as The Paris Review, PBS NewsHour, The Poetry Foundation, Poets & Writers and the Poetry Society of America, among others. My goal as an editor is to invest the music of language with the evocation of concrete story.
I have a B.A. in literature, an M.A. in creative writing (poetry, specifically), and a PhD in literature/creative writing. I've founded and ran multiple successful literary presses and taught college writing for 12+ years; during that time I was also the assistant director of two different college writing centers. I have shaped and edited literary journals, city magazines, poetry manuscripts, nonfiction titles, vinyl records, and more.
I offer manuscript evaluation, developmental editing & coaching, substantive editing, copyediting, and any combination thereof. I enjoy working with authors at every step, from conception to finished product, and I take pride in developing a good rapport with my clients. Strong communication and focused artistic intent are my main priorities as an editor.
Languages
English (CAN)
English (UK)
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Music
Writing & Publishing
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Literary Fiction
Poetry
Certifications
- Ph.D. in Literature/Creative Writing
Work experience
Executive Director
Fonograf Editions
January, 2016
–
Present
(about 7 years)
Innovative nonprofit literary record label/book press, which has published titles by multiple Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle award winners. Executive Director duties include curation, editing, art direction and publicity/promotion.
Development and Community Resource Coordinator
Independent Publishing Resource Center
August, 2014
–
August, 2015
(about 1 year)
Founder/ Senior Editor
Dikembe Press
January, 2012
–
June, 2017
(over 5 years)
Co-founded and ran this national standing poetry chapbook press. Published authors included winners of The Believer Book Award and National Poetry Series. Editor duties included selecting authors, editing manuscripts, and coordinating /directing all cover art and promotional materials.
Senior Editor
Prairie Schooner
January, 2011
–
August, 2013
(over 2 years)
Senior editor at international standing literary journal Prairie Schooner. Duties include selecting authors for publication, editing manuscripts, and soliciting authors.
English Professor--Creative Writing/Literature/Composition
various universities
January, 2007
–
Present
(about 16 years)
Since 2007 I've taught English at the college level, at various universities throughout the U.S. (Primarily in the West and Midwest.) Sections taught include generalized lower and upper division courses in creative writing, literature and composition, along with more specific ones such as Fiction Writing: The Apocalypse, From John Milton to Anne Sexton: Comedy in Poetry Writing, and Hip Hop and Poetry and Everything Rhythmically Else.
Portfolio (15 selected works)
Aloha / Irish Trees
Eileen Myles
Returning the Sword to the Stone
Leidner, Mark
Instrument
Strom, Dao
Lovability
Frey, Emily Kendal
Live In Seattle
Alice Notley
Conflation
Rae Armantrout
The Black Saint and the Sinnerman
Harmony Holiday, -, -, -, -
Fodder: Live at Disjecta
Douglas Kearney & Val Jeanty
Stray: A Graphic Tone
Susan Howe / Nathaniel Mackey
Erik Satie Watusies His Way Into Sound
Jeff Alessandrelli
Fur Not Light
Alessandrelli, Jeff
Nothing of the Month Club
Alessandrelli, Jeff
The Last Time Will Be The First
Alessandrelli, Jeff
Prairie Schooner (Summer 2015)
Collins, Martha, Sinclair, Safiya, Alessandrelli, Jeff, Lenhart, Lawrence, Celt, Adrienne, An-Hwei Lee, Karen, Geminder, Emily, Mastromateo, Elisa, Dawes, Kwame
Jeff has 23 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Jeff is an editor with a great ear, knowledgeable both about the technicalities of writing as well as the broader context any piece might sit in, discerning as to how to pull any stray threads together or distractions out, kind, professional, and helpful. He would absolutely be worth requesting here on Reedsy.
Bree H, February 2023
Reply from Jeff Alessandrelli
Thank you Jeff for such a prompt review!
Olga Gutsol, January 2023
Jeff has been fantastic. Extremely helpful, encouraging, very friendly and kind and of IMMENSE assistance to me, in terms of how to arrange my book and what things to put on what order to make sense of it to the reader. Everything he’s said shows that he was very interested and attentive to my work and I’m left feeling very clear about what to do and I feel much more confident that it is a wort...
Read more
Amanda Johnson, October 2022
Jeff is my go to editor especially on works of poetry. I have used his services several times and have not been disappointed.
Camille Klump, October 2022
Jeff helped to give me an overall impression of how my book would be received by the reader. He provided specific and general suggestions. He did a light edit for punctuation and grammar which was nice to have as well. He provided me with some suggestions that I feel will take the book to the next level and complete it. I feel confident that my book will be what I intended it to be. Thanks Jeff!
Angelika Capaldo, October 2022
Reply from Jeff Alessandrelli
Explore the Reedsy Community
Reedsy is a community of top publishing professionals. Join Reedsy today to browse 1000+ profiles.
Josh Raab
Experienced, passionate, and versatile non-fiction editor. Clients include Al Gore, Garth Brooks, and Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket).
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Mary Neretlis
30+ years of writing, copy editing, and proofreading, I am passionate about helping writers polish their memoirs and family histories.
Markham, ON, Canada
