Joseph Ross Angelella - Editor
Baltimore, MD, United States
Editor of crime to YA and thrillers. I pride myself on offering honest, in-depth, critical feedback that is sympathetic to your voice.
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Overview
My core aim as an Editor is to foster a safe and supportive environment wherein writers pursue and practice fearlessness in story-development and research. For many writers, the weight of rejection or discouragement can be so great that they stop before they even begin. This should’t be! As writers, we must first be fearless in our work, take calculated risks, explore uncharted territories. We must research our passions, learn of different worlds, immerse ourselves in our craft. I spend time with each writer, in story conference or discussion, offering professional feedback on the work, but also advice on how to proceed, where to focus energy, how to navigate obstacle and, more importantly, directing them to keep going. Then we shift focus, to allow for reflection and application of revisions. And at the end of our time together, my writers will know that it takes time to build a writer’s arsenal up. It takes patience. But in that patience comes creative insight and opportunity.
For the past 10 years, I have been professionally writing and editing novels and short stories, working with various literary journals and publishing houses including Random House and Simon & Schuster. In addition, I have been coaching new writers and authors, independently and academically, since 2013. In 2015, my wife and I, the writer-editor Kate Angelella (also a Reedsy editor), joined forces to offer in-depth and honest critiques to fellow writers. We are particularly specialized in middle grade, young adult and Literary fiction as well as genre fiction, including romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller and crime fiction. I have also had the pleasure of teaching fiction writing at the Gotham Writers’ Workshop in New York City and I currently teach writing at the University of Maryland, College Park and screenwriting at Towson University.
When I take my editor hat off, I am an author myself and my literary debut 'Zombie: A Novel' (Soho Press, 2012) was described by Barnes and Noble as “simultaneously a bildungsroman à la Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, an homage to zombies in pop culture and a twisted mystery all wrapped up into one utterly original—and darkly delightful—novel” and Matthew Quick (author of The Silver Linings Playbook) called it “an irreverent and twisted coming-of-age story with one of the most shocking endings I’ve ever read.”
TESTIMONIALS
"Ross Angelella is extremely personable and has a positive way of presenting his comments and criticisms. I highly recommend his services. When the edits and suggestions were done, we met via Skype and talked about how the idea for my novel came about, then reviewed all his editorial notations, as well as principles and examples of good dialog, reworking the point of view in one section, and ideas for rewriting certain portions of the manuscript to improve overall flow and find means other than dialog for ‘showing’ the story and moving it forward. Ross took the time to answer all my questions."
-Ernestine B. Colombo, Author of 'Returning Souls: A novel'
“A professional to the last dot and dash—J.R. Angelella thoroughly and effectively edited my manuscript. He provided balanced and specific direction for filling the voids where plot or dialogue fell short. His feedback was genuine and unfiltered, and he instinctively had an uncanny ability to understand my writer’s voice. I would highly recommend J.R. Angelella’s professional and compassionate approach to the editing process.”
-Sharon CassanoLochman, Author of 'Man with the Sand Dollar Face: A novel'
"Ross Angelella’s critique was thorough, respectful, and thought-provoking. Everything I’d hoped it would be. I knew there was something 'off' with my manuscript, as I’d received rejections that indicated I was close, but not quite there. I needed Ross to help me identify my manuscript’s weaknesses; he made great suggestions. A revision can be overwhelming, but Ross’s approach—breaking down his editorial letter into distinct topics—helped me devise a plan. I especially appreciate Ross’s suggestion to slow the pace of the reveal and get more into the mindset of my main character, as painful as that might be. I highly recommend Ross and would work with him again."
-Kathleen Blasi, Author of 'Aftermath: A novel'
Languages
English (US)
Fiction
Crime & Mystery
Horror
Literature
Short Story
Thriller
Young Adult & Teen
Certifications
- MFA in Fiction Writing (Bennington College, 2009)
- BA in English Literature & Creative Writing (Ithaca College, 2002)
Awards
- The Coachella Review - Short Story Grand Prize (2012)
Work experience
Lecturer
Towson Univeristy
January, 2016
–
Present
(over 2 years)
Concept and Story Development | Introduce students to concept development and storytelling methods through a variety of screen treatment writing assignments and presentations. Students generate ideas and stories for projects in electronic media and film. Course Objectives: to provide a foundation in story development, which is the genesis for all forms of media and for all genres within that media; to help each student learn the fundamentals of storytelling and conceptual development, and to cultivate her/his own individual voice as a storyteller by combining lecture, class discussion, and workshops; to recognize that all people are individuals who have their own personal experience from which to draw; to learn critical and analytical skills and to become skilled at engaging others in intellectual, analytical, and aesthetic discourse about their own work, as well as the work of others; and to enhance and encourage creativity and risk-taking.
Broadcast and Film Writing | Teach students to write non-fiction and fiction scripts for broadcast media and film through both lecture, film screenings and intense workshopping of material. Course Objectives: to understand the basic vocabulary of film and video production; recognize the script’s role within the overall goals of production; comprehend the attitudes necessary for successful script writing; understand the appropriate formats for specific projects; develop strategies for conceptualizing a project in visual terms; develop a writing style that has simplicity and clarity; analyze and order scripts into appropriate sequencing; understand dramatic elements as they apply to script writing; adapt materials from other media to the needs of film and video.
Lecturer
University of Maryland, College Park
August, 2014
–
Present
(about 4 years)
Educate students on professional writing rhetorical strategies and skills required for effective workplace writing and communication necessary for success in their careers, such as how to identify and analyze audiences; establish credibility; research topics in a specific professional discipline; and write and edit for readability and suitability to audience and purpose. Course objectives: to understand how writing contributes to students’ formation as professionals; to understand the various roles that documents play in their particular field; to research the genres and styles particular to their intended career field; to design projects that exemplify a particular genre and style; to craft sentences, paragraphs, sections, chapters, visual complements, and entire documents for maximum clarity and accessibility to a specific, declared audience; to collaborate with others in evaluating and improving one another’s work; to integrate visual rhetoric into documents; and to develop documents for employment and professional school applications.
Freelance Editor & Writer
Self-employed
June, 2009
–
Present
(about 9 years)
Ross Angelella has been a freelance writer since 2009, penning numerous work-for-hire manuscripts, including three Nancy Drew mysteries under the pen name Carolyn Keene and one Hardy Boys Clue Book under Franklin W. Dixon. He also has been a freelance editor since 2015 when his wife, Kate Angelella, founded Angelella Editorial -- a full-service craft-based editing agency, providing professional, in-depth and honest critiques to writers across multiple platforms. AE specializes in editing Young Adult, New Adult and Literary fiction as well as genre fiction, including: Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller and Crime fiction. The mission is simple: working with writers to develop their skills, hone their craft, and discover their own unique voice.
Writing Instructor
Gotham Writing Workshop, New York City
January, 2010
–
August, 2012
(over 2 years)
Introduction to Creative Writing; Fiction Writing I; Fiction Writing II | Beginning, intermediate and advanced fiction writing programs offering a blend of workshops, writing sessions and lectures devoted to the fundamentals of fiction writing, inspiring students to experiment with new approaches and modes of creativity. Focused on student and professional work, emphasizing the critical reading of appropriate literary models, both historical and contemporary that demonstrate exemplary technique. Examined craft in practice, specifically story structure, point of view, character development, voice, tense, figurative language, dramatic setting, dialog and the ethics of writing fiction. Students also worked with revision, reflection, and rewriting techniques to complete and polish their short fiction.
Portfolio (10 selected works)
Zombie
J.R. Angelella
A zombie movie-obsessed teen is forced to face a dark family secret in this shocking debut literary novel from a talented new author. Fourteen-year-old Jeremy Barker attends an all-boys Catholic high school where roving gangs of bullies make his days a living hell. His mother is an absentee pillhead, his older brother a self-diagnosed sex-addict, and his father disappears night after night wit... read more
Travels with the Doggie Lama
Lily Tanzer
AMAZON #1 NEW RELEASE AND #1 BESTSELLERLife in the middle of a big city can be scary. Lily, a young professional living alone in Houston during the mid-1980s, experiences a frightening brush with a near-home invasion. The disturbing episode is the impetus to seek out a home security system: a dog. Fear pushes Lily to purchase her new companion without thinking through the details and she finds... read more
Returning Souls
Ernestine B. Colombo
The Man with the Sand Dollar Face
Sharon CassanoLochman
Who Done It?
Jon Scieszka
A star-studded anthology with a devilish hook, whose proceeds benefit 826nyc: the fabulous literacy non-profit founded by Dave Eggers. Can you imagine the most cantankerous book editor alive? Part Voldemort, part Cruella de Vil (if she were a dude), and worse in appearance and odor than a gluttonous farm pig? A man who makes no secret of his love of cheese or his disdain of unworthy authors? T... read more
Carolyn Keene's iconic girl detective Nany Drew's cases are more mysterious than ever with three-book arcs!
When the cash box is stolen from the local carnival, all signs point to Ned as the thief. He couldn’t possibly have done this—or could he? But, as with all of Nancy’s cases, this goes much deeper than a few missing bucks as she uncovers a plot involving financial mismanagement and finger-pointing. Nancy manages to solve the mystery of the missing cash, but uncovers more trouble along the way. ... read more
It's time for the final ceremony of the River Heights Celebration, where four candiates are going for the Mahoney Scholarhip. All four are equally qualified--and equally worthy suspects behind the strange occurances that have been happening at the carnival. Arson, theft and threatening notes all combine to provide a stunning conclusion to the Sabotage Mystery Trilogy. Can Nancy finally figure ... read more
Scavenger Hunt Heist (Hardy Boys Clue Book)
Franklin W. Dixon
Detective brothers Frank and Joe must solve another intriguing mystery in the fifth book in the interactive Hardy Boys Clue Book series.Frank and Joe are excited for the class trip to Bayport Bear Park. When they arrive, the entire class is greeted with a beautiful sight: a pile of prizes and goodies in the middle of the room! Their guide, Marnie, explains that they will be split into teams to... read more
The Literary Review: Manifest Destiny
The Literary Review, Illan Stavans, Kelly Cherry, R.A. Allen, Michiah Bay Gault, R. G. Evans, Clea Roberts, Nina Berberova, Erica McAlpine, Lawrence Venuti, A.K. Scipioni, Pablo Neruda, Paul Ruffin, David McGlynn
America's premiere literary quarterly explores themes of domination, politics, the public mind, the literary sensibility, and where imagination locks horns with free will. There are poems, stories, essays, gun shows, tennis matches, bad diets, and blizzards. Read curiously. Read bravely. Read more TLR.
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