Overview
As an award-winning author edited by the finest editors in the industry and a professor of creative writing, I find that sweet spot of encouragement and clear guidance, so you'll be excited to tackle your next revision. I pinpoint undeveloped scene areas and give big picture thinking to sculpt the larger work. I am intuitive, kind, and rigorous. I offer in-manuscript response, Zoom conferences, and well-organized edit letters that walk you through the revision process.
I am widely published with 7 novels, 3 nonfiction books, 2 screenplays, and many short stories, essays and articles (with more on the way), so I 'get' how a writer thinks. I know how to nurture a writer's voice, while coming up with exciting choices and improvements. I've also worked as a magazine editor, journalist, and in-house communications professional, and can help a writer locate the essence of a nascent idea.
I edit and coach adult, young adult, & middle grade fiction and nonfiction.
Services can include:
Brainstorming
Accountability structures
Generative prompts
Story mapping
Scene work
Sculpting for dramatic shape & pacing
Editorial assessment
Developmental Editing of full manuscript
"Marina is so smart and clear I found myself jazzed on her ideas, and couldn’t wait to get back to work." --Bonnie Friedman, author of Don't Stop
"If you have the opportunity to avail yourself of Marina's fantastic brain and insight, jump on it!"--Karen Essex, author of Kleopatra
"I couldn’t have published my debut novel, City Girls, without her expertise, guidance, and insight," Loretta Lopez, author of City Girls.
"Marina helped me find the structure and shape of my novel, which I had been writing for four years."--Jaime Manrique, author of Our Lives
Services
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Awards
- National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
- Fulbright Scholar
- New Jersey Arts Fellowship
- Rona Jaffe Award for Women Writers
- Walter Award Honor
- YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Honor
- Asian Pacific Award for Literature YA Honor
- EMMA, Exceptional Merit Media Award
- Los Angeles Times Book Finalist
- Kirkus Best Book
Certifications
- We Need Diverse Books Mentor
Work experience
William Paterson University
I served as a professor of creative writing, leading our graduate seminar where students developed and finished their manuscripts, creative and scholarly; taught a wide range of creative writing classes, in fiction and nonfiction, beginner to advanced; and led a seminar on book and magazine publishing, teaching the nuts and bolts of the industry.
MARINA
As a professor emerita of creative writing, an award-winning author of adult and children's/YA fiction and nonfiction, and an intuitive, pragmatic coach/editor I've guided hundreds of writers, many of whom have gone on to publish. I help writers brainstorm and 'grow' their ideas into plausible projects; provide accountability and creative prompts for continuing the work; give scene and section feedback for effective writing; and offer deep, insightful developmental editing to sculpt a final manuscript. I am especially strong at giving writers very specific, clear feedback that gets them motivated and energized about the steps ahead to realize the promise of their ideas.
Portfolio
Marina has 1 review
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Alex S.
Nov, 2024