Michael Tager – Editor

I'm a editor, publisher, writer and editor from Baltimore. I have a BA in English, a BS in Psychology, an MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing and minors in Communication and Theater. In other words, getting words and meaning from one place to another is kind of my "thing."

I am widely published in literary journals, anthologies, scientific journals and magazines, though I'm mostly an editor and publisher these days. I play hop scotch with genres and have written lit fiction, horror, poetry, journalism, listicles, personal essay, and others.

In addition to my writing, I have edited dozens of books and anthologies in all capacities: an independent publisher, a literary citizen and a freelancer. As Managing Editor of Mason Jar Press, I've shepherded 25 books into the world, with many more currently in development. This process includes reading and solicitation, months of editing, design and marketing. I'm incredibly proud of the work I've done and I absolutely love it. There's very little as rewarding as helping create a piece of art and putting it into the world. My job is the best.

One of the books I've edited, How to Sit, was a finalist for the 2019 PEN Open Books Awards and another, Continental Breakfast, was a finalist for the 2019 Midwest Booksellers Choice Awards. Books that I've published have been reviewed in Publisher's Weekly, the NY Times, and elsewhere. Two have been translated into other languages, one was optioned, and all of them are amazing.

I don't write as much anymore because, while I'm a very good writer, I'm a much better editor. I'm love developmental editing and bringing a book along. I enjoy finding the heart of a manuscript and building around it to make the final product the absolute best version of itself that it can be.

My degrees are in fiction and I'm great at prose work. I've had a lot of success as a poet (my own book forthcoming in 2024) and truly enjoy collaborations with poets. And of the books I've published, the most successful was nonfiction. So try me with all genres.

While I specialize in developmental editing, I am versed in proofreading and copyediting and enjoy every phase of a book's birth. I am available from the very earliest stages of book creation up until the very end. Should you wish a long-term partner to walk you through the writing process, I can do that. If you need a final spit-and-polish, I love that too.