Oksana Marafioti

Oksana Marafioti – Editor

Bestselling author & editor helping writers craft compelling, publishable books across literary and genre fiction.

Overview

If you’ve come this far in your writing journey, you have something important to say and your voice deserves to be heard. I’ll work hard to help that voice shine!

I’m a bestselling, award-winning author published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, and a creative writing professor. I’ve spent over a decade helping writers transform early drafts into compelling, publishable manuscripts, whether for agents, traditional publishing, or independent release.

I specialize in memoir, literary fiction, and character-driven genre work, including fantasy, science fiction, and other speculative fiction.

My approach is both rigorous and deeply collaborative:

I strengthen structure, pacing, and narrative drive, deepen emotional impact and thematic clarity, and refine your voice without hijacking it. I will never change your style or the heart of your storytelling purpose.

Clients often come to me with a draft that “almost works.” My job is to help you turn that into a story that holds together and resonates with readers.

Because I’m also a writer, I understand how vulnerable this process can be. You’ll get honest, thoughtful feedback, but always with the goal of helping you grow, not overwhelm you.

I’m especially drawn to projects with a strong voice, emotional depth, and a clear sense of purpose, whether grounded in reality or built from an imagined world.

I’m best suited for writers who are serious about their work and open to revision. If you’re looking for a true editorial partner, we’ll work well together.

If that sounds like what you need, I’d love to hear about your project!

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Cultural & Ethnic Fantasy Literary Fiction
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • Library of Congress Kluge Center Research Fellowship
  • Picador Professorship Award for Distinguished Writing
  • Nevada Arts Council Grant
  • National Endowment for the Arts
Certifications
  • MFA in Creative Writing
  • Editorial Freelancers Association

Work experience

Inanna Publications

Jan, 2026 — Present
Serve as Co-Editor and Lead Developmental Editor of the first anthology of creative writing by North American Romani writers, overseeing developmental editing, manuscript curation, structural revisions, contributor feedback, and the anthology's editorial vision from manuscript development through publication.

Netflix

Jan, 2022 — Present
Contribute to writing and story development for film/television projects.

University of Leipzig, Germany

Aug, 2020 — May, 2021 (9 months)
Selected as the 2020 Picador Guest Professor for Literature at Leipzig University, an international literary appointment recognizing distinguished Anglo-American writers. Taught university courses and public seminars focused on literature, memoir, storytelling, and minority voices.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Aug, 2015 — May, 2017 (over 1 year)
Guest Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, teaching workshops on memoir, narrative craft, publishing, and the writing process.

Central European University, Critical Romani Studies Journal

May, 2015 — Present
My task as a co-editor of the special issue of the Critical Romani Studies Journal is to compile a list of short stories written by authors (many of them also academics) from all over the world. To ensure the highest quality of writing, I'm personally involved in all levels of the editing process, from developmental edits to proofreading. A large number of authors aren't native English speakers. My multilingual and editorial backgrounds allow me to efficiently work on grammar, syntax, semantics, and content assessment with this group of highly accomplished professionals.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

May, 2013 — Present
Teach college-level writing, literature, and creative writing, with a focus on narrative craft, revision, and critical thinking.

Library of Congress

Aug, 2012 — May, 2013 (9 months)
Served as the 2013 Kluge Fellow at the Library of Congress, conducting research on Slavic folklore, superstition, and cultural traditions while developing a book-length project. Delivered a recorded public lecture for the Library of Congress on the fellowship research.

Farrar, Straus, & Giroux

Apr, 2009 — Present
Author of American Gypsy, published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Portfolio

Proofreading
Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The Arbiter

Finch, Molly

Independently published

Developmental Editing
Unguardable (The Unguardable series)

Reece, Prince

Skyhouse Press LLC

Proofreading
My Stroke in the Fast Lane: A Journey to Recovery (A Memoir)

Brodnick, Bonni

August Willis Books & Co.

Copy Editing Proofreading
Editorial Assessment
Copy Editing Proofreading
Maria reveals her powerful and extraordinary story. Without realizing what she was doing, Rice created hell on earth before finding the strength and power to overturn all the negatives in her ... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Imago Dei

Thomas, Paul

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Devil Overlords

Murdock, Cara

Proofreading
Proofreading Book Coaching
A compelling collection of essays providing a comprehensive vision of immigration to the United States in the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries—the indispensable companion to Immigrant Voices.Filled with moving narratives by authors from around the wor... read more
When we speak of grey as a location, placing a thing into a grey area, the color represents territory where the definite becomes lost. Grey lets us know that the truth is not always clear; eve... read more
Proofreading

Oksana has 55 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Asha S.

Asha S.

Jun, 2026

Pinned
Oksana gave wonderfully detailed notes and constructive feedback, treating my story with personalized attention, sensitivity, and care. She is warm and collaborative, with strong storytelling instincts and years of professional experience that inform her brilliant work. She delivered her notes pr...
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Oksana M.
It was a pleasure to collaborate with you, Asha. I can't wait for the book to be in print!
Jessica S.

Jessica S.

Apr, 2026

Pinned
Working with Oksana was a wonderful experience. Her eagerness to read my project and understand my vision truly stood out from other editors. The insightful and encouraging comments she provided in my manuscript are helping to boost my confidence and grow as a writer. I highly recommend working w...
Read more
Oksana M.
I really appreciate your kind words, Jessica. Your manuscript read like a book I might've bought at a bookstore, which made it a very enjoyable experience.
Peter John K.

Peter John K.

Dec, 2025

Pinned
I discovered Oksana when I watched the live Reedsy’s “Anatomy of a Great Scene” presentation on April 9, 2025. It was amazing and I highly recommend anyone interested in developmental editing for their project to check out the recording! When I first saw her, I immediately knew she was someone ...
Read more
Oksana M.
Thank you so much for this incredibly thoughtful and generous review, Peter. I loved working on your project, and I’m truly grateful you trusted me with your story and your process!
Vina J.

Vina J.

Jul, 2026

Oksana was incredible with her attention to detail. Very responsive and professional. Would work with her again.
Oksana M.
You're very kind, Vina. I'm rooting for your story to get out there and help others!
Julie A.

Julie A.

Mar, 2026

Excellent. Professional. Insightful. I am very appreciative of edit recommendations.
Oksana M.
Thank you, Julie!

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