Writing Short Stories/Expert Profile


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Expertise

I have a bachelor of arts degree in English and a master of fine arts degree in creative writing (fiction). I have over 15 years of experience as an editor and writer in magazine and book publishing. I currently work as a freelance editor and writer.

Experience in the area

I grew up on the Sisseton/Wahpeton Sioux Tribe Indian Reservation in Sisseton, South Dakota. After high school I attended college at Minnesota State University in Fargo/Moorhead. After receiving my BA in English, I stayed in Fargo/Moorhead for two years, working as a proofreader, a librarian assistant, a cocktail waitress, and in customer service. I then moved to Colorado to attend Colorado State University, where I worked as Associate Editor for The Colorado Review while pursuing my master's degree. After I graduated, I was able to stay in Colorado when I got a job as an editor and writer for Cottonwood Press, a small publisher specializing in supplemental books for teachers of English and language arts.

Organizations

Member of The Colorado Authors' League

Publications

I am the author of "A Sentence a Day: Short, Playful Proofreading Exercises" (Prufrock Press, 2007).

Education/Credentials

BA, English, Minnesota State University, 1995; MFA, Creative Writing, Colorado State University, 1999

What do you like about this subject?

I like the fact that good stories simultaneously teach and entertain.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

I hope to further develop and refine my writing style and publish my own work.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Don't let what you don't know inhibit your writing. After all, one of the most beloved writers of children's books--Dr. Suess--never had children.

Average Ratings

Recent Reviews from Users

Read More Comments

    K = Knowledgeability    C = Clarity of Response    P = Politeness
UserDateKCPComments
Catherine01/06/111010Thank you Samantha, I appreciate your quick .....
Robert12/17/10101010Thank you! The magazine route does seem .....
Phil10/31/10101010 
Lee10/05/10101010 
Fiona09/04/10101010 

Recent Answers from Samantha Prust

2011-11-29 short story:

Hi Kiran!    Thanks for your question. A trick I learned from a writing professor to generate ideas is to get a stack of paper, cut it up into equal squares, and divide them up equally into three groups

2011-01-05 Using book titles in writing stories:

I am not a copyright expert, and I don't feel comfortable answering this question. Let me give you my opinion instead. Please check with a copyright expert about this issue if you are in doubt. My opinion

2010-12-15 Publishing short stories:

Hi Robert,    I appreciate your thanking me. You are welcome! You are on the right track with both options. Short stories do get published in a single volume. However, as a new, unpublished writer, you

2010-09-21 'word etchings':

Dear Lee,    I'm sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your question. I apologize.     About your "word etchings," yes, there are publishers that accept work directly from authors. You need to check

2010-07-09 Formatting for dialogue in a story:

Yes, you need spacing just between the first line of dialogue and the second sentence to make it clear who is speaking.          "What was that for? Sheesh! If this is what I get for trying to help you

 

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