He got up and sat on the edge of the bedstead with his back to the window. “It’s better not to sleep at all,” he decided. There was a cold damp draught from the window, however; without getting up he drew the blanket over him and wrapped himself in it. He was not thinking of anything and did not want to think. But one image rose after another, incoherent scraps of thought without beginning or end passed through his mind. He sank into drowsiness. Perhaps the cold, or the dampness, or the dark, or the wind that howled under the window and tossed the trees roused a sort of persistent craving for the fantastic. He kept dwelling on images of flowers, he fancied a charming flower garden, a bright, warm, almost hot day, a holiday—Trinity day. A fine, sumptuous country cottage in the English taste overgrown with fragrant flowers, with flower beds going round the house; the porch, wreathed in climbers, was surrounded with beds of roses. A light, cool staircase, carpeted with rich rugs, was decorated with rare plants in china pots. He noticed particularly in the windows nosegays of tender, white, heavily fragrant narcissus bending over their bright, green, thick long stalks. He was reluctant to move away from them, but he went up the stairs and came into a large, high drawing-room and again everywhere—at the windows, the doors on to the balcony, and on the balcony itself—were flowers. The floors were strewn with freshly-cut fragrant hay, the windows were open, a fresh, cool, light air came into the room. The birds were chirruping under the window, and in the middle of the room, on a table covered with a white satin shroud, stood a coffin. The coffin was covered with white silk and edged with a thick white frill; wreaths of flowers surrounded it on all sides. Among the flowers lay a girl in a white muslin dress, with her arms crossed and pressed on her bosom, as though carved out of marble. But her loose fair hair was wet; there was a wreath of roses on her head. The stern and already rigid profile of her face looked as though chiselled of marble too, and the smile on her pale lips was full of an immense unchildish misery and sorrowful appeal. Svidrigaïlov knew that girl; there was no holy image, no burning candle beside the coffin; no sound of prayers: the girl had drowned herself. She was only fourteen, but her heart was broken. And she had destroyed herself, crushed by an insult that had appalled and amazed that childish soul, had smirched that angel purity with unmerited disgrace and torn from her a last scream of despair, unheeded and brutally disregarded, on a dark night in the cold and wet while the wind howled

Story Editor

Hi, I’m John Matthew Fox

Stories I’ve edited have been published in the Gettysburg Review, Narrative Magazine, Green Mountains Review, Prime Number Magazine, The Rapphannock Review, and dozens of anthologies, as well as won the Montana Prize for Fiction (Finalist) and the New Millennium Writing Awards.

What I offer is called Developmental Editing. We’ll dive deep into your story’s structure, characters, pacing, dialogue, and themes, and I’ll help you identify opportunities to strengthen your narrative.

Let’s work together to make your story unforgettable.

How Does it Work?

Reading

I’ll read your short story multiple times, and give extensive, detailed feedback on things you are doing well and things you could improve.

I know it’s intimidating to send work to an editor, so let me know whether you’re looking for gentler feedback or the unvarnished truth.

Feedback

Within 7 days I’ll email you my feedback.

This includes a feedback essay of 1 – 2 pages, and also comments/edits in the margin.

At this point I’d like to hear what was helpful and if you have any questions.

Submit

You walk away with a clear revision plan, and a vastly improved short story.

You’ll be able to send this story out with confidence, knowing this is your best work.

You’ll also have a better sense of your literary gifts, as well as areas for growth.

About Me

Book: My short story collection “I Will Shout Your Name” is published by Press 53. My nonfiction book for writers is called “The Linchpin Writer.”

Publications: I’ve won the Shenandoah fiction award and the Third Coast fiction contest, as well as been a finalist for the Chicago Tribune Nelson Algren award. I’ve also published 40+ pieces of short fiction in literary journals, including Crazyhorse, Arts & Letters, and Los Angeles Review.

Teaching: For over a decade I taught creative writing at institutions like the University of Southern California and Chapman University.

Degrees: I earned two graduate degrees in creative writing, an MA from New York University and an MFA from the University of Southern California.

Short Story Writing: Over the last decade, I’ve written 900+ posts here at Bookfox on writing and short stories, as well as provided education through my YouTube Channel.

Testimonials

“Everything John wrote was very helpful and clarified some of the questions I had about the piece. I learned a lot about pacing and POV from his comments. I’m already thinking about the next story I will send him.”

Rachel Ginsberg

“I’ve been a Bookfox reader for some time, so I already knew he was talented. His editing services exceeded expectations. He helped me identify places to devote more attention and provided thoughtful ideas to begin implementing his feedback. I’ll be working with him again in the future. Can’t wait.”

Chris Jones

“John Fox edited a short story of mine. I’d been having trouble with it and had no idea how to progress. With lucid application he showed me the way around my difficulties. His criticisms were never harsh or hurtful; they were, quite simply, constructive and germane. It was a most worthwhile interaction.”

Yvonne Fein

“John has an editor’s mind, a writer’s eye, and a teacher’s mentality. He challenged me to identify a deeper vision for my work, then cultivate my stories to achieve that vision in the most compelling way possible. I’ve never revised more thoroughly, and I’ve never been more pleased with the results. He gave me the feedback I needed to submit my MFA applications with confidence.”

Mason David Boyles

“The story John edited was chosen as a Finalist in The Montana Prize for Fiction. His edits were good, and importantly, gave me the confidence to enter at all.”

Catherine Baab

“John provides just the right combination of encouragement and solid feedback that can greatly improve a piece of fiction. What I particularly like about John’s approach is his ability to understand where a writer is developmentally and speak to him or her on that level.”

Maisie Wheeler

“John was extremely helpful and very honest. All of his thoughtful comments made total sense. Will definitely use him again.”

Karen Sherwood

“John provided prompt and complete editing services for my compendium of short stories. His insights and suggestions are spot on. Although I did not change or implement all of them, I did most. I made errors in points of view and past/present references, all of which he caught. I can endorse his services without reservation.”

David M. Mokotoff

“John helped me edit a short story that I recently submitted for publication. His feedback is concise and insightful. He blends support with sharp-eyed critique. If there are post-edit questions he answers them in detail. Working with John serves as a great learning experience.”

Terry Williams

“I learned more from John’s edits than I’ve learned from my last three writing classes combined.”

Lee Waxenberg

“John provided a thoughtful analysis that pointed out many things that I’d missed. He also was kind and gentle in delivering constructive criticism, and effusive with praise where he felt it due. I am so glad that I trusted my book to Bookfox because I know that the finished product will be measurably better for it.”

Samantha Hobden Stringert

“I used a story John helped me edit as support material for a grant application, and I have received $25,000 in funding to write and illustrate more books. I couldn’t thank him enough.”

Tasneem Dairywala

My Pricing

5,000 words or less: $500  

5,000 – 8,000 words: $650

8,000 – 12,000 words: $850

If you write flash fiction (under 1000 words each), I treat 3 stories as a single short story: $500.

I am no longer offering editing for short story collections, unfortunately, due to time constraints.

Buy Now via Paypal or Credit Card

After paying, email me your story:

Have Questions?

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