E.Y. Zhao is a writer and editor from St. Louis.

She holds an MFA in fiction from the University of Michigan and BA in history from Harvard College.

Her debut novel, UNDERSPIN, is forthcoming from Astra House in fall 2025.

Writing

Fiction

“Achilles,” The Georgia Review, forthcoming

“Big Uncle in Havana,” The Harvard Advocate, 2017

Interviews

Interview with Kat Tang, Electric Literature, August 2024

Awards & Fellowships

2024 Georgia Review Prose Prize, Finalist

2023 Hopwood Novel Award

2023 Geoffrey James Gosling Prize

2019 Scholar, New York State Summer Writers Institute

2019 Le Baron Russell Briggs Prize

Editing services

I have experience editing a range of fiction and nonfiction. I can work with you to brainstorm writing strategies, sharpen themes and structures, create a plan for revision, and polish at the sentence level. Writing is daunting and I love helping people discover the strengths of their own voices.

Rates here are starting estimates; please reach out with a description of your project and I can work with you on rate and timeline.

  • Developmental edits and revision strategy: 5 cents/words

    Sentence-level editing and standard copy-editing: 3 cents/words.

  • Fiction and creative nonfiction up to 10K words.

    Reach out with project description and word count for individual rates.

  • Portfolio and essay review; advice on application strategy.

    Reach out for rates with an approximate word count. I am happy to work with you on your individual situation and ability to pay.

  • Consultation and editing for college and graduate school applications, fellowship applications, articles, and more

    200 dollars/hour for written work.

    50 dollars/hour for brainstorming.

Contact

Literary agent: Julia Kardon at HG Literary

Editing and personal inquiries: form or ey.zhao.527@gmail.com