Hello, I’m
Morissa Young
and I’m a Midwesterner, a writer, and an editor at Milkweed Editions. I spent the last three years in coastal North Carolina, earning my MFA in poetry while working as a teaching assistant and social media manager at UNCW’s Publishing Laboratory, a spread designer for Ecotone, a publishing staff member at Lookout Books, and a freelance editor, copyeditor, and proofreader. My work appears or is forthcoming in NELLE, Frozen Sea, A Velvet Giant, and elsewhere. I enjoy plants, aquariums, and my cat.
Writing
where to find my work
Published
“Taxidermy” — A Velvet Giant, Issue 10, October 2024
lyric essay
Pushcart Prize nominee
“Afterimage” — Frozen Sea, Issue 5, August 2024
poetry
Forthcoming
“Grumpy Girl Goes to the Gun Club” — NELLE, Issue 8, Spring 2025
prose poetry
Testimonials
nice things people have said about me
It’s hard to articulate just how indispensable Morissa immediately made herself within our team. I can’t count the number of embarrassing mistakes she saved us from making. While not easy, anyone can memorize a style guide; what Morissa brought to her editorial work was so much more than that. It was a deep care for the work, for the author’s voice and goals. I can say without hesitation that Bigger Than Bravery is a better book, a cleaner, truer, more nuanced book, because of the incredible time and care that Morissa invested in it.”
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—Emily Louise Smith, Lookout Books Publisher
Morissa is brilliant, both in terms of her writing and the astute feedback she gives her peers. Really one of the best critics I’ve had at the table, and she always offers her responses with confident diplomacy.”
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—Nina de Gramont, author of The Christie Affair
An absolute aesthetic gift to the program. Like The New Yorker once said of Rihanna, Morissa is ‘incapable of making a sartorial mistake.’ I look up to her kindness, her beauty, her humor, and her words.”
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—Kyle Alderdice, author of Between
It's difficult to know where to begin with Morissa as all of the work she does is so exemplary. She arrived to this class already a skillful editor and with an enormous amount of passion for grammar and copyediting. I know the other students learned an incredible amount from her. Throughout the semester, Morissa exceeded expectations in everything she did. From leading a class copyedit, to discussing others' copyedits, to discussions about editing and anthologies, to her developmental edit on a piece of fiction, Morissa always did truly excellent work. She found factual errors and inconsistencies that professional editors had not and was always able to articulate the reasons behind her more subjective editorial suggestions.”
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—Dr. Michelle Donahue, Ecotone Associate Editor
Morissa is so wonderful, makes class very engaging, and is always very available for students.”
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—undergraduate Introduction to Publishing student
Morissa Young’s demeanor is quiet in the best way. She exudes a kindness I wish I could bottle up. Her work in the Pub Lab has been tremendous. I know she’ll go on to great things.”
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—anonymous UNCW MFA student
Morissa brought an aura of grace and aplomb to the program. She is always kind to everyone, and helped me a great deal with my poetry and in bookbuilding. Morissa’s poetry is both funny and beautiful, and I always enjoyed getting to hear her read. I loved how Morissa never tried to compete with anyone or bought into the cliqueiness. She doesn’t need to as she is grace itself personified. I have no doubt that Morissa will be successful, no matter what path she chooses.”
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—anonymous UNCW MFA student
Connect with Me
Send me a message if you’re interested in working together!
