Suzanne Uchytil

I see the world in stories.

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A weeping willow, a mail carrier, a droplet of water, a mythological being—I want to know their stories.

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Perhaps my fondness for story-gathering and storytelling is in part due to a lifetime of new experiences. I’ve moved over twenty times so far, including to places like Madrid and Moscow. (And speaking of Moscow, if you’re struggling with my last name, don’t sweat it; no matter how you pronounce it, you’ll be correct in some language.) Through these travels I've learned that every person has an engaging tale waiting to be told. So I decided I wanted to help people share their stories with the world. 

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My ambitions stuck with me from childhood into adulthood. When I enrolled in the undergraduate editing and publishing program at Brigham Young University, I studied Russian on the side and dabbled in graphic design. I became the project manager for an on-campus internship project where my team and I translated and edited a book about the history of Jews in Latvia. I interned as an editor, typesetter, and graphic designer with BYU's Faculty Publishing Service. On the side, I did freelance work editing everything from essays to short stories to novels and working as a contracted proofreader and copyeditor for publishing company Covenant Communications.

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I’ve found many opportunities to learn the ins and outs of the world of writing and publishing. For over a decade now I have pounced on every book I could find about fiction and nonfiction writing. (A few of my favorites include How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy, by Orson Scott Card; Scene and Structure, by Jack M. Bickham; and Writing Secrets, by LDS Storymakers.) Along with using books to learn as much as possible about writing, I have been a writing and editing consultant for award-winning author Sandra Grey and a beta reader for numerous authors. I've also written, designed, edited, typeset, and self-published a booklet about how to write memorable villains as a project for one of my editing classes. And I'm currently working on both a nonfiction book for writers and my first (publishable) novel. As a result of these experiences, I understand editors' and writers' points of view; I work well with writers; and I help writers feel confident in their ideas, voices, and skills. 

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If you think I'm someone you'd like to work with, please contact me. 

I welcome any and all questions! 

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PS: If you're absolutely dying to know how I pronounce my last name, here's an audio clip. 😁