Marija Stajic is a fiction writer, creative writing instructor, and developmental editor. She has also worked as a writer and content manager for a U.S. federal agency, where she developed and edited professional communications for public-facing materials.

For over 12 years, she has taught revision and publication-focused courses at The Writer’s Center, where she also served as the Undiscovered Voices Fellow. Through this work, she has guided writers in strengthening their manuscripts, refining their stories, and preparing for publication.

Her work has appeared in The Hopkins Review, Prairie Schooner, Dr. T.J. Eckleburg Review, Gargoyle, and other literary journals. Her fiction has received recognition from Best Small Fictions 2021, the Neoverse Short Story Award, and Pushcart Prize nominations.

She previously worked at The New Yorker as a fact-checker, translator, and cultural consultant. She brings a deep editorial eye, international perspective, and strong grounding in language, structure, and narrative craft to her work with writers.

Through The Ready Draft, she works with fiction writers to develop, revise, and strengthen their manuscripts—from early drafts through publication readiness. Her focus is developmental editing, story shaping, and practical guidance through the publishing process, including agent and submission strategy.

She holds degrees in Literature and Slavic Studies from the University of Niš and in International Journalism from American University in Washington, D.C., and is represented by Tobias Literary Agency. Her novel is currently on submission and has been shortlisted in multiple novel competitions.

For inquiries: thereadydraft@gmail.com