Editorial Portfolio

See also my resume and writing credits

Education:

• Southern New Hampshire University, Masters of Business Administration
  • Expected to graduate January 2028.
• Southern New Hampshire University, B.A. in English (Creative Writing, concentration on Fiction) and a minor in Psychology.
  • Graduated cum laude in May 1st, 2025.
• Modesto Junior College, A.A. in History.
  • Transferred to SNHU before attaining.

Professional Experience:

• The Arcanist: Fantasy Publishing, LLC (previously: The Arcanist's Refuge). Sole owner. Freelance practice since September, 2019. LLC established in January, 2025.
• Production, development, and editing of Fantasy fiction and Table-Top Roleplaying Game (TTRPG) products.
• Five published novels, digital and in print.
• Built a thriving periodical publication with two published issues and four forthcoming.
• Maintained twice-monthly online publicaton without interruption since establishing full operation in Janauary 2025.

• Full-o-Pep Appliances, Inc. (DBA: American Rental Home Furnishings). Information Technology Specialist. Full-time employment since June, 2023.
• Internal development and editing of technical documentation for IT staff.
• Research and data analysis, reported directly to CTO.
• Developed internal newsletter, writing articles, editing employee submissions, and designing layout for print.

• The Literary Fantasy Magazine. Editor-in-Chief. Established in July, 2024.
• Managed submissions, volunteer staff, contracted staff, creative planning, and all business operations.
• Worked directly with dozens of authors, offering author-first editorial development for accepted manuscripts.

Completed Novel Projects:

• Old Sorcery (Novel, about 70k words, Developmental and Copy Editor, Layout Designer, PR and Marketing, 2026)
• Writer: James Callan
• Currently funding on BackerKit. Funded in two hours, over $2,500 raised in first three days.

• The Weight of a Torch (Novella, about 25k words, Developmental and Copy Editor, PR and Marketing, 2026)
• Writer: Alex Ward
• Published in online serial, paperback forthcoming.

• Ashen Rider (Novel, about 50k words, Author and Layout Designer, 2025)
• Funded successfully on Kickstarter. Funded in twelve hours, with $1,795 raised by end of the campaign.

• A Valley of Shadow (Novella, about 25k words, Developmental Editor, PR and Marketing, 2025)
• Writer: Lee Patton
• Testimony: "James brings together a powerful complement of skills, possessing great technical knowledge of English grammar and structure, paired with expert knowledge of writing craft and storytelling techniques. James is an editor that can bring out the absolute best in works of both fiction and nonfiction, producing polished pieces for publication."

Ongoing Editorial Projects:

• The Frost Bride (Novel, about 50k words, Developmental and Copy Editor, Layout Designer, PR and Martketing, 2026)
• Writer: Lee Patton

• Pep Talk (Periodical, Lead Editor, Columnist and Layout Designer, July 2025)
• Seasonal newsletter for Full-o-Pep Appliances, Inc.

Completed Editorial Projects:

• The King of Kings (Short Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, February 2026)
• Writer: Baldwin E. Hart

• Acorn, Honey, Fat, and Foxglove (Short Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, January 2026)
• Writer: Blaize M. Kaye

• Sky Over Mountain (Short Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, December 2025)
• Writer: James Callan

• All but Guaranteed (Serial Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, November 2025)
  • Writer: Lee Patton
• The Samurai's Quest (Short Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, October 2025)
  • Writer: Lyssa Reese
• Red Town (Short Fiction, Copy Editor, September 2025)
  • Writer: James Callan
• The Lost King's Curse (Short Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, August 2025)
  • Writer: Michael Goe

• The Literary Fantasy Magazine: Summer 2025 (Periodical, Lead Editor and Layout Designer, July 2025)

  • Contributing writers: Cale Rubenstein, Catherine Yeates, Charlie Freelander, David Henson, DJ Tyrer, Ed Kratz, Eden Louisa, Jake Nuttall, James C. Clar, Mica Smith, Miles Lizak, Raima Larter, Stefano Ronchi, Tony Daly, Victoria Roskams, and Yucheng Tao, and myself.
    • Testimony from Cale Rubenstein, contributor: "James was a fantastic editor to work with for my recent story. He made both copy and structural edits that significantly improved the quality and clarity of my piece, while also letting me know what parts of the story worked well. As a new writer, these comments were extremely helpful and gave me lessons I incorporate into my future stories. Beyond that, he was very friendly, professional, and responsive. I would definitely work with James again!"

• Synchrony (Serial Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, July 2025)

  • Writer: Alex Ward
    • Testimony: "James was a positive collaborator, the editing process was smooth and collaborative. I appreciated in particular that James was willing to accept certain grammar structures and ways of phrasing that I feel are important to my voice, with no fuss whatsoever. I also think he's got a knack for revision that preserves the original intent while making the overall flow better, all while maintaining the mood of the story."
    • To be expanded into a novella.

• Demons (Short Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, June 2025)

  • Writer: James Callan

    • Testimony: "Working with James has been a thoroughly pleasant experience. I was very impressed by the frequent, but subtle changes he applied, which did not alter the authentic voice of my story, or its writing, but made it better throughout. I started with a story I was already satisfied with, but after working with James, I had a story that was streamlined and polished--something I was truly proud of.

      I’ve had a lot of experience working with editors over the years, and while I used to recoil from the process of my writing being “tampered with,” I have learned that good editing is an essential step towards achieving the best possible iteration of any story. A good editor isn’t just a word surgeon ready to cut away with their knife; a really good editor is a magician with the ability to cast a spell over a story. I’m not talking about turning a frog into a prince. Nothing so drastic! I’m talking about taking a good story, honoring its narrative by allowing it to remain what it is, yet applying the changes that make it better, more realized, and whole.

      James is a fantastic editor. I wouldn’t put it past him…He just might be a magician."

• Drunk and Disorderly (Short Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, May 2025)

  • Writer: Clark Sodersten

• Old Sorcery (Short Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, March 2025)

  • Writer: James Callan.

• The Weight of a Torch (Serial Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, February 2025)

  • Writer: Alex Ward.
    • To be expanded into a novella.

• The Wizard's Wife (Short Fiction, Developmental and Copy Editor, January 2025)

  • Writer: Alli Miller.
    • Testimony: "His suggestions were on point, and kept the feeling of what I was going for. The ones I didn't change/agree with, he understood why I didn't feel like [the story] needed it. He was willing to work with my weird work schedule!"

• The Literary Fantasy Magazine: Winter 2025 (Periodical, Lead Editor and Layout Designer, January 2025)

  • Contributing writers: Alicia Alves, Aubrey Zahn, Courtney Chester, DJ Tyrer, Frank William Finney, Grant Sable, James Callan, John Mueter, Lee Patton, Maria Spence, Menke HB, T.J. Young, and William L. Ramsey, and myself.

• Shepherd (Flash Fiction, Copy Editor, July 2024)

  • Writer: Lee Patton.

• Hard to be the Bard (TTRPG Product, Lead Editor and Layout Designer, September 2021)

  • Contributing writers: Colin Caelin, Nick Stefanski, Basil Wright, Christopher Harding, Sean Finley, Nate Trier, and myself.
    • Testimony from Dane Bankston, Co-Editor: "I’ve worked with James Mills on a number of projects including a tabletop game supplement called 'Hard to Be the Bard,' where he took on the role not only of team leader, but writer, editor, and layout designer. He has a strong eye for detail and a natural ability to communicate with others to reach a common goal. Collaborating with him has produced what I feel to be exceptional work in no small part due to his diligence and commitment to quality regardless of the size of the project."

• Absolute Villainy (TTRPG Product, Lead Editor and Layout Designer, 2021)

  • Contributing writers: Dane Bankston and myself.