Called “a master wordsmith of the first order” by The Midwest Book Review, Scott Lax was born in the City of Cleveland. A novelist, playwright, screenwriter, nonfiction writer, and producer, Scott works as a Lecturer of Creative Writing in the Liberal Arts Department at the Cleveland Institute of Art, where he’s taught since January 2016.
A graduate of Hiram College in English, Scott is a recipient of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference Bernard J. O'Keefe Scholarship in Nonfiction, the Sewanee Writers Conference Walter E. Dakin Fellowship in Fiction, and a Certificate of Congratulations from the City of Cleveland for his body of work.
His first novel, The Year That Trembled, was called “powerful” by The Denver Post, which named it one of 1998's "milestones in fiction." For his role as producer of the feature film version of his novel, Scott was awarded the “2002 Midwest Filmmaker of the Year”
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read moreCalled “a master wordsmith of the first order” by The Midwest Book Review, Scott Lax was born in the City of Cleveland. A novelist, playwright, screenwriter, nonfiction writer, and producer, Scott works as a Lecturer of Creative Writing in the Liberal Arts Department at the Cleveland Institute of Art, where he’s taught since January 2016.
A graduate of Hiram College in English, Scott is a recipient of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference Bernard J. O'Keefe Scholarship in Nonfiction, the Sewanee Writers Conference Walter E. Dakin Fellowship in Fiction, and a Certificate of Congratulations from the City of Cleveland for his body of work.
His first novel, The Year That Trembled, was called “powerful” by The Denver Post, which named it one of 1998's "milestones in fiction." For his role as producer of the feature film version of his novel, Scott was awarded the “2002 Midwest Filmmaker of the Year” by the Cleveland International Film Festival, as well as three additional film festival awards. The Boston Herald wrote of the movie, "Memorable…beautifully reflects the depth of experience of the late 60s and early 70s …a touching glimpse into the lives of young people enmeshed in the political and emotional climate of the times.”
Scott then adapted the novel as a two-act full-length play for high schools, which was produced at Cleveland's University School in 2003 and 2013. He’s since rewritten the play for community and professional theatres and retitled the play "1970.” The World Premiere will be at the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre during the last two weeks of September 2023.
His second novel, Vengeance Follows, was called "A minor masterpiece of suspense and human nature," by the Midwest Book Review. His screenplay adaptation of the novel is currently being shopped.
Scott is the recipient of two short fiction awards and six journalism awards from the Cleveland Press Club's Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards and the Ohio Professional Writers Association for his essays and features. He has also worked as business professional, speechwriter, and freelancer for clients such as Comedy Central, ESPN, Oracle, and the Cleveland Guardians baseball team. He's also worked in television, most recently as co-creator and co-writer with comedy legends Martin Mull and Fred Willard.
Scott is also a professional drummer who has performed with musicians around the country, including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bo Diddley.
Scott's interests include music, theatre, art, reading, movies, sports, gardening, and nature. He lives in the Chagrin Valley with his wife and son.
Committees:
• IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Awareness) Council, Lead for Institutional Statements + Actions Subcommittee
• Exhibitions + External Affairs Committee
Professional Affiliations:
• Member of The Authors Guild
• Member of The Dramatists Guild of America
