Scott Lax

Scott Lax is a Senior Professor of Practice in Creative Writing at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), specializing in Screenwriting. He holds a BA in English from Hiram College. His academic roles include teaching and mentoring, alongside his prolific career as a novelist, playwright, filmmaker, and drummer. Lax has been honored with the 2025 Dan Tranberg Teaching Excellence Award, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference scholarships, and multiple film festival awards. His work spans novels, screenplays, and stage plays, including The Year That Trembled (novel and film), Vengeance Follows, and the stage adaptation 1970. His writing explores themes of human conflict, historical context, and emotional depth. Lax also performs with notable musicians like Bo Diddley.

Key achievements include six journalism awards, the Sewanee Writers Conference fellowship, and recognition for his novels as 'milestones in fiction.' He produced feature films and contributes to media outlets like Cleveland Magazine. Recent projects include screenwriting partnerships and public talks on screenwriting and film.