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helping authors write about their lives, their big ideas, and matters of personal and public interest and import.

Working with authors to produce book-length manuscripts has helped me see clearly that:

Appealing to readers is hard work

When it comes to the ideas we care about most—the very thoughts that make us want to write in the first place—there can be a gap between sensing the value of our projects and ideas and communicating that value convincingly.

I help authors bridge that gap between what’s “meaningful to me and mine” and what might have meaning for readers who pick up a book with anything from passing curiosity to expert interest.

Brilliance is often buried

Often, we bury our best and most exciting insights.

No matter the topic, the experience, the person, or how little or much I may know about it and them at the start of any collaboration, I help locate authors’ most intelligent insights, novel ideas, and utterly unique ways of saying. I love finding those brilliant nuggets and ensuring that they get the emphasis they deserve.

Writing a book is a transformative process

Whether reflecting on a lifetime of experiences and relationships or formulating a book-length argument on a topic of public interest, authors discover things about themselves during the process of writing.

I consider it a privilege when authors invite me to think along with them, collaborate to develop their ideas and stories, and cheer their progress. Witnessing that transformation and its effects is a reward I do not take for granted.

Your ideas, your words, your voice, my guidance.

Ghostwriting

When I ghostwrite your book, you are the author, and I am the person whose expertise enables you to expand and carry forward your initial vision until it becomes a full and polished manuscript, ready for presentation to an agent or publisher or ready for self-publication.

My ethical commitments, personal preferences, and deep appreciation for developing ideas in conversation and in partnership with others ensures that all my clients are thoroughly engaged with me in thinking about and talking through outlines, chapters, arguments, paragraphs, and even particular phrasings.

Developmental Editing

When I doctor an existing manuscript, or offer what’s called a developmental edit, we focus primarily on structure—of the book in its entirety, of chapters, paragraphs, and sentences—with storytelling, organization, argumentative clarity, tone, and transitions top of mind.

Process Navigation

Sometimes what authors most need is support throughout the writing process, a person with whom to check in on a regular basis, and someone to recommend additional services and resources in response to changing needs and milestones achieved.

I value the expertise of individuals and organizations who specialize in the aspects of book writing and production not mentioned here and can provide referrals and connections to help clients take those next steps following manuscript production. Determining my role in your writing process is part of our work together.

The product of our work together will always be yours: your ideas, your words, in your voice.

About me

Before turning full-time to working with nonfiction book authors, I spent nearly two decades in conversation with individual researchers, scholars, and college students coaching them through the writing process, helping develop their ideas, and editing their expression.

Since 2018, I’ve helped bring over 20 nonfiction books to publication in categories including healthcare, business strategy, leadership, psychology, and memoir and on topics including global reproductive health, gender equity, race equity, U.S. government partnerships, workplace accountability, stress management, project management, artificial intelligence, personal relationship dynamics, and patient safety solutions. Clients have included leaders in technology, financial services, real estate, interior design, aviation, marketing, and non-governmental organizations.

Together, let’s shape your story.

“Jennifer is a careful and enthusiastic listener. I am so grateful to have worked with her as my writing partner on this journey.”

—Interior Design Entrepreneur

“My collaborator, Jennifer, made my ideas so much clearer, and her bountiful laugh made the writing of this book so much fun. Her gift is to bring out the best in people.”

—Global Nonprofit CEO

“Our ‘voice’ always sounds better when we are unencumbered by process and free to ideate, create, and flow outside traditional bounds. My hands can never type quickly enough to keep up with my thoughts, and I have always been more creative in talking things out aloud with others than plotting away by myself. This is especially true when talking with a conversation partner who is a great listener and asks all the right questions at exactly the right times. Jen is such a total rock star for being there with me every word of the way.”

—Technology founder and CEO