Freelance writer and editor
Jean is a persuasive writer and rigorous editor with three decades of publishing industry experience. She has a passion for cogent, beautiful prose.
Since 1992, I’ve helped create, polish, and bring to market hundreds of fiction and nonfiction books and articles for general, academic, and specialty audiences.
I’ve been gratified to see some of these publications become successful and transform their authors’ careers.
I’m proud of my reputation for friendly, confident, expert guidance. Many of my clients come back time and again because they know that if they send me their text, I’ll improve it—with great care.
The scope of my work
I work with both print and online publications.
In the fiction realm, I edit novels (including graphic novels, young adult novels, and crime thrillers) and short stories.
I refine memoirs, poetry, textbooks, essays, articles (peer-reviewed and otherwise), tutorials, white papers, workbooks, catalogs, marketing materials, and artist statements.
My nonfiction work includes—but isn’t limited to—projects related to business, economics, art, photography, science, marketing, travel, spirituality, self-help, and print and audio journalism.
“Working with Jean was a dream. She brought to my manuscript a critical and sympathetic mind: she grasped what I was after and helped me achieve it through greater clarity, accuracy, and economy. She improved the quality and precision of the writing in addition to cleaning up the copy. Working with her felt collaborative and supportive—Jean cared about my book.”
—Rosalyn Driscoll, visual artist and author of
The Sensing Body in the Visual Arts: Making and Experiencing Sculpture and Conjured from Dust
“Many years ago, when I was attempting to write my first book, Jean offered to be my editor and guide. Five books later, I cannot imagine working with anyone else. She is the perfect editor: competent, encouraging, gentle, and firm, all at the same time. It may seem strange, but I always look forward to learning from Jean's red pen.”
—Scott Rao, author of Coffee Roasting Best Practices, The Professional Barista’s Handbook, Everything But Espresso, The Coffee Roaster’s Companion, and Espresso Extraction: Measurement and Mastery
What I do
I tailor my efforts to my clients’ needs, wants, and expectations. The depth and rigor of my work depends on their preferences. If they want me to go deep, I go deep. If they want a light touch, I delicately shape the text. I help my clients publish their best work.
Writers and editors approach their tasks from different angles, but they work toward the same goal: crafting compelling text. I’ve sat on both sides of the editorial desk.
As an editor, I provide clear, coherent feedback and expert suggestions. I bring a deep knowledge of The Chicago Manual of Style, The Associated Press Stylebook, APA (American Psychological Association) style, British and US spelling and style conventions, as well as twenty-first-century issues relating to sensitivity and inclusivity in language.
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My close, careful read-through of your manuscript includes extensive margin notes and a write-up that offers suggestions for improvements. The constructive feedback addresses flow, structure, characterization, dialogue, pacing, style, and consistency.
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What’s the project about? Who’s it for? What’s the best way to structure it? What must be included and what should be left out? If you don’t know the answers to those questions (or you think you don’t need to), you need a developmental editor. My big-picture review provides in-text comments and comprehensive notes and explanations. This edit analyzes plot development, world building, narrative, syntax, consistency, and style. It also reveals the nuggets of gold buried in your project. It helps you clarify your theme, streamline the structure, strengthen characters, and smooth out pacing. This kind of edit is not for the faint of heart because it often leads to many revisions. Will that send you back to the drawing board? Well, yes, in many cases. But the end result—a well-organized, well-developed, and well-written text—will be worth the journey.
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A copy edit puts the polish on your writing. This critique inspects the details of words and sentences and focuses on the finer points of writing. It scrutinizes spelling, punctuation, and syntax. It ensures that the language is logical, clear, and grammatically correct. It watchdogs for word choice, the arrangement of words, accuracy, inconsistencies, punctuation, grammar, sense, and repetition. A copy editor makes notes such as, “When you say X, do you actually mean Y?” and “This is a British spelling convention. Is that intentional?”
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My line edit is a simpler form of a copy edit. I meticulously analyze each line of your text for structure, content, word choice, and flow between sentences and paragraphs.
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This punctilious review catches typos, errors introduced during production and layout processes, and miniscule details overlooked in previous edits.
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As an “editorial doppelgänger,” I research, plan, complete, or retool a project based on my client’s ideas.
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I create content for newspapers, books, magazines, radio, tutorials, marketing materials, travel guides, and textbooks. As the writing universe has expanded, I have taken on assignments for blogs, tutorials, and other electronic media. I occasionally produce book indexes. Editing sometimes creeps into the realm of ghostwriting; over the years, I’ve crafted quite a bit of content for my clients.
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My knowledge and experience make me a sought-after presenter on topics ranging from “Cut It Out! In Writing, Less Is More” to “You Have a Comma Problem.”
“A good editor doesn’t rewrite words, she rewires synapses.”
—S. Kelley Harrell
Alaska Airlines Magazine •
Aldus Corporation •
Barista Hustle •
Bloomsbury •
Sophy Burnham •
Dale Chihuly •
Rosalyn Driscoll •
Jonathan Gagne •
John Muir Publications •
Kehrer Verlag •
Zane Kotker •
Levellers Press •
Microsoft Corporation •
Microsoft Press •
Linda McCullough Moore •
Muswell Hill Press •
New England Public Radio •
New Europe Books •
The New York Times •
Open Learning Exchange •
Oxford University Press •
Palgrave Macmillan •
Red Trillium Press •
Routledge •
Rutgers University Press •
Scott Rao •
Seattle Weekly •
Sinauer Associates •
Rick Steves •
The Urban League of Minneapolis •
Elio Villafranca •
Alaska Airlines Magazine • Aldus Corporation • Barista Hustle • Bloomsbury • Sophy Burnham • Dale Chihuly • Rosalyn Driscoll • Jonathan Gagne • John Muir Publications • Kehrer Verlag • Zane Kotker • Levellers Press • Microsoft Corporation • Microsoft Press • Linda McCullough Moore • Muswell Hill Press • New England Public Radio • New Europe Books • The New York Times • Open Learning Exchange • Oxford University Press • Palgrave Macmillan • Red Trillium Press • Routledge • Rutgers University Press • Scott Rao • Seattle Weekly • Sinauer Associates • Rick Steves • The Urban League of Minneapolis • Elio Villafranca •
I work with…
My clients hail from all over the world. They include authors, creative professionals, publishers, editors, agents, designers, nonprofits, small businesses, and major corporations—as well as professors, psychics, rock stars, scientists, therapists, artists, historians, judges, journalists, businesspeople, musicians, and medical practitioners. I’m an expert in communications relating to cultivating, preparing, and marketing coffee.
Bestselling authors work with professional editors for a reason: to make their good stories even better. I assist authors whose projects have already been accepted by publishing houses. I also consult with indie authors, ranging from debut novelists to prizewinners on the New York Times bestsellers list.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
—Leonardo da Vinci
What matters to me
Respect, accountability, and trust make for a productive and satisfying work environment. It's great to share a few laughs, too!
Collaboration can be rigorous as well as rewarding. I promise to bring energy, compassion, and an open mind to my clients’ projects, to raise their work to new levels, by
Identifying the parts of a project that need attention
Helping to fix what needs fixing
Explaining the “why” behind my work
Providing insights that make my clients better writers
Background
I studied journalism (the University of Massachusetts) and biology (Smith College) and hold certifications in technical editing, marketing communications, and indexing. My career began with newspaper reporting in New England. My editorial skills developed and deepened in the Pacific Northwest, where my corporate work included transcribing and copyediting the texts of Bill Gates’s speeches and I moonlighted as a ghostwriter and editor for travel expert Rick Steves. Since 2002, I’ve been an independent writer and editor based in western Massachusetts.
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In my spare time, I dabble in audio journalism. I’m an amateur surfer and an unapologetic fan of pumpkin spice. I love writing indexes.
Comments from clients and collaborators
“Jean has not only helped develop my writing skills, but she has built a foundation of a deep and abiding trust that informs my work and allows me to continue to grow as a writer.”
—Robert Madrygin, author of The Solace of Trees
“Jean found the ‘heart’ in my manuscript, whittled it down to size, and corrected the grammar throughout. And she did this with my words ringing constantly in her ear: Please don’t edit out my ‘voice’, it’s all I have going for me! Jean is a professional who delivers on time and with competence, kindness, love, and compassion.”
—Gloria Squitiro, author of May Cause Drowsiness and Blurred Vision
“Jean is a clear communicator, cheerful, and generous with her expertise.”
—Rebecca Neimark, principal and book designer, Twenty-Six Letters
“Whenever I’m engaged to work on a project that Jean is working on too, I feel a sense of ease, knowing that communications will be clear and professional; pleasure that we are uniting forces to do our best for the client, whether author or publisher; and enjoyment in our rapport. Jean pays close attention to detail and is very responsive. I count myself fortunate to be her colleague.”
—Greta Sibley, book designer
“Jean has given our company a much-needed grammatical backbone, but that’s not all. After several years of collaboration, she has become someone Barista Hustle looks to for advice and mentorship. It’s not just her editor’s red pen that holds us to a high standard; it’s also her kindheartedness and obvious moral fiber.”
—Jem Challender, dean of studies, Barista Hustle, and author of the forthcoming Terroir
Fees
Potential clients should evaluate their budget and the amount of help they need. I work by hourly rate or by flat fee. My fees align with those endorsed by the Editorial Freelancers Association.
Get in touch
If you think we’d make a good team, please reach out to me. Briefly describe
Your project
The kind of editorial support you’re looking for
What you’d like to get out of our collaboration
Your writing experience
Your goals
If appropriate, include your project’s word count and the first 20 pages of your manuscript (double-spaced, embedded in the email).
If my skills match your needs, I’ll request a follow-up phone call or video chat.
Please keep in mind that good writers and editors field many inquiries, but they are available or qualified to work on only certain kinds of projects. Seek out an editorial professional who’s enthusiastic about—and qualified to work on—your project.
jean@jeanzimmer.com