Editing Portfolio
I have helped many authors hone their writing and make their words shine throughout my years as a professional independent copyeditor.
In addition to grammar, spelling, and punctuation, my copyediting covers clarity, conciseness, factual accuracy, consistency, and other aspects addressed in the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction, and the Copyeditor’s Handbook.
Some of the recent results of my work with authors include the following:
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The Panacea Project (Sci-Fi Thriller)
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Sustainable Content (Nonfiction)
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Land of Dust and Hope (Contemporary Fiction)
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Start with Story (Nonfiction)
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Génãro. Lost in the Swamp (Fantasy)
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The Crack in the Crystal (Fantasy)
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Run Like Hell (Nonfiction)
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Grow: The Essential Guide to Getting Promoted (Nonfiction)
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Flight of the Monarchs (Historical Fiction)
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A Hidden Force (Nonfiction)
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Client Testimonials
Everyone enjoys working with Jeanette
I’ve hired Jeanette to copyedit myriad manuscripts for clients across various genres, and I’ve found her work ethic, attention to detail, and communication with authors to be excellent. Everyone enjoys working with Jeanette, and I highly recommend her copyediting services.
Erin Brown
Greenleaf Book Group
Tanya Phillips
Independent Author
Jeanette provided me with a Compass Call (and related services) for the fiction book I'm writing, and the experience was incredibly valuable. She quickly identified gaps I hadn’t noticed and offered thoughtful, actionable advice that gave me real clarity moving forward. After our call, I felt energized and confident about diving into the next chapters. If you're writing a novel, you absolutely want Jeanette in your corner. Her feedback was constructive, insightful, and delivered with genuine encouragement. I’ll definitely be working with her again.
You absolutely want Jeanette in your corner
With that one fix, my book gained a level of clarity it had been missing
Jeanette did so much more for my book than just fix typos and grammar (though she did that, too...) She's a copyeditor with the brain and heart of a developmental editor. Right off the bat, she noticed how I hadn't been clear enough with defining an important term in my book. Spotting this totally changed the dynamic of my book. With that one fix, my book gained a level of clarity it had been missing. But then she helped me pinpoint some of my writerly bad habits in a way that has made me a better professional with my own clients. She may be a mermaid, but she's also the GOAT.
Jonathan Jordan
Ghostwriter, Author of Start With Story
Michelle Reardon
Author of Flight of the Monarchs and Catch the Wind
I was introduced to Jeanette through my publisher. She was hired to copyedit my first novel, and she made the experience so easy and pleasant, and did such an amazing job, that I hired her to edit my second novel. I've worked with other freelance editors, but after working with Jeanette, I won't go to anyone else. I call her my eagle-eyed copyeditor because this woman misses NOTHING and has honestly saved me from grotesque public humiliation more times than I can count. In fact, I guarantee she has found seventeen issues just reading this recommendation, and I adore her for it. She's extremely thorough, knowledgeable, and just an all-around nice person. My favorite thing about her, though, is that she actually remembers my characters and story when I talk to her, even a year later. She pays attention and retains things that are very important to me and then uses that to make my books better, treating them as if they were her own. I always know my book is safe and cared for with Jeanette. Best copyeditor ever!
I call her my eagle-eyed copyeditor because this woman misses NOTHING
If you're in the market for an editor, Jeanette is the guru
I can't recommend Jeanette enough if you're in the market for an editor. She's thorough, professional, and has a keen eye to detail. I signed up for her Compass Call where she reviewed the first 50 pages of WIP, then did a line edit for the first 2,500 words (this also includes a 60/min call). Upon receiving her feedback, I was blown away. She caught loops in the timeline, pointed out how to make the story stronger, and got me to think more about the characters and what they bring to the story. During our hour brainstorm session, we figured out what was the REAL story within the story. Now it's time for the rewrite! Again, if you're in the market for an editor, Jeanette is the guru!
Tim Jacobs
Ghostwriter and Independent Author
Guy Marlow
Author of Courage To Be
What can I say! Jeanette may post pictures of cats or swim like a mermaid, but she is also a fine editor! If you are looking for a great editor to help get your book into a professional shape then Jeanette is the person for you. Great communication, delivered ahead of time and educated me throughout the process. I can't recommend Jeanette enough!
I can't recommend Jeanette enough
I'm really looking forward to working on more pieces together
It was a pleasure to work with Jeanette because of the effort she put into understanding my goals, writing style, and brand. I recently hired her to help edit and format a coaching supplement for medical writing. The edits she made were both educational and a clear example of the value of human editors for improving readability while maintaining nuance. She also did a great job reflecting the minimalistic and clean aesthetic from my website into the formatting of the supplement. I'm really looking forward to working on more pieces together. Lastly, I'd been following her for some time before we worked together, and she continues to inspire me to become a better writer and self-editor.
Nicole Bowens
Freelance Medical Writer ASAP Medical Writing
Anissa Kalinowski
Biopharma Executive
Jeanette and I worked on a book my mother is writing. This was a complex endeavor as we worked from Temi audio transcribed texts and it was 100 pages long. Her attention to detail to copy edit this body of work was exceptional. Grammar, punctuation, clarity of content, consistency of spellings. You name it, she caught issues and addressed them. Moreover every deadline was met and her approach to project management was very streamlined. Would work with her again in a heartbeat!! Thank you Jeanette!!
You name it, she caught issues and addressed them
I'm so grateful to you Jeanette
I want to give a big shoutout to Jeanette Smith, my book editor. The magic she did on the words of my manuscript "Say Yes to your YES" is just mindblowing. She made everything feel more smooth, fluid and powerful. Jeanette made the experience or reading this book feel like the wave of the ocean gentle flowing in and out, effortlessly. I'm so grateful to you Jeanette.
Jennifer Jane Young
Author of Say Yes to Your YES
Amanda Nell Edgar
Author, Speaker, Owner of Page & Podium
Working with a new copyeditor is always a little bit of a gamble. At the polishing stage, we need someone who will improve the manuscript--clarifies inconsistencies, tightens the prose, etc--while also maintaining the author's voice. It can be difficult to find someone who understands how to balance those two imperatives.
From the first time I met Jeanette, I could tell she was professional. She's warm and funny and obviously knows her stuff. But it wasn't until I saw her work that I realized how skilled she is--she was able to make an already strong manuscript feel more mature and thoughtful, and the author (who has a very clear sense of her own voice) LOVED her work. It was such a win all around!!
I will definitely be calling on Jeanette for future projects, and I highly recommend her to anyone who wants to take their manuscript from good to exceptional.
I will definitely be calling on Jeanette for future projects
Without her help we would not have been so successful
Jeanette was a wonderful editor for our first book. She was always very responsive and met all of our editing deadlines. Not only did she read for grammatical errors but also helped us to make the book more cohesive and offered suggestions and guidance about the flow and content of the book.
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She challenged us to write the most helpful book we could for parents of high school students and without her help we would not have been so successful. We would highly recommend her services if you are looking for an editor to assist in your writing content!
Alison Smith
Author of 101 Questions to Ask Your Teen During High School
Kristin Noland
Fiction Editor
Jeanette is an excellent editor! I'm extremely impressed by her skills and attention to detail. She knows just how to make an author's story sing while keeping their voice and enhancing their message to the world.
I'm extremely impressed by her skills and attention to detail
She's often the voice I hear at the back of my mind while I'm writing or editing
Jeanette has helped me edit both my adult fiction and children's non-fiction. For my self-pubbed project (children's non-fiction) she was integral to me putting out a quality book my readers could enjoy, and she offered editing expertise and proofreading I could rely on.
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For my adult fiction writing, she's taught me editing skills that were easy to incorporate; skills I've even taken into future works even when she and I haven't worked together. She's often the voice I hear at the back of my mind while I'm writing or editing, reminding me what to do and how to get there. I'd recommend her for help on any writing project!
Dyan Fox
Author of S Is for Surgery
Fallon Clark
Editor & Author
Jeanette brings a bag full of skills, creativity, and excitement to her writing and editing projects, which shows in her end results. She actively listens to the needs of each project before diving in and provides suggestions without prescription backed by research and technical skill.
Jeanette brings a bag full of skills
She has kept the integrity of my voice while enhancing it to be the best it could be
Jeanette is truly a wordsmith. I have worked with her on several projects and for each one she has kept the integrity of my voice while enhancing it to be the best it could be. She is professional, timely, and easy to work with! I am currently making a list of upcoming projects that I will reach out to her for!
Priya Patel
Nonfiction Author
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Justice Murray
Nonfiction Author
Jeanette is an amazing editor to work with!
She helped me edit some sample chapters for my non-fiction book proposal. I love how Jeanette kept the heart of my message intact while making it easier to read with her edits. Jeanette goes above and beyond in making sure her clients understand the changes and suggestions she has to offer. I highly recommend Jeanette for your editing needs.
I love how Jeanette kept the heart of my message intact
Jeanette bolstered my confidence
The compass call was the perfect fit for my budget and needs. Jeanette was able to provide a solid foundation of suggestions and ideas that will allow me to write with more awareness.
Jeanette bolstered my confidence where she could have taken from it, never making me feel stupid for mistakes.
Amber Washington
Memoir Author
AJN Gallagher
Fantasy Author
I would thoroughly recommend Jeanette as an editor. She not only helped me edit my first story but was an integral part of my writing process as a writing coach along the way. I found her, friendly, knowledgeable, and wonderful at quantifying my needs and relating them back to me in a way that I could understand and work from.
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She also was good at keeping me accountable with deadlines in a way that did not feel like a chore but was a pleasure to complete. I value her input not only as an editor and coach but as a friend. Her advice was always friendly and helpful and most of all, reliable. I would recommend her for any writing endeavor and will be using her services in the future.