Sometimes you just need new eyes to look at your writing. Whether you’re looking for copy-editing of a manuscript or assistance more akin to book-coaching, I can help. My writing and editing experience and my teaching background have given me both a broad aesthetic and an understanding of a variety of genres, including the short story, novel, personal essay, memoir, journalism and academic writing. I can suggest ways to shape your material, write more effective scenes, deepen characters and communicate character emotion, hone dialogue, tighten language, and generally push the discovery project. In academic writing, I focus on foregrounding your key ideas and making an effective case for your thesis.

Please contact me at dunningj123@gmail.com to discuss a specific project. Rates start at $50/hour.

Testimonials:

• Paula Smith (memoir author): “I've been delighted to have Jenny working with me on my book. Her reading is careful, critical (but never cruel), and she manages to spot strengths and weaknesses that show a clear understanding of what I'm trying to do. I never feel pressure to do it her way—just to do it my way, better.”

• Paul Moench (former student at St. Olaf College): “I learned so much from your class, and my writing improved astronomically! Much of what I've been writing recently has stemmed from my work in your class, and I'm having a great time with it!”

• Luying Chen (comparative literature scholar):  "Jenny has helped edit two academic articles I have written, one published and the other forthcoming. She is my perfect reader: she understands and appreciates my analysis, which is not always easy as my work is transcultural; she pushes for more effective expressions, and she explains why. I had often received comments that I tended to write long sentences, as a compliment for my complex thinking. Jenny convinced me to write shorter, more forceful sentences. I strongly recommend her as an editor!"