Areas of expertise

I have had a long history of writing and editing, beginning as a young child writing “novels” on looseleaf with blue erasable ink. Since then, I’ve worked professionally as an editor, teacher and writer in book and magazine publishing, academia, and advertising. Over the years, I have cultivated a solutions-driven but empathetic approach to my consulting work, whether I’m helping someone refine their resume or giving feedback on a draft of a novel. Below you will find a list (by no means exhaustive) of some of my areas of expertise. If you need help with something that doesn’t quite fit into these categories, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Creative Writing

As a writer, editor and teacher of creative writing of all kinds, I am committed to helping folks tell their story. Whether you’re on a first draft or have revised work several times and need a new pair of eyes on it, I’d love to help you with:

  • Short Stories

  • Prose Poems

  • Short-Short Stories

  • Novels

  • Essays

  • Memoirs

  • Creative Non-Fiction

  • Hybrid Forms

  • Poetry

Professional Writing & Communication

It’s all about how you tell your story, even when it comes to resumes. I can help you with:

  • Resumes/CVs

  • Cover Letters

  • Interview Prep, including crafting your quick-hitting “elevator pitch”

  • College Essays

  • Applications, including applications to MFA programs, residencies or other writing-related programs

Testimonials

“Jenni is one of the best editors I've worked with. She published a story of mine when she was the editor of Faultline at UC Irvine. She took a story that had promise and helped me shape it into something much better, a story that found its legs thanks to her deft editorial touch. Jenni found the seams in the writing and showed me where I could open the story up and write into the beating heart of the piece. She understands story structure, character motivation, pacing, and many of the other things that great stories need to sustain reader interest. Working with Jenni improved that story and I'm proud of it, but her editorial insights have stayed with me in the years since and have helped to shape many of the stories I've worked on. If you're looking for a great writer and editor to work with, someone with excellent experience and expertise, then you should work with Jenni. I'm really happy I got to work with her! Highly recommended!

—Blake Kimzey, author of Families Among Us and founder of WritingWorkshops.com and Writing Workshops Paris

“Jenni is an amazing editor. I worked with her on a story years ago for a university publication. She has the ability to see where moments can be expanded and where moments can be contracted in a story without interfering with the author’s intention.”

—Venita Blackburn, author of Black Jesus and Other Superheroes & How to Wrestle a Girl 

“I highly recommend working with Jenni! She edited an ebook for me and my business partner and did an amazing job! She thoroughly combed through the book in a timely manner and sent us an explanation of the edits as well. Jennifer is a talented and thoughtful writer and a pleasure to work with! I would certainly hire her again for another project.”

—Leah Milton

“Jenni is a deeply conscientious reader and editor. She went above and beyond in offering enormously valuable feedback on an early draft of my novel, Country of Under. Not only was she willing to grapple with a manuscript that was still very much in development, she returned pages and pages of thoughtful, detailed feedback that I returned to as I revised. Jenni is particularly attuned to characterization and deeply interrogates characters’ perspectives, motivations, and development. She comes to the editing process both as a talented and driven writer with a clear aesthetic sensibility, and as someone with years of experience in publishing. I highly recommend her as a reader, editor, and consultant, wherever you are in the writing process.”

—Brooke Shaffner

“My experience with Jennifer was phenomenal. She was attentive, professional, and patient, and she was always available for follow-up advice even after she edited my resume.”

—Dina Robinson

Want to work with me?

I’d love to hear from you! Reach out to me at jennifer.l.milton@gmail.com.