Transform
your manuscript
Developmental Editing
for Academic Books and Proposals
You have compelling ideas and important scholarship to share. But translating those ideas into a manuscript that truly makes an impact—that's where things get difficult.
Why developmental editing?
Maybe you're transitioning from dissertation to book but are unclear what that transformation actually requires.
Perhaps your argument feels scattered—you're not sure how to maintain a coherent through line across hundreds of pages without losing key insights.
Or you're drowning in theoretical complexity when what you need is greater accessibility and reader engagement.
Maybe you're uncertain how polished your manuscript needs to be before approaching publishers—and whether it's ready now.
That’s where I can help.
Meet Your Editor
Hi, I’m Jenn! I specialize in developmental editing for academic books, book proposals, and dissertation-to-book projects in the humanities and qualitative social sciences.
Think of me as a big-picture editor: I help you clarify your argument, refine the structure, and shape a manuscript that resonates with reviewers, editors, and your broader scholarly community.
If you need a trusted partner to help you see your manuscript with fresh eyes and realize its full potential, you're in the right place.
How is this different from copyediting or proofreading?
Developmental editing differs from copyediting or proofreading. Rather than polishing sentences, I help you design and strengthen the overall structure and argument of your manuscript.
My feedback addresses the logic of your ideas, the clarity of your framing, and the effectiveness of your rhetorical choices. I read as both a scholar and a strategist—someone who understands the intellectual stakes of your work and how it might land with editors, peer reviewers, and broader publics.
What kinds of projects do you work on?
I work on a wide range of academic book projects, depending on where you are in the process. This includes:
Full book manuscripts
Partial manuscripts and works-in-progress
Single chapters or multiple chapters
Book proposals and sample chapters for presses
What are your academic areas of expertise?
I hold a PhD in Communication with a focus on critical and cultural studies. My primary areas of expertise include media and cultural studies, sports studies, feminisms, gender, race, and sexuality, and I regularly work with scholars in related fields across the humanities and qualitative social sciences.
Ready to learn more about working with Jenn?
No pressure. Just a conversation to see if this is right for you.
Client Testimonials
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"Jenn gave me permission to write boldly and to believe in my ideas, because she could see their merit."
Before Jenn, the progress on my book had stalled, and the enormous task of translating all my research, notes, and ideas into a coherent book proposal felt so overwhelming I stopped writing altogether. Through Jenn’s coaching, we structured a writing schedule that worked with my teaching and service loads while still enabling small but consistent momentum with my writing. I had felt so alone and stuck but with her encouragement I gained the confidence I needed to keep going.
As my sample chapters finally began to take shape, Jenn’s developmental editing was crucial, giving me feedback like I’ve never received before. Jenn highlighted the strengths of my chapters and discussed the places where my thinking was clear and where my voice was strongest, rather than listing things I’d done “wrong.” She gave me permission to write boldly and to believe in my ideas, because she could see their merit. Through working with Jenn, I became a more confident writer and academic; I cannot recommend her highly enough!
Amanda, Assistant Professor, Large Research University
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"I truly cannot overstate how impactful our work together was."
Working with Jenn during the summer after my first year on the tenure track was so incredibly life-giving.
First, I was able to finally submit (and get an R&R!) on a dissertation paper I had been dragging my feet on as a direct result of our work together. Specifically, Jenn helped me recognize and overcome some specific mindset roadblocks I didn't even realize I had around writing; and she also supported me in articulating and analyzing my writing process clearly for the first time. This fundamentally changed my research process!
Jenn is incredibly kind, supportive, organized, and clear in her communication and approach. I truly cannot overstate how impactful our work together was, and I recommend working with her to anyone who is feeling lost about their research, writing, and/or career!
Dr. Meaghan McSorley, Assistant Professor, Florida State University
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"These shifts in my mindset have helped me grow more confident as a scholar."
Working with Jenn has helped me transform my relationship to writing. Her attentive listening, suggestions, and positive reinforcement have helped me decrease my anxiety towards writing and remember all the things I love about writing.
Jenn's coaching has helped me think of writing as any other part of my life, rather than a high-stakes "my career depends on this" act of perfection. These shifts in my mindset have helped me grow more confident as a scholar and move towards a daily writing practice.
Dr. Karolina Dos Santos, Postdoctoral Scholar, New York University Gallatin
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"Jenn is able to decipher an end goal through what felt like my confused rambling."
What I appreciated about working with Jenn is that when you tell her about your project, what you want to accomplish, and what you are having trouble with, she can turn it into tangible and specific goals with solutions. She is able to decipher an end goal through what felt like my confused rambling.
In the time I worked with Jenn, I was able to complete my dissertation, which has now garnered the interest of publishers and is the blueprint for my forthcoming book. Additionally, I was able to write, revise, and publish my first peer-reviewed academic article. Her help is invaluable and neither of these projects could have been completed without her assistance.
Dr. Lily Kunda, Assistant Teaching Professor, The College of William and Mary
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"I’ve learned how to envision the career I want and take actionable steps toward achieving it. "
Jenn has been a steady source of support, encouragement, and guidance. She doesn’t just give advice—she models everything she offers. As her client, I’ve learned how to envision the career I want and take actionable steps toward achieving it.
She’s helped me prioritize the projects that matter most to me and find better ways to manage my time as a neurodivergent person and parent of a neurodivergent child.
Dr. Briana Barner, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland
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"Jenn's support and guidance have empowered me to overcome mental barriers, prioritize my goals, and approach academic writing with renewed confidence and clarity.
Working with Jenn has been transformative—she has helped me cultivate a positive and productive relationship with writing through sustainable routines and clear strategies. Her support and guidance have empowered me to overcome mental barriers, prioritize my goals, and approach academic writing with renewed confidence and clarity.
Anonymous
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"I am so glad I found Jenn at this stage of my career."
Jenn is an amazing coach. She is gentle, receptive, and, most importantly, she has helped me overcome my fears of academic writing. Her structured outlines, discussion point recaps, and clear next steps truly bring clarity to the task at hand. I greatly appreciate her prompt replies and encouraging notes. I am so glad I found her at this stage of my career.
Dr. Muniza Askari, SPJ Singapore Campus
What I Focus On
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Argument and Intervention
I help you articulate your project's central claim and contribution—what's at stake, how your argument intervenes in existing debates, and why it matters.
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Structure and Flow
I support you in organizing chapters or sections so that ideas build logically and rhythmically, creating bridges between ideas so your readers can follow even complex theoretical moves with ease.
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Voice and Tone
I work with you to amplify your authorial voice—the moments when you interpret, connect, and take intellectual risks. I help you locate the places where your voice shines and extend that confidence throughout the manuscript.
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Audience and Accessibility
I help you calibrate your tone and level of explanation for your intended audience. This may include grounding theoretical ideas in vivid examples, clarifying key terms, or adjusting pacing so the writing feels more invitational.
How I Give Feedback
My developmental editing is detailed, structured, and actionable. I begin by identifying what's already working—the clarity of purpose, strength of voice, or conceptual insight that forms the heart of your project.
From there, I outline ways to amplify those strengths and resolve areas where the argument, structure, or voice could be sharpened.
My approach is collaborative and supportive, not prescriptive. I illuminate possibilities and support you in realizing your vision with greater clarity and confidence.
Developmental Editing Pricing
Up to 20,000 words
$0.08 per word
More than 20,000 words
$0.07 per word
You'll receive a comprehensive editorial letter with:
✓ What's Working — The strengths and insights that anchor your project and should guide your revision
✓ Big-Picture Guidance — Structural and rhetorical recommendations for the manuscript as a whole
✓ Revision Strategies — Concrete suggestions for strengthening argument, flow, and reader engagement
Additionally, you'll receive:
✓ In-Text Comments — Margin notes throughout your manuscript that support key points from the editorial letter
✓ Zoom Consultation — 30 minutes to discuss feedback and strategize your revision approach
Payment plans are available upon request.
Why Your Writing Deserves the Investment
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Clarity Gained
Confusion about your argument, uncertain framing, and structural problems can leave your manuscript feeling stuck—unable to move forward toward publication.
With my editorial guidance, you gain a clear roadmap for revision—understanding exactly what needs to change and why those changes will strengthen your work.
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Projects Completed
Whether it's a book that's been languishing for years or a chapter you can't quite get right, stalled projects block career advancement.
With developmental editing, you gain the clarity and momentum to push through revision and finally finish what you started.
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Reader Engagement
A manuscript with brilliant ideas can still fail to connect if readers can't follow your argument or engage with your prose. Dense, inaccessible writing limits your impact—no matter how important your scholarship.
With developmental editing, you transform complex ideas into compelling prose—making your work more inviting and intellectually generous without sacrificing rigor.
Ready for expert eyes on your manuscript?
Let’s connect!
Just fill out the form below (or email me at jenn@jennmcclearen.com) and tell me a bit about your project. I’ll review what you share and get back to you personally to discuss next steps, timelines, and whether we’re a good fit for working together.
👇 Start your developmental editing inquiry below.
Need Both Manuscript Feedback and Ongoing Writing Support?
Combining developmental editing with academic writing coaching can help you publish a manuscript you're proud of while simultaneously supporting you as a writer—building the clarity, confidence, and sustainable practices you need to complete this project and thrive beyond it.
FAQs
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Developmental editing and coaching serve different—though often related—purposes in your writing life. I always say that editing supports the writing and coaching supports the writer.
Developmental editing focuses on improving a specific piece of writing. An editor will give you detailed feedback on structure, argumentation, clarity, and coherence to help you strengthen a manuscript in progress. It’s about shaping that article, that chapter, that proposal into its best possible form.
Coaching, on the other hand, focuses on you—your process, habits, mindset, and long-term goals as a writer and scholar. Coaching supports you in building the systems and self-awareness you need to write more consistently, reduce avoidance, navigate self-doubt, and make steady progress on high-stakes projects. It’s about creating sustainable practices that help you move forward not just once, but again and again.
Writers often benefit from both modes. Editing can refine your work. Coaching helps you get it written in the first place—and keep writing long after.
I offer the combination of developmental editing and coaching as a feature of the 6-month Book Program. You can also combine editing and coaching for shorter periods of time. See my coaching page for more info.
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Colleagues and supervisors offer valuable disciplinary expertise and can assess the scholarly merit of your work. However, they're often reading quickly, focusing on content over craft, and may not give you detailed guidance on manuscript structure, argumentation, or reader experience.
As a developmental editor, I bring a focused eye specifically for how manuscripts work as manuscripts—how arguments unfold across chapters, how structure supports (or undermines) your claims, how voice and tone shape reader engagement, and how to position your work for its intended audience. I pride myself on being able to articulate clearly what's working, what's not, and giving you actionable guidance for moving your project forward.
I also read with fresh eyes and without the assumptions someone in your immediate field might bring. This means I can identify places where your argument isn't landing clearly, where you're assuming too much knowledge, or where the structure needs rethinking—issues that colleagues close to your work might not catch.
Additionally, developmental editing is a professional service with clear deliverables and turnaround times. You're not asking for a favor or waiting months for feedback. You receive comprehensive, actionable guidance designed specifically to move your manuscript forward.
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My scholarly expertise is in media studies, communication, cultural studies, gender and sexuality studies, and sports studies. However, I edit work across the humanities and qualitative social sciences more broadly. That's where I can offer the most meaningful support—especially when it comes to argument development, voice, and structure for academic audiences.
This said, I'm also happy to work with scholars in other fields if you're writing a crossover book—a manuscript intended to reach broader audiences beyond specialist readers. If your goal is to make your scholarship more accessible or connect with interdisciplinary or public audiences, I can help you shape the work for that wider impact.
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I'm open to both approaches, though I particularly enjoy working chapter-by-chapter. This allows the manuscript to improve iteratively—each round of feedback strengthens subsequent chapters as you apply what you're learning.
Regardless of the approach, I typically request an introduction (even in rough form) or book proposal upfront for context. This ensures I can assess how individual chapters build toward your overall book argument.
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I typically reserve editing for short documents like these for existing clients I've already worked with in coaching or editing, rather than new clients.
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I assess argument, evidence, structure, tone, and audience awareness, and I can give you my professional assessment of your manuscript's readiness based on these factors. However, I typically cannot evaluate how thoroughly you're engaging with specific literature in your field or whether your contribution is truly innovative—I can assess whether you're articulating these things clearly, but not their disciplinary validity.
As for publisher fit, I don't make specific press recommendations as part of my editorial feedback. However, you're welcome to share a list of presses you're considering, and I'm happy to serve as a thought partner during our Zoom follow-up meeting. We can discuss how your manuscript might align with different series or editorial missions, but ultimately the decision about where to submit is yours.
I can offer my perspective from what I've seen work well for similar projects, but you know your field, your networks, and your career goals best.
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I generally turn around individual chapters within two weeks and full book manuscripts within 4-6 weeks.
That said, I'm often scheduling manuscript submissions at least six weeks out, so I recommend contacting me early to confirm availability.
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Proofreading focuses on correcting errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation, while line editing addresses sentence-level clarity and style. I don't offer either of these services—my work is focused on the bigger picture: argument, structure, voice, and reader engagement.
That said, if I notice recurring patterns or particularly effective (or problematic) sentences, I may point them out. But this isn't the primary service I provide.
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You are ultimately responsible for your manuscript, and I encourage you to trust your instincts. I provide recommendations and possibilities, but you decide what to use and what to set aside.
My goal is to illuminate options, not dictate choices—the best revision emerges when you're making informed decisions that align with your vision for the project.
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Yes, many of my clients use university funds to pay for editing. Typically you connect me with a department administrator and they pay me directly.
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Yes—flexible payment options are available. You can pay in monthly installments rather than all at once.
I also offer a small number of scholarships for scholars with financial need. If cost is a barrier, fill out the contact form and select that you want to be considered for a scholarship. I’d be glad to talk with you about what’s possible: jenn@jennmcclearen.com.
Your manuscript can get there—with the right support.
I remember what it felt like to stare at my own manuscript, uncertain if my argument was clear, if my structure was working, or if I was making the choices that would help my work succeed. Those doubts started in graduate school, and without the right guidance, they could have derailed projects that mattered deeply to me.
Over time, I learned how to see my work more clearly—to diagnose structural problems, sharpen my arguments, and write with greater confidence and impact. I carried those insights into an award-winning academic career, and now I use them to support other scholars who are facing the pressure to publish work that truly reflects the power of their ideas.
If you're feeling stuck with a manuscript that isn't quite working or unsure how to bridge the gap between the project you envision and the one on the page, you're not alone.
You deserve a manuscript you're proud of—one that communicates your ideas clearly, positions your scholarship strategically, and moves your career forward. You deserve to see your work reach its full potential without the endless doubt and second-guessing.
This is your chance to get expert editorial guidance that helps you finish what you've started. I'd love to be in your corner.
Let's make it happen—together.
