Hats

“Hats have power. Hats can change you into someone else.” —Catherynne M. Valente
It was three forevers ago. My favorite hat was a beautiful, white felt Charlie 1 with a pink and silver band. Simple. Understated. Just a touch of bling…

WritingJennifer JaoNovember 20, 2024Prepared & Polished Editing ServicesHats, Professional, WorkingComment

Welcome to the Nitty Gritty

GrammarianJennifer JaoNovember 19, 2019Prepared & Polished Editing Services#TheGrammarian, Grammar, Conventions, Nitty Gritty, Prepared & Polished Editing ServicesComment

Tragic Stories: Has This Happened to You?

I hear it too often. “Ma’am, can you help me? Can you really help me? I had an editor. I paid him…” The story doesn’t end well.

The New Series: Coming Soon!

Catch up on the latest at P&P. I’m ready to share things I’ve been learning, nuggets you should know, and the critical and “pressing” needs for your projects.

Meet Your Editor

Meet your editor, Jennifer.

About P&PJennifer JaoAugust 20, 2019Prepared & Polished Editing Services, JenniferComment

#HeyWriter—The Ugly Stuckling

What brings your writing to an ugly, screeching halt? Consider the fear of failure and rejection.

#HeyWriter—The Bad

Truth is, we don’t do all of writing skillfully; there’s room for growth in this craft. As an editor, I’ll list some of the common struggles I see.

#HeyWriter—The Good

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.
—Ernest Hemingway.

The truth is, if you're hardwired to write, it is a lot like bleeding.

Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoApril 19, 2019Prepared & Polished Editing ServicesComment

You Need an Editor

Find your editing partnership.

“An editor is an accomplice, looking in from the outside. That objective view is essential. We don’t write in a vacuum, and we don’t publish in a vacuum.” —David Bergen

Editor's Picks, WritingJennifer JaoFebruary 19, 2019Editing services, Quality editing, Find an editorComment

Services

Check out these editing services!

#HeyWriter—Handle With Care

Hey, writer! Your wordsmithing skills are strengthening. You’re crafting sentences now, and you know it. Still—there are things to think about.

Hey Writer Series, WritingJennifer JaoNovember 27, 2018#HeyWriter, #Writing, Write with Care, Wriing in relationshipComment

#HeyWriter—Tell the Editor "No."

“Mom, I don’t think you should change anything about your writing. Write the way you want to write. Sometimes you have to say ‘No’ to the editor.” Really? What do you think?

Editor's Pick, Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoNovember 16, 2018#HeyWriter, Writing, Inner editorComment

#HeyWriter—The Highs, Lows, and Everyday Flows

Hey, Writer! I’ve got a question for you: What is big in your mind?

Editor's Pick, Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoNovember 8, 2018#HeyWriter, #Writing, Not about me, Word count, Audience, #reellife, #reallifeComment

#HeyWriter—It's a Jungle Out There

An unknown writer is a sapling trying to grab a ray of light in the jungle. It sounds daunting or impossible. Is it?

Editor's Picks, Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoOctober 30, 2018#HeyWriter, Readers, Audience, #WritingComment

#HeyWriter—Connect with Your Reader

Writing has a purpose: to be read. When written thoughts are master-crafted, the brilliance of the work shines when a reader’s eyes find it.

Editor's Picks, Hey Writer Series, WritingJennifer JaoOctober 22, 2018#HeyWriter, #Writing, Wriing in relationship, Connection, Readers, AudienceComment

#HeyWriter—Who-o-o-o-o are You?

Hey Writer, are you a professional or hobbyist? Do you fit neatly into a genre? Have you found your niche in the blogosphere or the bookshelf? Does any of that matter? It does!

Editor's Pick, Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoOctober 19, 2018#HeyWriter, #Writing, Writing Life, Identity, MessageComment

#HeyWriter—Comparison Kills Creativity

My voice doesn’t really matter. I can’t say it better than _____. The message has already been said. If I did write something, who would read it? Publishers don’t give writers like me the time of day. I’m a nobody. Get this out of your head, friend!

#HeyWriter—It's a Gift

Hey Writer, have you landed in a trap? The main focus becomes how to get a response, and then the emotionally-charged treadmill starts up and rolls on.