Hello! I’m Jenna Nelson. I’m a writer and editor, with more than 15 years of experience working on over 300 books for traditional publishers. To get in touch, email jenna AT tastefulediting.com
Make your words delicious
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- I develop nonfiction projects that help readers unlock their inner strength, set intentions, and invite healing. I specialize in books that inspire readers to explore the natural world. I enjoy working with authors who help their readers make lifestyle changes and reach challenging new goals.
- I edit fiction with a special interest in shorter forms. I welcome authors who are translating works into English and need to balance creativity while respecting the original. I am part of the copy editing team at a literary journal (Asymptote).
- I copy edit food and cookbook manuscripts of all kinds—from Ayurvedic balancing to cannabis cocktails to vegan baking. I have extensive experience with special diets (e.g., vegan, vegetarian, raw, Paleo, AIP, and Keto). And I am comfortable working with nutritional analysis, metric conversions, and complex methods. I understand the chef and the home cook, and I know how to balance their needs on the page.
University of Chicago – editing (developmental track)
Simon Fraser University – plain language certificate
Author-Editor Clinic – developmental editing
UC–San Diego – copy editing certificate
UC–Berkeley – indexing
PhD, Emory University
MA, Université de Montréal
BA, University of Pittsburgh
Asymptote literary journal
Editors Canada
Plain Language Association
International Association of Culinary Professionals
Editorial Freelancers Association
Club Ed Freelancers
Meet Your Editor: Jenna
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- I’m an experienced editor who truly enjoys working with authors to make every book the best it can be.
- From 2017 to 2024, I served on the board of directors for the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to supporting Maine’s farmers, strengthening our local food network, and fighting food insecurity in our state.
- I am the daughter of a food scientist. While I was growing up, I learned about ingredients in our backyard garden, and I learned to cook using the industrial stand mixer in our kitchen. I am an active, lifelong home cook. I test recipes for some outstanding cookbook authors. Recipe testing helps me approach every project with even more appreciation for the author’s creativity and hard work.
- Honestly, I’m not that great a gardener. In March I start seeds under lights to help winter feel a little less long. I care for my seedlings, and some thrive. But anything that goes into the garden probably ends up feeding the deer—and that’s totally okay! I have a small (deer-resistant!) dye garden, and I focus on natural dyes and hand-stitching in my creative work.
- I attend a virtual writing group every day. I value the people I write alongside as we turn our ideas into works-in-progress. There is a real joy in supporting one another and celebrating our successes.
- I seek out works that are written on behalf of animals.
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When I am not digging through style guides and working with awesome authors, I enjoy life in Maine with my husband, Russell Patton, and our amazing little dog. We like running, hiking in Acadia, and going to see live music—anything from Nick Cave to the Bangor Symphony Orchestra.
Tasteful Editing Supports
Reading: Scars by Juan José Saer (Steve Dolph, translator)
Learning: Tatter.org: explores the medium of textiles to tell human stories and cultivate understanding
Listening: Mika Vainio // Einstürzende Neubauten // field recordings
Watching: Where Is the Friend’s Home? by Abbas Kiarostami
Making: Stitches! Kantha by Ekta Kaul and Bojagi by Youngmin Lee
Running: Acadia half-marathon