Hello! I’m Jenna Nelson. I’m a developmental and copy editor, with experience working on over 300 books for traditional publishers. My specialties are mind/body/spirit, cookbooks, how-to & gardening, and fiction.
For examples of my work, please see my portfolio page. I am accepting new clients. To get in touch, email jenna AT tastefulediting.com
Make your words delicious
Some days your writing flows easily. You are inspired. The words are there like magic. You type away steadily, with no interruptions or distractions. Just you and an amazing story.
* Or your work gives you that “almost there . . . but not quite” feeling. You want to polish your manuscript and make it shine, but you’ve been so close to it for so long that you can’t see it clearly.
* Or you know that you have a strong story, but it wandered . . . and now you’re struggling. You want to get your work moving again, but you lost your sense of direction along the way.
* And some days you feel lost in a forest of words. Your ideas are all over the place, and you wonder if you have a story . . . or just more pages of stuff.
I can help you find a path forward. As we work together, I offer you constructive comments to help you figure out what is already working. Then I offer suggestions to help you make productive revisions and feel more certain about the path you choose to take.
I’m an experienced editor who truly enjoys working with authors to make every book the best it can be. I began editing fifteen years ago because I like helping authors set their readers up for success and being a part of the team that turns a manuscript into a finished book.
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- I am part of the editing team at a literary journal (Asymptote). 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 develop nonfiction projects that help readers unlock their inner strength, set intentions, and invite healing. I specialize in projects 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 seek out works that are written on behalf of animals.
- I copy edit food and cookbook manuscripts of all kinds—from Ayurvedic balancing to cannabis cocktails to vegan baking.
Asymptote literary journal – copy editor
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, women’s studies
Separate Shelves: Gender Distinctions and Market Segmentation in American Children’s Publishing, 1860-1960 (dissertation)
MA, Université de Montréal, études anglaises
BA, University of Pittsburgh, political science + literature
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 am involved in food communities. 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.
- 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.
Reading: Scars by Juan José Saer (Steve Dolph, translator)
Learning: Tatter.org: explores the medium of textiles to tell human stories and cultivate understandingListening: Mika Vainio // Einstürzende Neubauten // field recordings
Watching: Where Is the Friend’s Home? by Abbas KiarostamiMaking: Stitches! Kantha by Ekta Kaul and Bojagi by Youngmin Lee
Running: Acadia half-marathon
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Tasteful Editing Supports
“Jenna has been so much more than just a developmental editor for this project. Her insights, suggestions, and willingness to talk through just about anything, have made the book infinitely better. I am SO grateful for the encouragement, wisdom, and expertise she provided. All of my other books were traditionally published, so I was nervous about doing one on my own, but Jenna’s guidance has been spot-on, and I’ve learned a ton. She truly brings her whole heart to her work, not just her wealth of experience and training. It’s felt like a true collaboration.”
“I have been working with Jenna on the developmental edit of my book and it has been a great experience. She is always quick to respond and turn a chapter around. Her edits are clear and helpful. Not only is the book improving but I am also learning a lot. The best part for me is that this was a new experience. I had never worked with an editor and she is super helpful and encouraging. She gets what I am trying to accomplish with the book so it feels like its a true partnership.”
“I am immensely grateful for Jenna’s role in helping me navigate the complexities of developmental editing. The improvements made to my manuscript under her guidance have far exceeded my expectations. Working with Jenna has been a transformative experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend her services to any aspiring author looking to refine their craft and bring their writing to the next level. Thank you, Jenna, for your expertise, encouragement, and unwavering commitment to my project. I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate again in the future!”
What are you Working on?
- Let’s talk about how to take your project where you want it to go. An experienced editor helps you see the big picture and view your writing through fresh eyes. Contact jenna AT tastefulediting.com
“Working with Jenna was a delight. She gave great edits and communicated clearly. I’ll definitely be reaching out to Jenna for future projects.”
“[Jenna] functions as an ‘interested first reader’ for the books she edits, identifying weak passages where the message may not be clear, or asking questions that may need to be answered to illuminate key points . . . . Her thoughts were invaluable.”
“Through each step of the way, I felt like my work was being taken seriously and I felt the feedback and suggestions provided by Jenna reflected that wonderfully.”
Jenna is an amazing editor, driven to improve the meaning and material in the author’s voice. She’s not content until both the publisher and the author are. Highly communicative, and with an intelligent and compassionate book-side manner, working with Jenna is a wonderful experience that I wish every author could share.
Cookbook Copy Editing
- Need specialized skills to help your cookbook stand out? I work with you to ensure that every page is clear, complete, and engaging. Are your recipes complex? No problem. I understand the chef and the home cook, and I know how to balance their needs on the page. 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.
“It was a pleasure to see Jenna copyedit one of the cookbooks I co-penned. Her expertise, attention to detail, and respect for the message to be conveyed, all greatly helped make the book even better than I hoped for. I look forward to working with Jenna again soon!”
“Jenna was a complete pleasure to work with. She gave me exactly what I wanted and worked very quickly with my timeline. She was professional, friendly, and highly efficient. But what I appreciated most about working with Jenna was her constant communication. I always knew exactly where we were in the process. Thanks for the great experience Jenna!”
