Janet Gyenes

Janet Gyenes – Editor

Storytelling is my passion. A longtime editor and multi-award-winning writer, I help authors connect, compel and entertain. (Authors 18+)

Overview

Here's my story—and what makes me the right person to help you with yours.


Words are my world. I’m a longtime editor, published author (my book came out in October 2023), and award-winning writer and photographer. I love my career—and I feel extremely privileged to do this work every single day and keep learning and growing and bringing that expertise to my clients. For the past 20-plus years, I've been creating and editing content for sectors ranging from travel and education to fintech and fiction. In 2024, my nonfiction B2B writing earned a National Magazine Award (NMA)—yay, Silver!—the highest honour in Canada for magazine writing.


Not all editors are strong writers (just as writers are not always good at self-editing), but my skill set in crafting everything from magazine articles (front-of-book, listicles, profiles, features) and ads to case studies and UX copy (tool tips!) has helped me understand the critical role of the audience and the power of making every word count.


I've somehow developed a few "specialty" areas (travel and booze writing and editing military memoirs!), but I still consider myself a dedicated generalist. I love to fall down the rabbit hole to discover a new topic and bring my curiosity, creativity and clarity to the work. As an editor, I've taken deep dives into shaping book manuscripts (the largest a 300,000-word nonfiction treatise), managing all facets of magazines (both consumer and trade), and developing content strategies to help people and projects get noticed.


There’s no limit to my desire to constantly learn and create (and help you do the same). That's led to me working with clients and companies around the world, including Lonely Planet, Capgemini, UN-ILO, Ogilvy, EF Education First, Culture Trip, Smithsonian, USA Today, CBC, and others.

Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Contemporary Fiction Short Story Thriller & Suspense
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits Design Travel
Languages
English (CAN) English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • NATJA: “The Gaucho Way,” photography: illustration–print category
  • NATJA: “The Deep Dive: Baijiu Tasting,” culinary travel category
  • NATJA: “The Gaucho Way,” cultural travel—print publication category
  • NATJA: “Light and Shadow in Siem Reap,” arts and culture category
  • NATJA: “Local Infusion,” culinary travel category
  • NATJA: “Water World,” illustrated story category
  • NATJA:“Force of Nature,” cultural, educational, self-improvement category
  • NATJA: “Escher’s Atrani,” photography—cover photo, illustration category
  • NATJA: "Earth, Straw, and Cultural Revival in America’s Oldest Capital City," cultural travel category
  • 2024 National Magazine Award B2B: Silver for Best Profile of a Company
Certifications
  • Bachelor of arts degree
  • Google analytics (basic and advanced) certification
  • Courses in content writing, social media, digital media

Work experience

Published by Cedar Mill Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus

Jun, 2022 — Mar, 2023 (9 months)

Cedar Mill Press commissioned me to write this forthcoming book (to be released in August 2023), the first Canadian city featured in the "city cocktail" series, joining metropolises including Tokyo, London, New York, Paris, and San Francisco, among others. My role involved sourcing more than 100 cocktail recipes (and accompanying photos) from establishments across the city, including distilleries, developing the framework for each chapter, and writing chapter introductions, recipe blurbs, and so forth.

Self-employed

Jan, 2003 — Present

For one of my ongoing contracts, I'm a freelance book editor and copywriter for a self-publishing company. I work remotely to deliver editorial support to the publisher's authors, assessing the quality and marketability of fiction and nonfiction manuscripts (everything children’s books, cookbooks and novels to memoirs and treatises written by PhDs), recommending the level of editorial service (e.g., developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading), and delivering services aligned with professional standards set out by the Editors’ Association of Canada. I also write marketing content, such as back cover blurbs and author profiles. My expertise in style guides includes Chicago Manual of Style, Canadian Press Style, APA, and MLA.

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
Van Man: American Dreams

Desellem, Marc

Independently published

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Rum Runner Prohibition

Barnett, Peter J

Bourbon Bros LLC

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
When Dennis Pemble was a kid, he never dreamed of becoming a wildlife control officer. After struggling in school because of a learning disability and being bullied by classmates, Pemble final... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
How do you cope with the “day after” of regret that’s left your head feeling like someone dropped an anvil on it? Do you wonder how you passed out without your pants on (again)?We’ve all been ... read more
Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Trench

Freedman, Daniel

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
South Bentinck Summer

Gauthier, Alvin

Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment

Janet has 42 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

John H.

John H.

May, 2024

Pinned
Janet is amazing. Not only does she give inciteful coaching, but she gives advice in a kind and thoughtful manner. New as a novel writer, I was a little apprehensive to have a professional look at my work. Now, I wish I had done this for my previous novels that were published before I knew about her. She spent a great amount of time reviewing the manuscript and I accepted 100% of her suggestion...
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Michael H.

Michael H.

Aug, 2023

Pinned
The importance and value of a highly skilled editor is VERY evident when working with Janet. She delivered before schedule and made changes that made a BIG difference to the readability of my first book. She is extemely knowledgeable, thorough, insightful, and professional in all areas of editing. It was a pleasure working with her and she taught me a lot.... while also making sure I understood...
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Helen M.

Helen M.

Apr, 2023

Pinned
Janet is absolutely fantastic! She left many thoughtful comments and suggestions for how to improve the very raw draft, and I'm grateful I got to work with her again. Her sense of humor is 👌 I would highly recommend her!
Ken N.

Ken N.

Oct, 2024

First editor I hired and she went above and beyond what I expected. She mentioned both where she thought changes could be made and what I had done that was good. Only thing I can complain about is that she raised the bar for every other editor I might hire.
Robin D.

Robin D.

Sep, 2024

I did a call with Janet where she gave me valuable advice on the editing process, and helped me hone what I need and am looking for

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