Jennifer Hirsch – Editor

"Jennifer Hirsch is a superb editor and the best partner-in-creativity that a writer could wish for. With insight, intelligence, and humor, she brings heart and clarity to a story. Over many years, we’ve worked together on projects large and small including historical fiction, nonfiction essays, choose your adventure, and marketing copy, and Jennifer made every writing project a delight and a satisfying enterprise from brainstorm to final copy. Working with Jennifer is a pleasure and a wonderful experience. She will make you a better writer." —Valerie Tripp, author of the FELICITY, KIT, JOSEFINA, SAMANTHA, MOLLY, and MARYELLEN series

"It was my pleasure to work with Jennifer on seven books. She is a writer’s editor, pointing out problem spots without specifying the changes to be made. This collaborative approach, in tandem with her upbeat attitude and professional manner, made even the stickiest editing situations positive all the way around. What I most appreciated was the feeling that she was trying to help me create the best book I could create. She is insightful, creative, specific and kind, and I highly recommend her to any writer seeking additional editorial assistance."—Kirby Larson, winner of the Newbery Honor & Scott O'Dell awards, author of the BITTY BABY series

"Jennifer is as skilled at helping to focus an initial proposal as she is at zeroing in on specific areas that need revising. She suggests ways to sharpen character development, and sees when there is a need to tighten plots. When a manuscript is near completion, she has a sharp eye for finessing edits that polish the work. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Jennifer. I feel I have grown as a writer through my association with her. What more could any author ask of her editor? " —Jacqueline Dembar Greene, author of the REBECCA series

Over 20 years as a senior and executive editor with a traditional children's publisher, I've developed fiction and nonfiction for every age group, from board & picture books to middle reader and YA. I've created historical and contemporary series as well as mysteries, time travel, and "choose-your-adventure" series. I help my fiction authors understand story structure, tighten their plot and pacing, and create characters that young readers will fall in love with. My nonfiction experience include crafts and parties, journaling, how-to, games and puzzles, as well as informational nonfiction on a range of topics. I help nonfiction authors organize their material for maximum fun and inspiration, and write clear, age-appropriate prose in a friendly voice that never talks down to kids.

I know what it takes to make a manuscript publishable and commercially appealing. When you're ready, I can help craft a professional query or proposal to give your ms. an edge with agents and publishers or help prepare your ms. for self-publishing.