Reviews (17)

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Reviews (17)

Overview

I'm a very experienced editor who's worked on countless manuscripts for literary agencies and publishers; to name just a few: Penguin-Random House, SheWritesPress, McGraw-Hill, Serendipity Literary Agency, and Windword Literary Services. And because I'm also an English teacher, I'm passionate about words, writing style, grammar, and language.

We’re all drawing from the same word and punctuation pool, but when the right words are presented in just the right order, that’s magic. A well-crafted sentence can make readers ponder or laugh or weep. Sometimes it can even make them change.

My cooking contains a lot of fat; my writing and editing do not.

I'm an "idea coach." It's thrilling to help people figure out what they want to say and then guide them toward a compelling way to say it. If your narrative feels like a private exchange between you and the reader, the writing creates a connection that makes your work unforgettable. Sometimes you’ll even inspire epiphanies.

Most recently I’ve worked on memoir, fiction, YA, psychology/self-help, and business.

I’ve been a business and education freelance writer and editor since college. I had a couple of corporate jobs, wore a lot of suits, and led a lot of meetings. Then I became an entrepreneur. I can help you speak clearly to these audiences.

I’ve also taught and tutored hundreds of kids and young adults. I relate to them very well, so I can help you with your YA project or education title and with books that could be reinvented as apps. I had an award-winning app on the App Store for several years, and first it was a book.

I’ve been a professional singer for 17 years, performing with rock, pop, blues, and jazz duos and bands, so if your idea has something to do with the music world, I have a special perspective on that.

My MFA thesis is a 120-page collection of short stories. After two years in that very spirited fiction writing workshop, I know a few things about crafting stories.

My undergrad degree is in psychology, and during those studies I developed a love of scientific method. I also learned how to observe, which helps me quickly grasp the heart of an issue. This will be an asset to you if you want my help creating a piece of writing that hits (as we like to say in music) "the center of the note." It's beautiful to the ear.

One more thing: whether developing ideas, writing, or reworking other people's drafts--I'm fast.

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REVIEWS

Mark Frost
Co-creator, Twin Peaks. Screenwriter, The Fantastic Four, Storyville. Author, The Paladin Prophecy, The Greatest Game Ever Played, The Secret History of Twin Peaks.

“In addition to having a superb editorial eye and spot-on narrative instincts, Jodi’s knowledge of the YA audience is so comprehensive I call her ‘the teen whisperer’. Her help in shading the voices of characters in this ever-evolving cohort was invaluable.”

Lisa F. Smith, Esq
Author, Girl Walks Out of a Bar

“My memoir, Girl Walks Out of a Bar—the colorful story of my descent into and recovery from addiction—would not be the bestseller that it is without Jodi Fodor. She provided a level of editing and revision that I hadn't even imagined. I had worked on this manuscript for many years, from scribbling the earliest ideas and passages to the formulation and reworking of a manuscript in workshops and with mentors—I thought the book was ready. But then Jodi got involved. With her doctoring, the pace increased, 60 pages were cut from the manuscript, and the story began to soar with visuals, humor, crisp dialogue, and metaphor. And she completely captured my voice, which I found fascinating. And now the book is flying off the shelves. It sold out its first printing in a week. I can't wait to work with her again!”

Katharine Sands
Agent, Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency

“Jodi Fodor is a truly excellent editorial collaborator. Keenly on-target, ever diligent and always on-time, Jodi is a delightful person to deal with - and a total pro. She brings her special blend of abilities - dramatic insight, dexterous text - to a myriad of writing projects, and does so with panache. Working with Jodi, I personally enjoy seeing clients' voices come alive, and their books published to acclaim. On behalf of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, I enthusiastically recommend Jodi Fodor - and ringingly endorse her!”

Herb Jordan
Writer, producer, composer. Owner, Adage Group. Author, Motown in Love

“Jodi and I have collaborated on a number of projects, including TV treatments, screenplays, nonfiction books, short fiction, and essays. I find her contributions invaluable, as she has the creativity of a true artist and the sharp eye of world-class editor. She comes to the table with ideas, and she creates the kind of energy that makes even more ideas come to life. For Motown in Love, she thoroughly researched and edited the content, revised the foreward, and kept the project moving for an on-time delivery to the publisher. As I wrote in the acknowledgments of that book, ‘Let it be said, every book should have a Jodi Fodor.’”

Tim Clegg
CEO, Americhip, Americhip Books

“Jodi has a special gift with words. Every time I show her a speech or essay I’ve written that I think is close to perfect, she turns it into something infinitely better. I can’t explain it really, it’s that ability that certain professionals have, and they make it look so easy. When you hear her version you can actually feel how smooth it is. Her writing can be very subtle or powerful, serious or funny. . . it’s a gift.”

Toni Robino
Owner/CEO, Windword Literary Services, LLC

“Jodi Fodor is one of the most creative, talented and skillful writers that I’ve had the pleasure to work with. In addition to having all the qualities that a successful writer and editor need to bring a book to fruition, Jodi has keen insights and a wonderful sense of humor.”

Services

Developmental Editing

Copy Editing

Editorial Assessment

Languages

English (US)

Non-Fiction

Biographies & Memoirs

Business & Management

Entertainment

Psychology

Fiction

Contemporary Fiction

Humor & Comedy

Literary Fiction

Romantic Comedy

Certifications

MFA, Creative Writing

Awards

Common Sense Media's ON For Learning Award

Editor

Self-employed

January, 2012 – Present (over 10 years)

I work as a freelance copy/line editor, developmental editor, manuscript assessor, and writing coach for publishing houses and literary agencies. I work on memoir, fiction, psychology/self help, YA, business, and humor.

Writer/Editor/Developer

Self-employed

January, 1993 – Present (over 29 years)

I've worked as a writer, editor, and developer of ideas in business, education, music, tech, and toys, and I've studied fiction writing extensively. Because my clients represent such a broad range of industries and interests, I've developed the ability to write and edit effectively across genres, themes, and subjects.

Some of my former employers:

General Motors (writer), Lexington Savings Bank (writer), Institute of Reading Development (teacher), California State, University, Long Beach (teacher)

Some of my recent and current clients (idea development, writing, editing):

Mattel, Fisher Price, Sphero, Americhip, Heavenspot, Tovolo, Disney, Frame.io, UCI Cybersecurity Policy and Research Institute, Serendipity Literary Agency, Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency

* I've written, revised, and ghosted some very exciting essays, articles, speeches, marketing campaigns, books, and sections of books.

* I'm the creator and content developer of the award-winning vocabulary app, SAT Word Slam. It's snarky, so it was a lot of fun to write.

* And I'm a former college writing teacher (and current tutor), so I truly care about language; my standards are high (just ask my students). Several times a week, I read grammar and style guides just for fun. Yes, fun!

The Paladin Prophecy: Book 1

Mark Frost

From the co-creator of the groundbreaking television show Twin Peaks comes an exciting adventure series with a unique combination of mystery, heart-pounding action, and the supernatural. Meet your new action-adventure addiction!Will West is careful to live life under the radar. At his parents' insistence, he's made sure to get mediocre grades and to stay in the middle of the pack on his cross-... read more

Hello, Goodbye: A Novel

Stollenwerck, Kate

Girl Walks Out of a Bar: A Memoir

Lisa F. Smith

"Lisa Smith gives us a darkly comic, honest, and completely relatable inside look at high-functioning addiction in the world of corporate law-a sort of 'Sex and the Psych Ward.' It's inspiring, informative, and impossible to put down." --Jennifer Belle, best-selling author of High Maintenance and The Seven Year Bitch "Whether she's telling the town car driver to turn around so she can ditch sh... read more

The Little Book of Healthy Beauty: Simple Daily Habits to Get You Glowing

Dr. Pina LoGiudice

As seen on Dr. Oz, a revolutionary, naturopathic plan that enhances beauty, improves health, and reverses aging, Dr. Pina's powerful program is guaranteed to make you glow from the inside out.The philosophy of naturopathic medicine is to use the most natural methods to achieve optimal health and beauty. People who follow this philosophy have a "glow"--an almost indescribable radiance, beauty, ... read more

Motown in Love: Lyrics from the Golden Era

Here at last: all the words to all the great love songs from the golden era of Motown, when the Motown sound dominated the charts and kids fell in love, broke up, and fell in love again to its irresistibly danceable hits. Born in inner-city Detroit but loved by people all around the world, the songs of Motown remain unmistakable and unforgettable: “I’ll Be There,” “My Girl,” “Ain’t No Mountain... read more

The SAT Word Slam: Rhyme Your Way to a Better Vocabulary and Higher SAT and ACT Scores

Jodi Fodor

The number one way to improve your score on the SAT is by improving your vocabulary. Nothing is more important? Princeton Review Perspicacious. Ubiquitous. Garrulous. Improvident. Solvent. Benevolent. These are the sorts of words that may befuddle you when you take the SAT. What you need is a book that makes these words fun to learn and easy to remember and this one does just that. This clever... read more

The Ghost Marriage: A Memoir

Mickelwait, Kirsten

Silent Agreements: How to Free Your Relationships of Unspoken Expectations

Linda D. Anderson PhD, Sonia R. Banks PhD, Michele L. Owens PhD

Silent Agreements will help readers define the unspoken beliefs and expectations that might be causing dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and resentment in their relationships, giving them the tools to explore these agreements and work toward healthier communication with a partner, friend, boss, or family member.If you have relationships, you've likely been part of silent agreements. Silent agreeme... read more

Professionalism

Professionalism

Quality

Quality

Value

Value

Communication & Punctuality

Communication & Punctuality

Jody earns five stars across the board. She's an excellent reader and writer and knows how to tactfully and insightfully convey editorial suggestions.

Tom Clark, March 2022

Jodi nailed our personalities and we love how our book is turning out. We were fortunate to have a great editor and if we had any questions she quickly responded.

Kathy Lanyon, March 2022

Jodi is the best! She fully understands what we are looking for in our book and puts it into words that we could never have done.

Kathy Lanyon, February 2022

So I’m going to save you a lot of time and heartburn: stop scrolling through Reedsy profiles and hire Jodi Fodor right now—if she’ll take you. Seriously, put down the mouse. I’ve worked with several editors and book coaches, both through Reedsy and independently, and nobody can match Jodi’s talent and dedication. I was trolling Reedsy because I had received feedback on my memoir manuscript fr...

Matt Fogelson, January 2022

Working with Jodi has been an absolute joy! She’s friendly and supportive, but she also challenges you to dig deep for the best in your manuscript and to look at your writing in new and exciting ways. She knows the business and she’s an educator, how can you beat that? I’ve already learned so much from her, and I look forward to collaborating with her in the future. Thank you for everything, Jodi!

Megan Farison, January 2022