John Nelson – Editor

I have provided book development, editorial, and consulting services for more than 100 works across a wide variety of genres, with an emphasis on speculative and visionary fiction, science fiction, memoir, spirituality, and prescriptive nonfiction. As an editor and writer, I know firsthand how to create a well-crafted and publishable book.

In publishing, I was part of the team at Hampton Roads Publishing who acquired and first published Neal Donald Walsh’s mega-bestseller Conversations with God. As editorial director of Bear & Company, I acquired titles such as the preeminent Maya Cosmogenesis 2012 and The Giza Power Plant.

While I am interested in many diverse genres, I love editing speculative fiction and nonfiction that stretch the boundaries of science and metaphysics. That includes memoirs of people with extraordinary experiences. My edit of the sci-fi novel The Venus Directive features an AI with a soul. In The Father Nobody Knows, an abused woman in search of her biological father discovers her real father is God the Father.

Working with an author is akin to going on a journey together. It’s often one where I help them delve deeper to bring excellence to their work so that our shared understanding of their book unfolds. The writing experience can be one of self-exploration, so then my role is to be a trusted guide and support in that process.

When I provide an assessment, I give the author detailed suggested changes in notes or memo form. With fiction, this will include an in-depth critique of plot and subplots, worldbuilding, character arcs, pacing, and narrative voice. For nonfiction, the focus is on topic structure.

I hope you’ll take this journey with me.

Past Comments:

“I was stuck in writer’s block for two years, overwhelmed by the complexity of my story. One conversation with John changed everything. In less than an hour, he identified the core issue and helped me see the path forward.”— Catherine Fendig, author of The Father Nobody Knows, Linkpoint Publishing.

“John’s uncanny ability to take an elusive, creative idea and create a solid direction of coherent storytelling is often incomprehensible to me in its clarity.” —Dee Wallace, author of Bright Light, O-Books.

“To my word guru and map maker, John: thank you for your brilliant editing, brainstorming, wise counsel, and for those inspirational kicks in the ass when I needed it.” —Dr. Connie Mariano, The White House Doctor, St. Martin’s Press.

“John breathes manuscripts and storylines like people breathe air. He was able to help us mine our diamond in the coal and polish its story and text until it glistened in the sunlight. For us, John was the kind of editor every author dreams about.” —Gail Harris and Brandi Rarus, Finding Zoe, BenBella Books.

“John is some kind of genius in how he clarifies scientific concepts. I wish I had been working with him on my early research papers.” —Richard Lippman, MD, PhD, nominated for the Nobel Prize in Medicine 1996, author of Stay 40 without a Diet, Outskirts Press.