Hire an editor
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Jennifer Harshman’s logo is a book-loving dragon, but she’s a unicorn.
Finding a skilled, reliable, and affordable editor is a challenge. Finding one who is fast as well is nearly impossible, like finding a unicorn. As a business owner serving authors, I needed to hire an editor who was all of those things. At first, I didn’t know how good Jennifer Harshman was, and that could have gotten in the way, but the person who recommended her is someone I trust, and I liked her work on his book.
Hiring her was a smart decision. She does a great job, and now I know I can turn to her anytime I need to.
What I like best is how reliable Jennifer is. I can hand her a book project and know that she’s going to have it done when she says she will—or early. That makes my life as the project manager so much easier.
Jennifer really knows her stuff. I produce content for a living and help authors get their books done, and she knew things that even I didn’t know. Even though she’s knowledgeable, she never comes across as condescending, like a lot of editors do. If you want things explained so you can improve your writing, she’ll do that; if you want her to just fix it (without explaining), she can do that, too.
I recommend Jennifer Harshman of HarshmanServices.com. Even though I kind of want to keep this great resource to myself and keep her a secret, telling people about her is the right thing to do.
“Speed. Affordability. Quality. Pick any two.” That’s the saying in business. Jennifer Harshman is the unicorn, because she provides all three.
—Andy Traub, owner of Take Permission Media and author of Early to Rise
Thoughts from another publisher:
After having Jennifer Harshman edit my book, I learned that getting a second pair of eyes to read and edit your work is worth it! My book is much better thanks to her effort!
I appreciate that she approached the project as if it were her own creation. It wasn’t that she tried to make it her own, but that she treated it as such. With the amount of detail she provided, not just through the first review, but the second as well (after I added more material), I could tell that she is a professional through and through.
Other reasons to hire HarshmanServices are their thoroughness, ease of communication, and speed.
I absolutely recommend and refer others to HarshmanServices! I am a good writer and a perfectionist at heart. Having Jennifer Harshman edit my book gave it the extra spit and polish it needed to deserve to sit on the shelf with any other professional business book on the market.
–James Woosley, author of Conquer the Entrepreneur’s Kryptonite and Challenge Accepted!
Hire an editor when returning to college
Note: We only help students if we can independently verify that the student has the professor’s permission. In some courses, the student’s ability to write, spell, and punctuate correctly is part of their grade, and getting any help is cheating. We won’t do that.
“I thought that the cost was going to be too high. For me, cost is always the biggest obstacle with the purchase of any product or service. I found that it was very affordable!
What I like the most about this is that it’s a personal service. Nothing impersonal about it. Three more reasons to work with Harshman Services:
- Cost effective
- Quick turn around time
- Easy to work with
I would absolutely recommend Harshman Services!”
—Scott Wrosch
“Editing is always difficult, especially as an author. There is an inherent fear that an editor will take your ideas and change them, rather than clarify them. There’s also an egotistical side to it—you don’t want to admit that what you’ve labored over isn’t perfect or could use another expert’s eye and opinion. But there’s no question that such help is absolutely necessary, especially for published work.
Jennifer Harshman was very careful to help me clarify my phrasing and descriptions, not to change them. If she couldn’t quickly see what I was trying to say, she would contact me and ask what the central point of the confusing parts were, or show me ideas of rephrasing for better clarity and pacing. In the end, not only were spelling and grammar corrected, but many verbose and slow passages had been trimmed without losing my character’s unique voice.
I liked that Jeni got just as excited and involved as I did about my book. She always checked for feedback for confusing passages so she was clarifying my voice, not changing it. My book read much better as a result.
Reasons to hire an editor
As a writer, there are multiple benefits for having an editor.
1) They help spot spelling and grammatical errors that pull a reader away from the narrative, but the authors no longer can see because they’ve been over their own work so many times, they see what they think is there, not necessarily what is actually on the page.
2) As a new set of eyes, they quickly spot confusing passages, or places where description or pacing are confusing, over-long, or simply not needed for the story. If I fall in love with a description that is distracting in the story, I need an editor to point that out, because the final product will be much stronger as a result.
3) At their best, editors help the author’s voice become clear, concise, and most like the true voice in the author’s head. Jeni is all those things, and more.
I have, I do, and I will continue to recommend her. When I finish my next work, Jeni will be my editor again.
An editor is the unsung but utterly necessary teammate in writing, especially for permanent publication. Jennifer Harshman is a wonderful, professional editor who will help any author, especially an independent author who needs editing but wants to work outside the huge houses where most creative control can be lost in the shuffle.”
—RJ Hughes, author of Surviving the Flier
“Aw, Jennifer, you’re amazing. I’m super excited, and a little nervous. I truly appreciate you!”
—C.C. Rose, author of Lovely, Brave, and Brilliant
Overdelivering on a promise
“I was so thrilled with the editing you did for me. You did an amazing job of finding all of the items that I needed to change. You found so many things that I had overlooked quite a few times. I felt a great deal of confidence putting my book on Kindle, knowing you had edited it professionally.
It wasn’t overwhelming when you returned the edited version. I was able to go through it easily and quickly. I loved your comments throughout! It also gave me more confidence about the story I wanted to share.
Three other benefits of hiring HarshmanServices.com:
1. Confidence of having a book that has been professionally edited
2. Several editing options to choose from, according to the author’s needs
3. Quick return on the editing services
I absolutely recommend your services! You are so easy to work with. You also returned my emails in a very timely manner and are easy to communicate with. I walked away knowing I had a professionally edited book ready to market. I will definitely use your services again. I enjoyed the entire process and know I will get a professional editing job each time I need your assistance. Thank you so much!”
–Julie Pollitt, author of A Land to Call Her Own and Finding Kate
Website Copywriting
“I had a couple things I wanted to get across but didn’t know exactly how to say them, and all I had to do was explain what I was thinking, and Jennifer Harshman did all the rest!
No doubt, I will tell anyone that is interested in listening, that HarshmanServices.com is the way to go. The great part is that we live 1,000 miles away and it was just as easy as using a company down the street!”
–Gina Tell, Vacation Rental Co.
“Thank you again for your promptness and professionalism. That was very fast! I enjoy working with you!”
—Janean Worth, author of The Narrow Gate series
“I was just talking you up to a few writers. I don’t know if I mentioned this to you at all, but you definitely deserve the business. It’s so hard nowadays to find someone who is able and willing to help when it comes to writing and publishing. You do great work! I understand that it’s a business you run here, but it never seems like you let the business overshadow your passion. I have much respect for you just based on that alone.
—J. Evan Johnson, author of the When It’s . . . series
Hire an editor for E-Learning Courses
We’re just on the first round, and you already have it nearly perfect! I had no doubt that you could take this task and have no trouble with it. Thanks for the great work. I’m extremely happy with the results. This really saves me weeks of time!
–Jake Lang, course creator
And, what may be the best testimonial ever written:
Jennifer Harshman, you are a damn good editor because you help me take my terrible writing and grammar and make it into something worth reading. Thank you.
—Patricia Herman, blogger of blessed memory