HISTORICAL EDITORIAL

Jenny Q has a rare last-minute opening for a developmental edit on June 8th! If you're ready to take your historical fiction, romance, or fantasy manuscript to the next level, click here !

Whether you plan to seek traditional publication or you plan to self-publish, contracting our services is an investment in your novel's future! We have a passion for good books and are dedicated to improving the quality of self-published novels and helping authors who seek traditional publication present the best manuscript possible. We provide two types of editing: Developmental Editing We love to analyze stories to find out what makes them tick, what works and what doesn't, and why. When performing a developmental edit, we meticulously evaluate all of the elements of a manuscript: language, point of view, flow, pacing, story structure, characterization, and emotional connection, and provide an honest assessment of the manuscript's strengths and weaknesses, along with a summary of our observations and detailed suggestions for improvement. Developmental edits include a phone or video chat to discuss our notes in more detail and brainstorm plans for revision plus follow-up c...

Get professional feedback on your first pages from Jenny Q!  Whether you’re just starting your WIP or you’ve completed multiple drafts, let's make sure your story is off to a great start. Your opening pages have only one job: to make the reader want to keep reading. And there’s actually no one right way to do this. There are countless books, articles, and classes on the topic, and all of them offer valuable advice in some form or another. But there are some universal elements that every good story opener possesses. I will help you ensure your opening has them. I will read and evaluate up to 30 pages of your story’s opening (industry standard formatting), providing comments on the text, a brief summary of your opening’s strengths and weaknesses, and my suggestions for improvement.     I'll be focusing on: Structure Point of View Pacing Backstory and description Characterization Engaging the reader Follow-up discussions will take place via email. In the event that more...

  Get professional help on your outline from Jenny Q!  Whether you’re a seasoned plotter or you're making the transition from pantser, ensuring your outline is solid before you begin writing or revising a first draft can save you hundreds of hours of time and frustration and give you the motivation to keep going. What to expect: I'll review your outline before we meet and form my preliminary questions and concerns. Then we will meet via Zoom to go through your outline scene by scene, making notes as we go along. The workshop will be recorded for future reference. In this one-on-one workshop, we'll be focusing on: Cause and effect Flow and pacing Plot holes Redundancy Extraneous scenes Character motivation Character arc integration Subplot integration This service is available to writers of historical fiction, romance, mystery, and fantasy, including all of their subgenres. Price: $375 Need a little more help? The  Kickstarter Combo  includes a Story Outline Workshop ...

  Your story matters. Your writing deserves time. You’re allowed to invest in yourself. The Confident Writer Collective is a structured, supportive space for writers who are ready to establish a consistent, intentional writing practice that actually lasts. Through daily writing sprints, weekly challenges, and genuine community connection, you’ll stop writing alone and start showing up with clarity and confidence. Twice a month, you’ll join live group coaching sessions where you’ll get mindset support and craft guidance—so you’re not just writing more, you’re growing as a writer. This isn’t about hustle or pressure. It’s about momentum, gentle accountability, and becoming the kind of writer who finishes what they start. Join a group of awesome writers who understand that:   Rough drafts are normal Starting over isn’t shameful Progress counts even when it’s messy It’s safe to be imperfect It’s okay when life sometimes gets in the way Showing up is what counts the most Space is l...

Check out my debut book for writers!  If you're a writer who has ever struggled with doubt, envy, or discouragement, if you ever have days when you feel like you're not good enough and you think about giving up, I wrote this book for you. It's full of affirmations and motivational tips that will instantly boost your mood, shore up your confidence, and remind you that your voice matters. The ebook and print editions are on sale now, and it's FREE to read in Kindle Unlimited! Get Your Copy on Amazon 97% of people who start writing a book never finish it. But you’re not going to be one of them. Stop doubting yourself and write the story you were always meant to write. As an editor and book coach, I know the challenges writers face. I know what it feels like to be overcome by self-doubt, to struggle to make writing a priority, to fall victim to limiting beliefs, excuses, envy, and the fear of rejection. I know what it’s like to feel stuck, discouraged, and, worst of all, to...

  I'm Jenny Quinlan, but everybody calls me Jenny Q, and I hope you will too! I am an editor and book coach specializing in historical fiction and romance. I founded Historical Editorial in 2011, and since then I've edited over 500 manuscripts.  I love historical fiction! I edit across all of its subgenres, including romance, mystery, dual timeline, inspirational, fantasy, supernatural, LGBT, and young adult.  Click here to learn more about me! My clients range from New York Times bestselling authors to brand-new writers just starting out. Here are just a few of my clients' achievements: Goodreads Choice Award Finalist 12 Historical Novels Review Editors' Choice Awards Barnes & Noble Top Indie Pick Historical Fiction Company Book of the Year IndieBrag and Readers' Favorite Awards Chanticleer Book Awards Numerous regional and state writing awards   I depend on Jenny Q’s attention to detail and nuanced feedback of my work during both the planning and the early-dr...

Hi, I'm Aaron! I have edited everything from business reports to movie reviews to academic writing, but I particularly enjoy working with fiction. I've been an insatiable reader of fantasy (and science fiction!) for my whole life, and I'm well versed in a variety of subgenres (dark fantasy, high fantasy, urban fantasy, etc.). Historical fiction is a more recently acquired passion, but I find that I love it for the same reason: it allows you to look through the eyes of someone whose world, culture, and attitudes are often very different from your own, and in doing so, it challenges you to take a new look at the world around you. Click here to learn more about me!