EDITORIAL SERVICES
I’m pleased to offer independent studies, classes, and personalized editorial feedback on manuscripts and works-in-progress. Classes may be one-on-one or organized with a small group. For manuscript consults, I welcome works of all lengths, from short stories and personal essays to full-length novel manuscripts and memoirs. I’m happy to customize my editorial and advising services to meet your specific needs.
Independent Studies:
This service can take a variety of forms: a lecture, workshop, or course designed to meet you wherever you are on your writing journey, to provide readings to support your creative endeavors, writing exercises, feedback on works-in-progress, and meetings (by phone, email or video chat) to discuss your writing and ideas further.
Classes may be conducted on an individual basis or with multiple participants to engage in weekly readings and writing exercises, a formal workshop, and meeting sessions via Zoom. Topics include, but are not limited to: Writing The Family, Writing Through Illness, Wading Through Grief, Food as a Vehicle for Memory, The Art of Translation, and Book Reviewing Through a Social and Political Lens.
Pricing: From $300 - $2,000 dependent on independent study or class structure
Consult Manuscript Evaluation:
This service includes a thorough read of a work-in-progress or complete manuscript with an emphasis on large-scale edits, a feedback letter (1-2 pages), and a one-hour follow-up meeting (by phone, email, or video chat) to discuss the manuscript further.
Pricing: Starting at $150, dependent on word count
In-Depth Manuscript Evaluation:
This service includes a thorough read of a complete manuscript including extensive in-line notes, a substantial feedback letter (3-5 pages), and a one-to-two-hour follow-up meeting (by phone, email, or video chat) to discuss the manuscript further.
Pricing: Starting at $250, dependent on word count
To make inquiries, please email: jenessa.abrams@gmail.com
Testimonials
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with Jenessa. I grew tremendously as a writer, and it allowed me space to explore narrative structures and the real impacts they can have on people.”
- Former Columbia University Graduate Student
“Jenessa knows how to identify the emotional truth of a book… She has an incredible work ethic. She’s open-minded, collaborative, intuitive, willing to challenge herself, and always respectful of deadlines. She’s worked with my other editorial colleagues at Guernica and the Rumpus — they have all had glowing things to say about her. It’s rare we get to work with a writer who is versatile, compassion, unpretentious yet rigorous. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity.”
- Raluca Albu, Online Editor at BOMB Magazine
"Jenessa is one of the most thoughtful and generous teachers I have ever worked with. She gently pushed me to go deeper into my writing, to think critically about my practice and who I am as an artist, while simultaneously creating a safe space to meet me exactly where I was. Jenessa provided extremely attentive and helpful feedback; her love of teaching and her enduring respect for her students was always felt."
- Former Columbia University Graduate Student
“I have been so grateful to work with and be taught by Jenessa Abrams... I have taken several writing courses in my academic career, however Jenessa has offered the most in-depth, personal, and generative feedback of any writing professor I've had. Her in-line comments on my writing have made me feel incredibly known and I am so grateful for her keen eye to note where prose can be sharpened or deepened. Her presence made me feel immediately comfortable to take risks in my writing both in style and subject matter. I feel I have grown in so much confidence in my voice as a writer and I attribute so much of that to the encouragement and guidance I have received from Jenessa.”
- Former Columbia University Graduate Student
“Jenessa's unique gift as a teacher is the ability to identify and develop each individual student's talent and interests, even those they did not know they themselves had, and provide them with the skills to develop those very talents and interests. This pedagogy requires deep, careful attention and individualized assessments that meet students where they are; the exact opposite of an overly didactic and stifling one-size-fits-all approach. Having found her to be one of the most effective teachers I have worked with in many years, I have no doubt that any student would benefit immensely from having her as an instructor.”
- Former Rutgers Undergraduate Student
"Jenessa exhibited genuine care for her students and pushed her students to do better. Throughout [her course], I found myself not only getting better at writing but also finding joy in writing."
- Former Rutgers Undergraduate Student