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             NEW CLASS ALERT! BEGINNING THE NOVEL 
Starting September 19th, I’ll be teaching a brand new class through The Loft Literary Center. Beginning the Novel: Creating Compelling Fiction will meet via Zoom on Thursdays, 1-3pm CDT, for 12 weeks. This class is open to all levels! If you’ve got the grain of an idea for a novel, a few chapters written, or even a dusty draft you’re ready to revisit, this is the class for you. As in all my workshops, this class will be a safe, supportive, and creatively rich environment for you to take risks and bring your writing to the next level. You'll leave the class with a solid first chapter and a path to keep going! 
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DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING
Also known as book doctoring, this type of edit is best for complete, book-length manuscripts. I'll read your manuscript twice: first to get a sense of the story, plot, and structure, and then again for character development, continuity, dialogue, pacing, transitions, and voice. I’ll tell you what is working as well as what isn’t, and I’ll come up with concrete, actionable revision strategies. You'll receive notes within your manuscript and a 6-10 page editorial letter outlining my thoughts and suggestions; we'll also have a 60-minute Zoom or phone meeting to answer any lingering questions and discuss next steps.
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Book COACHING
This is a great option if you're looking for accountability! We'll set a schedule of submissions (typically every other week or once a month), you'll email your pages to me, I'll read and mark them up, and then send them back. We'll have Zoom or phone meetings to go over my revision suggestions, set new goals, and discuss anything else that’s on your mind. I've found that booking three sessions at a time works best -- this package is for you if you want to create and maintain writing momentum. Think of it as your own one-on-one class.​
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Query letter help

Why are query letters so much harder to write than an actual novel? A mystery for the ages. But I'm here to help! You'll send me your text in progress and we can either go over it together over Zoom, creating prose that will catch the eye of an agent,  or you can send it to me and I'll work on it and send it back. You do not have to do this alone! I'll also give you advice on finding an agent and help you narrow down your list to the best matches. 
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 HERE'S WHAT SOME CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY:


​"Jessie has quite literally taught me how to write. With a gentle hand but a dictator's determination, she steered me toward my goal. Her superb editorial skills and instincts are in large part responsible for the coherence and completion of my first novel. So, if my book sucks, blame her."
-- Paulina Porizkova, author of A Model Summer

"Jessie Sholl is the total package. She's an editor who knows -- and will help you master -- all the technicals of character development, structure, plot and theme. But she's also highly intuitive; she's able to somehow just feel when something, though technically proficient, could be even better and will tell you exactly how to take your work from good to great, from great, just possibly, to transcendent."
-- Lorna Graham, author of The Ghost of Greenwich Village

"Jessie Sholl provided me with invaluable editing and feedback on two books, a memoir and a novel. She’s supportive but never afraid to tell you what’s not working. Think of her as a tonic for your manuscript, or a secret weapon."
-- Elisabeth Eaves, author of Bare and Wanderlust

"Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, Jessie Sholl will help you become a better writer. She has a talent for understanding where your work needs to go, and explaining how you can get it there. I can't thank her enough for her supportive and honest editorial touch."
-- Robert Glick, contributor to Travelers' Tales Prague