Welcome to my website! I’m Jordyn, an author and freelance editor with a passion for creating memorable stories that nestle in readers’ hearts—and helping others do the same.
I’m a recent graduate of Liberty University with a B.S. in Creative Writing: English and a Minor in Professional Writing. As a student, I edited dozens of novels for fellow authors, culminating in a mentorship with a professional editor. During college, I studied research, publishing, novellas, screenplays, and other areas of creative writing. I would be honored to help you develop the story of your dreams!
Here at my blog, you’ll find weekly writing tips, updates on my books, and thoughts on editing. These posts will help you refine your manuscript before you pursue professional editing. I hope my posts excite and inspire you in your own creative journey!
How I Got Started Writing
I’ve loved reading and writing for as long as I can remember. When I was little, the stories my parents read to me ignited my love of storytelling. I loved learning new words; the more words I learned, the more aspects of my imagination I could express. Growing up, I devoured book series, especially Beverly Cleary’s Ramona Quimby books and Sara Pennypacker’s Clementine series. I filled notebook after notebook with drawings and cartoons. Throughout elementary and middle school, I experimented with novellas, short stories, graphic novels, and fanfiction.
In seventh-grade English Literature, I received the assignment to create my own superhero and write his or her origin story. Drawing on my interest in historical inventors, I created Luna Edison, the great-great-granddaughter of Thomas Edison. Luna gained her electromagnetic powers by touching a lightbulb that belonged to her ancestor.
After completing the assignment, I created three more characters—the descendants of Orville Wright, Vincent van Gogh, and Isaac Newton. Newton’s descendant, Tyme, had the superpower of time travel, so her group of friends became known as the Time Travel Team. I set a goal to write and publish this book, so I spent the next two years planning, outlining, researching, and developing the characters.
In 2018, I independently published this novel, The Time Travel Team: The Great Historic Mystery. (Note: Amazon is the only reliable link. This book has been stolen and copied on other sites, such as AbeBooks, so the versions sold on those sites aren’t my original work.) In this YA science fiction adventure, four modern-day descendants of historical figures must use their newfound superpowers to solve a mystery left by their ancestors. In the near future, I plan to publish a special anniversary edition of this novel, with the same plot and characters but updated narration and dialogue. For further updates, sign up for my newsletter!
My Stories
I write contemporary and science fiction novels that feature time travel, found family, close friendships, witty humor, coming-of-age narratives, and plots inspired by science and history.
Based on the Save the Cat! story genres, my favorite story types are Golden Fleece (road trip), Rites of Passage (life change), and Fool Triumphant (underdog). I enjoy weaving real-life facts into entertaining adventures, and I seek to create stories that are suitable for a wide audience and free of objectionable content.
Currently, I’m working on several projects, including a time travel story about a pair of twins and their long-lost mother, as well as a contemporary series that explores sibling dynamics. In addition, after I publish the anniversary edition of The Time Travel Team: The Great Historic Mystery, I plan to write its sequel. To learn more about my stories and works-in-progress, please visit this page.
My favorite story elements include time travel, multiple POVs, engaging character relationships, and families going on adventures together. I also have a soft spot for the gentle, tenderhearted, optimistic characters, as well as the funny characters who use their upbeat enthusiasm to hide their sadness and fear.
Some of my favorite authors include Francine Rivers, Stephanie Morrill, Katherine Briggs, Daniel Schwabauer, Kathy Buchanan, Nadine Brandes, Cathy Gohlke, Charles Martin, Karen Kingsbury, and Tessa Afshar.
How I Got Started Editing
Before publishing The Time Travel Team: The Great Historic Mystery, I performed several rounds of editing, including developmental editing, line editing, proofreading, and formatting. I thoroughly enjoyed taking the rough draft and shaping it into a polished final creation.
After joining the Clear Water Press online writers’ community, I realized that I enjoyed editing other authors’ novels as well as my own. I developed an ongoing passion for supporting writers during the process of brainstorming, untangling plot problems, deepening characters, polishing prose, and ensuring consistency. I’ve also led critique groups online and in person, encouraging authors with a balance of genuine praise and constructive feedback.
I offer a variety of editing services to help you refine your story at every level. In Developmental Editing, I analyze big-picture story elements, such as plot structure, character development, theme, dialogue, emotion, and point of view. In Line Editing, I review the flow of your prose, while Copyediting and Proofreading ensure correctness, consistency, and clarity. I also offer Manuscript Critiques, Story Coaching, and many other services. To learn more, please visit this page.
Some of my favorite topics in creative writing include scene structure, Save the Cat! plot structure, contemporary fiction, engaging character relationships, narrative voice, showing vs. telling, and the similarities and differences between novels and movies. Keep a lookout for blog posts about these topics!
My Priorities as a Writer and Editor
Stories are powerful. They engage our imaginations and allow us to experience the world through others’ eyes. Simply by arranging letters on a page, we can evoke emotions, create worlds, and impact lives.
I’m passionate about cultivating a story from idea to full-fledged novel—whether it’s my own book or yours. Whether I’m writing about a society of time travelers or a modern-day group of siblings, I seek to create enjoyable stories that explore the value of family and the complexities of adolescence. I hope readers see themselves in my characters, empathize with their journeys, and close the book with a deeper understanding of the world and themselves.
As an editor, my purpose is to be your cheerleader as you achieve your writing goals. First and foremost, I firmly believe in preserving the author’s voice. I treat your novel with as much care as I treat my own, but I also remember that it’s your story, not mine. Editing is like sculpting: each editorial comment chips away the stone to reveal the magnificent sculpture hiding inside. I don’t just edit your novel; I also encourage you in your writing journey and provide tools for you to continue growing in your skills.
I want to help you do for readers what stories have done for you: reveal new perspectives, invite you on adventures, and change your life for the better.
Thank you for reading my introduction post! I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my writing projects and editing services. Check back weekly for writing tips and updates, and feel free to introduce yourself and share your thoughts in the comments. I look forward to seeing you around!
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