2023

"Jason was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I let him know I had a deadline and exceeded expectations. Excellent work. Excellent communication. We’ll be back." —Deziree Gerrick, Christian author

"Jason is extremely talented! We are so lucky to have the opportunity to work with him ! His insight into plot development has taken our manuscript from good to great!" —Lexi Lovejoy, romance author (12 books worked on together in 2023)

"Jason is a brilliant editor." —Steeve Simbert, children's author

"When I embarked on the transformative journey of my debut book, Jason Pettus emerged as much more than just an editor. With his award-winning expertise, honed through a decade of steering the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography to acclaim, he proved to be both a mentor and a beacon of encouragement. CCLaP’s legacy of being named one of the top 10 indie presses in the U.S., along with its award-winning publications, is a testament to Jason’s commitment to literary excellence. Jason brought his deep editing prowess to my 71,000-word manuscript, skillfully reshaping it by emphasizing strengths and addressing areas of improvement. With his recent inclusion in the American Copy Editors Society, he further exemplified the dedication to maintaining the highest standards in the editing realm. His unparalleled ability to refine content, combined with a genuine care for the success of his authors, made my journey a rewarding experience. From reorganizing structures to eliminating elements more aligned with memoirs, Jason's meticulous approach elevated the essence of my work. Beyond the scope of my book, I've referred other author friends to Jason, which, in my eyes, is the highest commendation I can offer. His exemplary work speaks volumes, making him an invaluable asset in any writer's process. For any aspiring or seasoned writer seeking an insightful developmental editor with a legacy of excellence, Jason Pettus is the paragon. I am profoundly grateful for the privilege of having him play such an integral role in my first book, one that I am going all in on. Oh, and it’s great I can now count on Jason as a friend." —Steve Waddell, thought leader and author of the bestselling Valuepreneurs

"If you've arrived at the end of your writing and have no clue as to what to do next, but still want to self publish, Jason will do a great and honest job for you. He under promises and over delivers." —Steve Weaver, aeronautics memoirist

"I hired Jason for an in-depth line edit for my 114k word thriller novel. It was the third time I hired him for such an editing job, the previous two times having been for even longer novels. This time, like those, I came away extremely happy with the work performed. Jason is studious, provides astute grammatic editing, and offered me both a "light" and "heavy" word count reduction, each based on my preferred final manuscript. What sets him apart from any other editor I've known or done business with is his voluntary added developmental notes he provided me. He did this on his own and without further fee. They were instrumental in helping to make the final draft of my novel not just shorter and more technically correct, but more sensible due to the exhaustive research he did on the book's many details. I plan on hiring him again in the future and would absolutely recommend him to any serious author out there for fiction or non-fiction projects." —Jacob Moon, crime/horror author (third book worked on together)

"I hired Jason two months ago to be my developmental and copy editor on my new manuscript. This was my first time seeking out an editor and I was very nervous about finding someone on the internet that I could trust to work on my book. Writing a novel is such a personal experience, its not just the long hours alone with the keyboard. It’s also the hours I spent thinking, plotting and wondering about the story in my head before I even touched the keys. It is very hard to find someone who can understand my protectiveness of what has been created but also look at it with a critical eye of what needs to be fixed. Jason is all of the things. Professional, prompt and honest are just a few of the words to describe him. Honesty is the most important feature of an editor. Because there are several avenues that you require it. He needs to be honest with his feedback and not just repeat back what the author wants to hear, but he must also be honest in his approach to the story. Not allowing himself to project his own ideas, thoughts or biases into someone else’s story. Ego is a hard thing to set aside, and it takes a straightforward person to manage that. I set out to find a partner in my self-publishing career and I found one in Jason." —Kyle Wolfson, political thriller author

"It was an absolute pleasure working with Jason. I can't recommend him enough. His insight for developmental edits were exactly what I needed. I learned so much from working with him and it was truly invaluable. Highly recommend!" —Terra, romance author

2022

"Perfect mix of experience and skill. Provided valuable feedback on the book as we went along. Jason didn't just edit the book, he taught me a few things as well. Moreover, at the end of the work, he gave me some time to advise on how to proceed forward, without charging money for it. Great resource, great guy!" —Arij Jamil, corporate strategy author

"If you get a chance to work with Jason - don't even think twice! He will make your writing shine and, apart from the editing itself, he will provide you with many useful notes and insightful suggestions. He's also a very caring person, who will guide you through the whole process of editing a manuscript and be patient to explain and answer your questions at any stage." —Ksenia Belova, gothic horror author

"Thorough. On time and on budget. Hire him!" —Roy Ferguson, literary fiction author

"He was absolutely awesome! He gave detailed examples on the edits when they were needed and even checked on the historical accuracy. 10/10 I am definitely using him again. And he even gave me an overall opinion and tips on how to become a better writer when I asked at the end of the editing free of charge. Don't hesitate to pick him for your editing!" —Michelle Young, YA steampunk author

"It was a pleasure working with Jason. He is an excellent communicator, very easy to work with. He went above and beyond the scope of our project and also gave great advice where needed. He did an awesome job with our proofreading project. He was timely and made sure the project was completed before the deadline, which I greatly appreciated. I will definitely hire him again for our next project, and highly recommend him to anyone looking for someone in his profession." —Excelsior NYC film production company

"He is the best editor I could have asked for. Brilliant, and he perfectly really understood the concepts." —Linda Johnson, thought leader and business author

"I was really impressed with Jason's editing and so grateful that I hired him. He finished the job in 3 days, when most other freelancers needed 2-3 weeks. The editing itself was very thorough and really helped me make my book stronger. Plus, he's a very nice person! I will definitely hire him again!" —Erin Werley, energy healing author

"Jason is the best. I've used a few others on Upwork, but Jason is my hands-down favorite, and since I've found him, I'm hesitant to use anyone else. He has the innate ability to figure out what I'm attempting to say and makes my words shine. He takes the time to answer any comments or questions I have after the work is completed. Jason also returns edited work promptly. Jason has an extensive background in what makes a good story and is generous with this feedback. He can handle the job, whether a developmental or line edit. One of the short stories he edited was published and featured in a rom-com publication. Thank you, Jason!" —Kay Freeman, romance/erotica author

"My experience with Jason was spectacular. Excellent communication skills and always followed through on deadlines. Jadon was super helpful when I couldn’t figure out how to use Microsoft word, as I was inexperienced. Super patient! I really appreciated the work he did and how helpful he was in helping me publish my first novel. You can tell he really takes pride in his work. Thank you Jason! I look forward to working with you on the next manuscript." —Ashley Ashforth, YA science-fiction author

"I wish I could give more [than 5] stars for communication and cooperation!! Jason provided great guidance on the arc of a novella as well as tips for self-publishing. I was new to fiction writing, and I appreciated the comments he provided throughout my draft. His feedback was detailed and yet not overwhelming for someone new to the field. I will definitely contact Jason with my next project!" —Kirsten Kainz, crime author

"Jason was a great asset to getting my book ready for publishing. He's very knowledgeable about the publishing industry itself and did a great job giving critical high level feedback. His detail orientation improved the grammar dramatically as well. I wouldn't hesitate to hire him again, thank you Jason!" —Turner Rollins, philosophy author

"Jason met the specs of the contract (performing a grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling review) and more. He also provided extensive developmental notes, making sure to ask me if I wanted them before he sent them. I needed these extra notes (particularly on cutting down my manuscript to a more marketable word count), but it was still nice that Jason left the decision up to me. Jason respected my process and me as a professional while pushing me to do my best work. He even came in way ahead of schedule on completing his edit, which has allowed me to get back to work making my novel better. Jason is passionate about book editing, but he's also a reader and fan of the crime fiction/thriller genre, which was important to me, as that's my novel's genre. Combining his editing expertise with his love of the genre means Jason will give you notes from a technical perspective but also from a reader's perspective. I'm not sure which is more valuable, but I almost think the reader's perspective wins that race because your novel might hit all the technical milestones and still not be something readers will want to read and be willing to part with their cash to read. I'm sure Jason is equally competent with other genres, but my experience with him was with my thriller novel, so on that, I'll close with saying Jason helped me take the blinders off that were preventing me from fixing weak portions of my story. He was frank, honest, constructive, and kind, holding nothing back that needed to be said. He told me what was working and what still needed work. That's what I needed. If that's what you need, hire Jason today!" —Seth Kabala, crime author

"I cannot thank Jason enough! Self-publishing my first book is quite daunting and having Jason as a partner in this journey took a huge burden off my shoulders. I felt he genuinely cared about me and helped me provide the best possible experience to my readers. Each one of his edits and thoughtful suggestions made me happier and more confident about my book. :-) When I was struggling to find the right words, he understood what I meant to say and found a way to say it better, clearer, and more direct, all while maintaining my tone of voice. I’m super happy with the final result! It was such an enjoyable experience to work with an experienced, thorough and encouraging editor. Thanks again!" —Mariko Barra, freelancer advice author

"We learn so much every time Jason edits our manuscripts. Even when the story needs to be completely rewritten due to all the plot deficits ... he takes the time to teach us how to make the plot believable and solid for future stories! Such an honor to work with him." —Lexi Lovejoy, romance author (12 books worked on together in 2022)

2020 and 2021

"I thought the editing was well done and the task of which I set before [Jason] was competed in an reasonable time frame, and overall the job [he] did with editing and feedback was very good." —Nicholas Powter, gothic horror short fiction author

 "I engaged Jason to help me improve a 160,000 word novel that I have been working on for forty years. He communicated with me thoughtfully, in a direct and experienced manner and used his experience to greatly improve the novel and did what I could not do, reduced the word count to under 100,000 words while improving the quality and maintaining the core. Jason conducted both a thoughtful, structural edit, looking at the novel from top to bottom and working with me to sequence and pare back. At the same time, he provided invaluable copy edit level editing functions, greatly improving the readability, yet maintaining my voice. Not an easy feat! I felt like I had a real partner and an advocate in the work and will turn to Jason any time I have more work to do." —Jeff Rosen, 1970s heavy metal coming-of-age author

"Jason did an amazing job! He is very communicative, me and my team loved his edits and suggestions. I was choosing him upon his years of experience, his work and his competitive offer. I would recommend him and probably will hire him in the future again!" —Eduardo Soto, Instagram monetization expert

"Did a wonderful job and delivered an amazing final product. Went above and beyond, would hire again without question. Jason added personal touches to the project and really took the job seriously. He even offered to give follow up consultation in case I had any issues using the editing software. Really good work and an outstanding person." —C. Matthews on behalf of J. Matthews, children’s self-help author

"There isn’t a thesaurus with enough synonyms for ‘amazing’ to describe Jason. His edits are far above and beyond anything I’ve seen before. Working with him, I got the feeling that he really cared about my project and was just as proud of it as I was. Do not hesitate to hire him." —Michael Fridgen, alt-history political thriller author

"Jason was an absolutely invaluable part of editing and revising my short story collection. We worked together to bring the best out of my ideas without sacrificing the original voice. Jason found mistakes (grammar, syntax, spelling) that would’ve taken me months to catch if I had self-edited. He also provided creative input upon my request and pointed out plot inconsistencies, continuity errors and even fact checked some of the story’s elements. I recommend working with Jason on multiple projects, as he quickly achieves a sense of your personal style and keeps your story’s original magic by deciphering between intentional stylization and unintentional errors when editing. Jason also has a background in indie literature publishing, and can provide next steps for your work as far as getting it out in the world." —Travis Dahlke, Lovecraftian horror short fiction author

"My book sounded much better with him editing my work. It was quick and constant communication about his progress. I am working on another book and I know I will be working with him again soon." —Daniela Morassutti, YA science-fiction author

“I am very happy and satisfied with the developmental and copy editing work Jason did for me on my manuscript. I find him to be very professional, knowledgeable and someone who has a very good eye for things that can bring out an author’s ideas that are not clearly expressed as they should be. Further, he will point out to you in a very clear but professional way issues that are problematic in the manuscript, and that need to be addressed for a better outcome. He is very considerate and definitely not out to unfairly get your money. In essence, he is very professional and honest! I have decided to retain him as a consultant for further work following his editing of my manuscript. I strongly recommend him!” —Bakary Sonko, West Africa diaspora memoirist

"I loved the feedback provided, especially on one of the stories where I thought there was a twist to it I was missing. Keen observation of my characters, and other changes he suggested that also made the stories stronger. I feel much more confident about sending them out into the world and feel blessed to have found Jason on here. I hope he'll assist me again in the future." —Kay Klotzbach, literary fiction author

"Jason is a terrific editor who I strongly recommend. When looking for a professional editor who would work quickly, efficiently, and work to improve MY voice, I was happy to find Jason. I am excited about how Jason's editing improved my leadership book, helped me communicate my message more effectively, and partnered with me for success. If you are looking for a professional editor, you will not go wrong with Jason." —Wayne Ottum, C-level executive leadership author

"Jason proved to be a consummate professional. His editing skills exceeded my expectations. He kept to schedule, often delivering edits early. I ended up approving over 90% of his suggestions, and those I did not were merely due to author preference. My 180,000 word manuscript shined much brighter once Jason edited it; I thank him for making my book that I've worked on for seven years that much better than it was when I trusted him with it. His strong skills, open communication, and added assistance makes him someone I can comfortably recommend to any author."  —Jacob Moon, crime/horror author

"Exceptionally talented, prompt, and professional. An excellent eye for detail." —Rob Price, President, Gatekeeper Press

"Great and frequent communication. We had a technical difficulty with the formatting and [he] offered to cancel the fee even after doing all the work. Would definitely work with him again." —Monk Inyang, children's chapter-book urban fantasy author

"Jason provided us with clear, actionable feedback that allowed us to significantly improve our manuscript. Not only was he prompt, but he also exceeded our expectations in every way. We asked him for structural, developmental edits for a memoir, and he delivered. His observations showed deep knowledge of the publishing industry. We found his instincts to be spot-on, which wasn’t the case with the other editors we hired. Based on his unique insights, we would recommend Jason without reservation—even at double the price." —K. Johnson, cult memoirist

"I am thankful Jason and I had the chance to work together. Jason provided guidance on my third book, and he is one of the best editors I've collaborated with to date. His responses are timely, accurate, and clear. His explanations challenged my thinking, and I am a better writer because of his contributions. I highly recommend his services if you're looking for developmental or grammatical editing." —Justin Patton, Amazon bestselling business author

"Jason went above and beyond editing my work and suggesting ways for me to improve my writing style and general flow of topics. He was quick to answer my questions and finish the project in full, and his work was thorough." —Reese Dockrey, bodybuilding expert

“Jason Pettus has the keen editing eye of an experienced publisher and is one of our press’s go-to resources when we want to get our manuscripts in top shape before print.” —Leland Cheuk, owner of 7.13 Books