Hi, I’m Jessica Froberg
I’m a writer, a mom of three boys, an avid reader, and strange as it sounds, a query fanatic. I love finding that exciting turn-of-phrase that takes a query from boring to brilliant.
I love plants, and I believe books also need pruning, good soil, and plenty of work. I’ve worked with countless writers, some of which have become NYT bestsellers and featured in popular book boxes. Now I want to help you grow confident and achieve your dream story.
My Experience
Writing
In the last six years, I’ve written five books and spent thousands of hours getting to know not only the craft side of things but also the publishing industry.
Critiquing
As a critique partner for three published authors, including one New York Times bestseller, I’ve developed a keen sense of story flow that helps me evaluate manuscripts and provide feedback on everything from character arcs to world-building. I specialize in romance, fantasy, and thrillers. I’ve worked on Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Adult books. I also participate in a monthly in-person SCBWI critique group in my city.
Pitching
From 2019-2021 I was a slush pile reader for the Pitch Wars competition and Author Mentor Match, analyzing hundreds of queries. After querying five books with high request rates and helping friends pitch to publishers, I know how to create an excellent hook. My strength is finding the key parts of your book that stand out and arranging them in a snappy way that makes agents or readers want to read more.
My Services
Query and Pitch Packages
Stand out in agents’ slush piles with an exciting, unique, and clear pitch for your book.
Ensure your future readers are grabbed by your book’s description and ready to buy.
Developmental Edits and Critiques
Take your pick from several packages. I’m here to help, whether it’s with an in-depth look at your opening, a broad overview of your book as an experienced beta reader, or someone in the weeds with you on every line.
Query Readiness Guide
Querying is an art form that’s completely different from drafting a book. I’m here with the color-by-numbers guide to help ensure you’re confident in sending off your queries.
TESTIMONIALS
“Jessica’s passion and dedication to a project is unmatched. She really takes on your work as if it’s her niece/nephew’s book with how much she is willing to give. She has a great eye for all the big things writers struggle with, namely helping you line edit, tighten up word count, and solve pacing issues—both overall and scene by scene! Plus her in-line feedback is encouraging (sometimes squealy!) if not downright funny! 10/10 would recommend!”
— Lindsay Puckett, author of The Glass Witch and The Odds
“What I really appreciate about working with Jessica is her high standards, work ethic, and personal compassion. She is knowledgeable and shares her wisdom without coming off as arrogant or a know-it-all. She directs questions to uncover the heart of the story so you can drill down to the essentials. She is so easy to work with and always includes laughter to make the whole process enjoyable. I would highly recommend Jessica!”
— Shannon MacKinnon
“I have worked on several books with Jessica now, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. Her developmental feedback is always insightful and sharp, and her knack for romantic arcs and pacing is excellent. Not only have her critiques helped me grow as a writer, but her enthusiasm and kindness makes the revision feel manageable no matter how much editing is required. She’s a reader at heart, and her love of story and character makes her an incomparable resource for any writer.”
— Jessica S. Olson author of Sing Me Forgotten and A Forgery of Roses
“Jessica's critique of my first 10 pages and my query were SPOT ON. She got right to the heart of the issues and offered brilliant suggestions. I feel so much better about my query and pages because I know they are dynamite. No exaggeration - I got an offer of rep only a few days after querying.”
— Sarah Rowlands
“I'd been on the fence about seeking editorial feedback on my query package for weeks and I am incredibly glad that I hired Jessica. We worked out a custom package to include my query letter, synopsis, and first 10 pages. When I expressed my anxiety around sharing my work, Jessica quickly put me at ease with her constructively phrased feedback, praise about what worked well, education on why something wasn't working, and genuine excitement about my story. Her input was invaluable and my materials are far stronger now. If anyone needs a confidence boost from a discerning eye, I cannot recommend Jessica's editorial services enough.”
— Taylor Leigh
“Jessica has an incredible eye for story. Her deep understanding of narrative structure, world building, and astute attention to detail are only outdone by her unparalleled work ethic. I’ve been so fortunate to have her as a critique partner on several of my books. I highly recommend her editorial services, especially for writers who can’t quite figure out what’s not working in their story. She will wow you!”
— J. Elle, author of the NYT and international bestseller House of Marionne
“Jessica's feedback was immensely helpful in strengthening my query letter and first ten pages. Her notes were specific and actionable, and her suggestions improved my pitch so much! I feel way more prepared to enter the query trenches, and highly recommend her services to anyone beginning the querying process!”
— Samantha Meyer
“Jessica was such a pleasure to work with! She balances her feedback with genuine encouragement, applause, and experienced critique. Her notes go the extra mile, often giving multiple examples, catching reoccurring issues, and offering creative solutions. Her credibility is clear through her instruction and suggestions. She champions the writing as a true coach and has helped me see exactly what I need to do to improve my manuscript. I plan to run my future projects by her as well!”
— Sarah L.
One of my favorite sayings is, “Draft the book for yourself. Edit for your audience.”
But like most quotes, it’s a lot easier said than done. Figuring out what work your book needs can only be achieved by getting readers. Take away any uncertainties by hiring an experienced editor who can see your vision and guide you on how to accomplish it.
My job is to enhance your book by:
Eliminating inconsistencies in characters and plot
Ensuring each scene is engaging and essential
Establishing strong characters and worlds
Invest in your story
Things I don’t do:
Copy Edits. I know grammar basics and will point out what I can, but I’ll never be able to help you place a comma like I can help you pace a fight scene.
Tell you whether your book will make it in publishing. Personal preference defies any reassurance of success. All I can do is help improve what you have and then we all hold our breaths to see if it soars.
