The Secret Thief
Judith Jaeger

Mentoring and consulting

As a consultant to my novel, Judy has guided me through the pitfalls of those first drafts to a final clean-up version. Her motto—"It's your story, tell it your way"—keeps me focused on where I want the story to go, not where others think it should go. Judy has a gift to teach others her love of writing; it's a gift she shares with many lucky writers, students and friends. I value her professional opinions and guidance through the tedious final draft phase of my work. But mostly I value her friendship."

- Kathy Mosio


Writing is a solitary act, and it can be difficult to know if and when you're work is on the right track. Friends and family don't always have the objectivity or knowledge to provide feedback that will help you improve your work, and you are often too close to the work to recognize where it soars and where it's falling apart.

Judy offers the support and knowledge you need to help you reach your writing aspirations. Judy has more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer and editor, a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, and extensive experience in teaching, publishing and book marketing and promotion to help you achieve your goals.


Writing mentor

Judy will help you define your writing goals and challenges and work with you to develop a plan to address them. She will meet with you once a month for one hour, either in person or by phone, to discuss your writing, your progress and next steps. The sessions are structured to meet your needs. You may need only one session to get started, or you may want to continue the sessions over a several months. Fee: $50/hour, due on or before each session. E-mail Judy to discuss your needs: judith@judithjaeger.com


Manuscript consultation

The key to getting published is a well-written manuscript. Beyond basic grammar, syntax and spelling, your manuscript must have a narrative arc that makes sense, well-developed characters, compelling dialogue and a sense of place and time, among other factors. Judy's manuscript consultation provides feedback on all of these areas. You receive a written report outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript and a one-hour meeting, by phone or in person, to discuss the report. You must mail Judy a hardcopy of your manuscript, double-spaced at 12 pt. type. Fee: $3/page, due with the manuscript at the start of the project. E-mail Judy to discuss your project: judith@judithjaeger.com