When Jenny Hansen suggested we do these showcase posts, I was excited. And if I’m honest, a little terrified. The doubts crept in like they always do. What do I really have to offer? But, I pulled my big girl panties up, took a deep look at who I truly was, and realized I had more to offer than I thought.

So, while this post might not be what Jenny expected, it is one million percent me in every way.

Who am I?

I’m Jenn Windrow. Author. Editor. Illustrator.
Professionally, I write vampire urban fantasy and romantasy. I'm a developmental editor. And when I need a break from those two, I am a hand-lettering artist. Personally, I’m a mom, a wife, and a lover of all things fuzzy.

I’m not a shout-it-from-the-rooftops kind of person. I’m the "sit quietly at my desk and disappear into a world of fantasy" kind. Writing has always been my passion. At times, my obsession.

Until it wasn’t.

My Journey to Editing

A few years ago, something shifted, and the words that had always come easily suddenly didn’t. I still showed up to the page, but something was missing. And I felt that loss deeply, profoundly. It gutted me. It was like I lost an important part of myself, and in all honesty, I thought about quitting writing more times than I could count.

But, I read this quote once that has stuck with me during the toughest of times...

Even though the very thought of putting pretty words on the page frustrated and angered me, I never stopped thinking about it. I may have had doubts, but I knew that I wasn't ready to throw in the towel. So I pivoted, turned to another love that allowed me to stay in the author world, but also allowed me to take the pressure off my own writing.

I started helping other writers shape their stories.

How editing showed me how I could make a difference.

What began as a way to stay connected to storytelling became something more. I dug into structure. Into character arcs. Into pacing and plot and that elusive saggy middle. I discovered I love the puzzle of a novel. The way a story can almost work, but not quite. And how a few structural shifts can transform everything.

At first, I undercharged for my services because I underestimated myself. That changed quickly.

Authors started coming back. They referred their friends. They thanked me for helping them see the blind spots in their manuscripts. I joined a small press as a developmental editor. I listed my services on Margie Lawson's site. I even started teaching some classes.

My client list grew, and it never really slowed down.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped questioning whether I was “playing” editor and realized I am one. I will admit, I still have imposter syndrome to this day, but it happens less often now.

What my writing/editing world looks like today.

In 2025 I found a way to balance my own personal writing and developmental editing for clients. I have split my day into two parts:

• The first half is all about me, my writing, my words, my worlds.
• The second half is fully devoted to my clients.

Lately, I have found my way back to writing. Not with the same obsession I had before, not yet at least. But I am making great strides on my latest manuscript, and digging deep into editing. I still struggle with the words from time to time, but it is getting easier, and I find myself being less frustrated.

I also ended up creating my own editing company, Redline Editing.

I work with four to five clients a month, and I haven’t had a quiet season in over a year. I specialize in developmental editing because that’s where transformation happens.

• Big picture.
• Structural integrity.
• Emotional payoff.
• The bones of the story.

The stuff that makes me excited to dig into a story.

But what I’ve come to love most is collaboration. I love getting on a call with an author, screen sharing a manuscript, and working through the problem in real time. Brainstorming. Pulling threads. Finding the fix together.

One-hour Strategy Sessions.

I created one-hour strategy sessions for authors who don’t necessarily need a full edit but do need clarity.

Whether it’s a tangled plot, a character who won’t behave, or a middle that refuses to hold tension, we solve it together. I have even found myself on a call with clients early in the morning working through plot holes on the fly.

Because at the end of the day, stories matter. And it turns out I’m really good at helping them become the version they’re meant to be.

Authors don’t just need feedback. They need clear direction on how to make their story stronger. My developmental critiques focus on story structure, character arcs, pacing, and the elements that turn a good manuscript into a book readers can’t put down.

I charge 150.00 per hour for an on the fly developmental edit. And in that time you get one-on-one time, where we work through whatever part of the book you think you need help with. In the end, you will get a fully marked up manuscript, a brainstorming session to help you move forward, and the insight into what an editor thinks your weak spots are and how to fix them.

You can email me at je**************@***il.com if you are interested in scheduling your session here.

But today, I do have a special offer...

My offer to the loyal WITS readers.

And since I love helping authors straighten out their crooked plots or make that first paragraph dazzle, I decided to open up 3 - 1-hour slots, exclusive to you, the loyal readers of Writers In The Storm. I'll pick three readers from the comment section at random on Monday morning to work one-on-one with.

From Lost to Found

That's it. That's my journey from writer to editor. From losing myself to finding myself again. And stepping out of my comfort zone (something I hate doing), to expanding my small business into something sustainable, while I find my path back to my words and worlds.

I hope this shows that sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone, is exactly what you need to move foward.

About Jenn Windrow

Jenn Windrow once attempted to write a “normal” book—and promptly bored herself into a coma. So now she sticks to what she does best: writing snarky, kick-butt heroines, broody supernatural men, and more sexual tension than a vampire in a blood bank.

She’s the award-winning author of the Alexis Black novels and the Redeeming Cupid series, where the undead never sparkle and the drama is always delicious. Jenn moonlights as a developmental editor, helping other writers wrangle their wild plots and tangle-free prose.

When not arguing with her characters or muttering about Oxford commas, she can be found binge-watching trash TV, wrangling the slew of animals that live in her house (husband and teenagers included), or telling herself she’ll only have one more cookie.

You can find her at jennwindrow.com or lurking on social media where she pretends to be an extrovert.