I fact-check nonfiction books about science and society.
As a journalist, I know the vulnerability and fear of releasing something you've written into the world and hoping you've gotten everything right. That's why I love working with authors to make their books bulletproof. I relentlessly check every fact, from statistics to ambiguous phrasings, aiming to give authors peace of mind on publication day.
I checked Out of Office, by Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen, Tree Thieves, by Lyndsie Bourgon, Wolfish, by Erica Berry, You've Been Played, by Adrian Hon, and Wow in the Wild, a children's book about the animal kingdom. I also checked a chapter of Melinda Wenner Moyer's How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes and part of Fat Talk, by Virginia Sole-Smith.
As a journalist, I know the vulnerability and fear of releasing something you've written into the world and hoping you've gotten everything right. That's why I love working with authors to make their books bulletproof. I relentlessly check every fact, from statistics to ambiguous phrasings, aiming to give authors peace of mind on publication day.
I checked Out of Office, by Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen, Tree Thieves, by Lyndsie Bourgon, Wolfish, by Erica Berry, You've Been Played, by Adrian Hon, and Wow in the Wild, a children's book about the animal kingdom. I also checked a chapter of Melinda Wenner Moyer's How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes and part of Fat Talk, by Virginia Sole-Smith.
"My books are complicated, with a mix of archival research, current journalism, and big picture stats. Jen was thorough — and, just as importantly — worked efficiently on on the sort of timeline that books sometimes require. I have recommended her to so many other authors."
-Anne Helen Petersen "If you’re looking for a book fact-checker who can brilliantly oscillate between disciplines, ideas, sources—Jen is your person. As a first-time author I had lots of questions, and Jen was exceedingly patient, organized, and communicative with me through the process. She’s a gem!"
-Erica Berry |
My process: You send me a document of your book with its facts cited along with interview files, studies, and any other source materials. Using these materials (and some light research), I address facts in the book one-by-one. I strike through anything that I can confirm, suggest changes for anything that I have disconfirmed, and leave other comments as needed. My top priorities are getting every fact right and respecting your timeline and budget.
Scheduling: I usually schedule book fact-checking projects between one and six months in advance. I recommend getting in touch with me as early as possible to book my time.
Timeline: I typically need between two and three months to check a book.
Pricing: My rate varies widely based on the book's content and citations. Send me a sample chapter for a precise estimate.
If you're working on a tight budget, here's what I recommend:
Scheduling: I usually schedule book fact-checking projects between one and six months in advance. I recommend getting in touch with me as early as possible to book my time.
Timeline: I typically need between two and three months to check a book.
Pricing: My rate varies widely based on the book's content and citations. Send me a sample chapter for a precise estimate.
If you're working on a tight budget, here's what I recommend:
- Ask me for a reduced scope fact-check. For example, you might ask me to check only certain chapters or certain types of facts (such as scientific research and interviews). I'm happy to discuss options to come up with one that works for you.
- Cite your sources well. The better your citations, the fewer hours I will need to check your book.