Here to help you make the world a better place
Do you have a great idea for a book, but are not completely confident of your own writing and editing abilities? Or, have you written a book and need to format it for a self-publishing company (such as Lulu, Blurb, AuthorHouse, Lightning Source, etc.)? Does your book need a great front and back cover that is both contemporary and timeless? Or maybe it's brochure, postcard, and newsletter text and/or design that you need.
You've come to the right place. I am a writer and graphic artist with a workspan over twenty years. I have written articles for several publications, and wrote a paperback biography of civil rights leader Medgar Evers. I am an experienced Adobe Creative Suite user, and I can also take great pictures - visit my portfolio at Behance.net and see my photos of Venice Beach, the farmer's market, and all sorts of sundry things. Oh, and don't forget to meet the Roundhedz©!
My specialty is creating and co-creating projects that contain positive psychology, projects that aim to help make the world a better place. There's too much negativity, nagging, and "no" in the media marketplace - from people who think that name-calling is effective political discourse to TV and radio shows that promote bullying as a catalyst for change. I say, let's counteract these dark forces with positvity, cheering, and "yes, we can!"
When Jennie B.H. sits down with a cup of tea, good things happen
Whether I am at home, in the park, sitting on a train or at the coffee shop, my mind is an active factory of ideas and words - a factory that can work for you, too.
What I can do for you
- Ghostwriting / Co-authoring
- Editing
- Article writing
- Newsletter writing
- Brochure writing
- Short ad writing
- Information product writing
Want proof? Read my writing samples, or check out my e-book, Goody Ideas. Also visit the website of life coach Sabina Mora, which I helped edit:
Working with Jennie was truly a pleasure. She listened carefully to my needs and was a big help with the website makeover. Jennie's writing style is smart, conversational and uplifting. I was happy with her input, she raised the bar. Thank you!
I can also help with
- Graphic design
- Brochures
- Newsletters
- Business cards
- Letterheads
- Calendars
- Display ads
- Postcards
- Flyers
- Medical forms
- Web graphics
- Books (printed and digital, including covers)
Let me say a few words about book design. I read just as much as I write, and as a reader it bugs me when I see typographical errors in books. For a few seconds, it tears me right out of the story. I have seen typos in everything from self-published books to books published by big names like Viking and HarperCollins. In one memorable instance, while reading Tim Farrington’s Lizzie’s War (paperback version), the name of one family changed from Williams to Washington and back.
I know this isn’t always the author’s fault. Sometimes, another party does the typesetting. Sometimes, publishers put pressure on authors to finish the manuscript yesterday, leaving no time for proper proofreading (as you know, spell check doesn’t catch everything, like typing “though” when you mean “through”).
Other times, authors send their manuscripts as is to self-publishing sites like Lulu.com and Blurb.com, without any proofing. I once looked through a Lulu-published book that appeared to be the author’s raw 8.5 x 11” manuscript shrank to 6 x 9” – Courier New font and all.
I say, if you want to compete with the big publishers, you need your book to look like it came from a big publisher. I can help you with that.
(P.S. Read Lizzie's War anyway – it's a great, heartwarming novel.)
What I will not do for anyone
As a writer and graphic artist, I want to know that my work is contributing to the forces of good.
I will not assist in projects that promote racism, sexism, homophobia, cruelty, fundamentalist religion, fraudulent or dangerous ideas, undeniable medical quackery, libel and slander, stupidity, and anything else that pollutes the mental marketplace.
I will not work for free unless it’s for a cause I believe in, or a tiny low-profit, high-visibility publication. Nor will I work for five dollars an hour. Working for wages too low to support my household devalues not only my own work, but that of every other freelance writer/graphic artist. My fee will be competitive but fair for both you and me.
Download my fee schedule here.
Ready, set...go!
Are you ready to share your good (goody?) ideas with the world? Send me an e-mail, and let's see what we can do together.
I still believe that this is a wonderful world - it's the only one we have! - and it would be an honor for me to help shine a light on our best parts. I look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
On LinkedIn, I am Jennie Hakim
On Twitter, I am JennieBH