Bring your story to LIFE.
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As a writer, J.M.Jakus is a wordsmith, melting letters into words, hammering phrases into aesthetically pleasing contours to be admired by your readership. From content writing to creative writing, from news media to public relations communications, and many genres between, this is the style in which J.M.Jakus creates. Each format functions as a different "mold," the different materials provided are uniquely precious metals, but in the end, all of these are first made malleable on the page, articulated, and lastly cooled into a durable product. It is a fiery process. At the end of the day, the product that comes from it is a uniquely handcrafted piece of writing that you won’t find elsewhere.
As an editor, J.M.Jakus is simultaneously your paramedic, nurse, and surgeon all in one. Even if you are so overwhelmed by a project that your service request consists of two words, “Rescue this,” Jakus will resuscitate whatever fading heartbeat is left in your writing and bring it back to life to enjoy a long, healthy future.
By clicking on the tabs below, you can learn more about popularly requested formats. If any apply to your project, be sure to make this known in your service request at the bottom of this page!
In the digital era, the 650-750 word Op-Ed continues to carry the value it once did when it was physically printed Opposite the Editorial page. Opinion pieces such as this can increase your capacity to connect with the action-minded demographics of your audience, to influence public opinion, or to clarify misinterpretations surrounding your expertise. This form of writing can be extremely beneficial for motivated activists, human rights groups, or social organizations. The classical Op-Ed is stylized to shed light on informed and passionate positions. As mentioned, most Op-Eds run about 650-750 words long, however, the submission guidelines vary according to the journal or magazine's publication specificiations. For example, the Wall Street Journal has a 1,000-word limit, the Washington Post has an 800-word limit, and the New York Times will accept high-quality writing within a 400-1,200 word range. When requesting this service on the "Connect" tab, please specify the locations to which you intend to publish.
Special Feature Articles spotlight a theme within the news and current events, and contextualize it. This reporting style frames content through analytical lenses. Such articles draw on historical knowledge, national and international law, foreign policy trends, economic principles, statistical evidence, and other previously reported facts to assess the impact of 'hot off the press' information. Special features do more than simply report, they also analyze.
Longreads transcend the past and present worlds of journalism. This medium of reporting-styled writing follows the traditional ethics and ethos of classical journalism wherein the content is vigorously investigated. However, the extreme finesse required to present such stories blends creative nonfiction with narrative journalism. Often, such works employ a combination of investigative, ethnographic, and participant-observer techniques. The growing body of popular digital journals such as "Longform," "Longreads," "ProPublica," "The Atlantic," Guernica Magazine," "The New Yorker," "The New York Times Magazine," "The Cut," "Pacific Standard," "Narratively, and others indicate that the appetite for these informative yet personal pieces is increasing. The most successful Longreads can weave a sensitive and true narrative between politically charged content, and do so while leaving the reader 'satisfied' by the end of the journey.
Short Reports present the cold, hard facts with minimal framing but fantastic information depth. Often, they are direct accounts or observations. Because reports emphasize documentation, rather than contextualization, they are ideal for evidence gathering, inter-departmental communications, bureaucratic activities, record-keeping, qualitative database building, and interview repositories. Unlike other mediums, reports have no set minimum or maximum word count. Short Reports for journalistic or analytical purposes tend to be about 1-2 pages long. In contrast, Interior Ministries may produce reports up to 100 pages or more. Stylistically, the information should be presented in its most efficient form. Reports are concise, informative, and direct.
Investigative Journalism covers any and all of the formatting options associated with the "News and Media" format above such as but not limited to Opinion pieces, Special Feature Analyses, Longreads, Press Releases, and Short Reports. What sets Investigative Journalism apart is that it directly spotlights an issue which is either underrepresented or actively silenced. This, this service focuses on the message rather than the publication parameters. For this reason, this medium requires mixed-method techniques and strategies. All of the detective work that comes by following information leads, conducting interviews, attending events, and collecting the maximum amount of primary source data (both qualitatively and quantitively) fall under this category. An investigative piece can stand on its own, be linked within a series, referenced as evidence in legal environments, or developed into documentary material. Arguably, Investigative Journalism is one of the most flexible and insightful forms of nonfiction writing.
Transcription is simply the process of converting an audio file into a written format so that is can be represented in text, print, script, or video subtitles. There are three types of transcription: verbatim, edited, and intelligent (also known as "clean").
Verbatim Transcription includes any and all imperfections that may exist in the audio, including stutters, sighs, coughs, sneezes, accents, repetitions, and emotional descriptions (i.e. laughing, crying, etc.) This is used in court proceedings, police investigations, interviews for legal purposes, market research, university research programs, psychology, data analysis, and other mediums where direct accuracy is of paramount importance. Full Verbatim includes every detectible decibel with zero omissions. True Verbatim includes all except stutters and pauses that may bog down the reading of the transcription. Intelligent or "Clean" Verbatim includes every sound (including the background noise) minus stuttering and repetition.
Edited Transcriptions are more reader-friendly. These forms of transcription can be used effectively in interviews intended for publication, speeches, conferences, seminars, some business communications, and meeting minutes.
Intelligent Transcription is the file's most polished form. The content is not only edited but also made to be grammatically correct and presented in full sentence form. This is best suited for business communications, interdisciplinary research, the medical field, and some interviews intended for publication.
These three types of translation can be used in isolation or combination depending on the needs of the task(s) demanded by qualitative research, business communication, publication, translation, or other related fields.
Technical Writing explains or instructs how an object works or how a project must be completed. The three most common types of technical writing are Traditional (Repair manuals, medical studies), End-User Documentation (Electronics, Consumer Products), and Technical Marketing Content (Press releases, catalogs). Technical Writing also includes Technical Documentation, Technical Reports, Feasibility Studies and Corporate Reports, Research Results, Policies and Procedures, Businesss Plans, and White Papers among other mediums. Because this format is generally used as a guide or reference, it must be relevant, precise, complete, concise,well-structured, efficient, explanatory, accessible, clear, and, above all, accurate.
Copy Editing employs a high level of detail and focuses on correcting, syntax, sentence structure, mistakes, inconsistencies, and repetitions lurking within the writing. This form of editing is far more attentive than a basic review of a document. In this stage, both the small nuances and the big picture matter. Copy Editing is a must for anyone seeking to prepare a manuscript for publication. Copy Editing is often segmented into two phases. First, it is read forward at a moderate pace (while the editor makes corrections along the way). Then, it is read backward, line-by-line at a very slow pace in order to find 'hiccups' that might otherwise be problematic for the prospective readers.
Content Editing is a type of copy editing that refers explicitly to the "macro" elements of the process: formatting, style, content, design, and everything associated with the visual aesthetic and comprehensibility of the work. Like Copy Editing (which focuses on the micro and macro of the ideas at hand), Content Editing adds to these considerations by also taking into account visual impressions and making sure that formatting (including citations) is up to professional standard.
Traditionally, proofreading happens after the article or manuscript has been printed to make sure that everything has truly been taken care of. It is the final step before your work is released to the world. For every essay, article, or chapter that is edited, the reviewer scans the material in stages. In the final proofreading stage, manuscripts can be read aloud to assess general clarity, reviewed in physical print, run through a text analysis software, or any combination of these strategies. *In the interest of saving trees, printing is a last resort editing option.
Services for Academicians and Researchers may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Empirical Research Articles
- General Application Materials (Résumé, CV, Statement of Purpose)
- Book Chapters or Sections (ex. Introduction, Conclusion)
- Textbooks Editorial Arrangement
- Co-Author
- Editor
- Editorial Assistant
- Grant Applications
- Letter of Recommendations for past and present students
*Please note: For all student services, ONLY EDITING services are available
- University Application Assistance
- Dissertation or Thesis
- Personal Essay
- Book Review
- 5-page Essay
- 10-page Essay
- 20+ page Essay
- Scholarship Application (Only Editing Services Available)
- Résumé
- Cover Letter
- Statement of Purpose
Business / Organization Communications
- Project Proposal
- Onboarding Notes
- Project Proposal
- Brochure
- Newsletter
- Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
- Business Process Manual
- Consulting Agreement
- Grant Applications
- Conference Materials
- Promotional Publications
- Blog Content
- Content Marketing
Legal
- General Release of Liability
- Software Licensing Agreement
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
Human Resources
- Job Offer Letter
- Job Promotion Letter
- Employment Verification Letter
- Letter of Recommendation for employees departing on good terms
Freelancer Engagement
- Independent Contractor Agreement
- Statement of Work
Individual
- Job Application Materials (Résumé, CV, Statement of Purpose)
- Web Content
- Mission and Vision Statement
- LinkedIn Profile (Only Editing Services Available)
- Speech Scripting
- Ghostwriting
- Memoirs
- Blog Content
Find what you were looking for?
If you would like to request a service (or a combination of services) from the list, please write these specifically in the contact form that you will be directed to once you select "Request."
If your project does not fit neatly within one of the services listed on this page, don't worry. Simply describe the nature of your unique project in as much detail as possible when you make your inquiry. Before moving to the next steps, there will always be strong communication and confirmation so that your piece is exactly as you envisioned.
If you have a specific task in mind, such as a grant application, dissertation, professional presentation, manuscript, online course content, or any other variety of other tasks. If your goal requires writing, editing, or both, and if you want to get from A to B as painlessly as possible,
then you’ve come to the right place.
Although neither writing nor editing is a "one-size-fits-all" service, this page offers a list of writing and editing related tasks to help you identify what your specific needs are. This doesn’t set the boundaries of what services are (or are not) offered on this site, but it can help you refine what you’re looking for as you make your service request.