Jennifer Obidike is an American born, London based ghostwriter, book coach, and structural editor passionate about the written word.

EXPERIENCE

I’m a Sunday Times bestselling ghostwriter who has worked with a range of high-profile figures including beauty professionals, a politician, TV broadcaster, radio presenter, and social media influencer. I’ve worked with major publishing houses including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Bonnier Books to bring to life the personal and inspirational stories of household names. I’m also the co-author of the biography Calling Una Marson: The Extraordinary Life of a Forgotten Icon.

As a versatile ghostwriter, I gravitate towards stories that are full of heart and have the courage to bare all. I love collaborating on books that are deeply personal, and find that clients enjoy working with me because I provide space to go deep and be vulnerable. My life experience and personal tastes are broad and unique and contribute to my work with clients. I’ve been ghostwriting, book coaching and editing structurally since 2018, working with countless individuals across diverse projects.

Connecting with people 1-on-1 and fostering meaningful relationships is a big deal to me, so whether I’m ghostwriting, book coaching, or structural editing, this is the thread that runs through my work. When deciding to work with clients, I lean on intuition, a sense of mutual excitement, the client’s passion, and the strength of their ideas, writing style, and storyline.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Women Studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and an MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) from the New School. I primarily love reading literary fiction, memoir, and self-help/self-development books, and gravitate towards writing that is bold, intimate, heart-breaking, open-minded, intelligent, brave, and beautifully written. I also have a deep interest in all things spiritual.

My Services

  • Do you have a compelling story to share that can make a difference in people’s lives, but lack the time or the know-how to write a book? Are you an expert in your field who wants to share what you know, helping and encouraging others along the way?

    My job as a ghostwriter or book collaborator is to explore the depths of you, searching for content that can be shaped into a book that is enjoyable and inspiring to readers. Together we discuss your big ideas, the themes that interest you, and the content of your life and/or influential business. Our initial meetings, either over Zoom or in-person, involve as many interviews as I need to take down content. See these interviews as more like intimate and often therapeutic conversations. Ones that require you to feel comfortable and safe enough to go deep.

    Once I have enough preliminary material, I transcribe what I have and begin shaping and structuring your words together with any research I might need, and any writing you provide me. I like to send instalments for you to weigh in on and approve every step of the way. We’ll pull the manuscript through a few drafts, so the reading and rereading of drafts also comes with its own catharsis. Our time together is a collaborative and creative process, but at the end of the day, this is your book, so we work together to form something that feels authentic to you, and that retains your unique voice.

    Genres I’ve ghostwritten or co-written include memoir, a blend of memoir & how-to, and biography.  

  • Are you a first-time writer struggling to write a draft of literary fiction, memoir or self-help/self-development? Have you always wanted to write a book but were unsure of how to approach it or too critical of your ideas? My expertise is helping clients start that first draft despite obstacles, including family commitments, lack of confidence, perfectionism, and self-doubt. I make a daunting process more supportive, collaborative, and fulfilling. 

    My coaching packages provide you with not only accountability, deadlines, and a clear/concise editorial eye, they also give you that manuscript you’ve been dreaming of. Over a dedicated burst of time, you’ll be able to start and finish a first draft with ease without getting stuck and quitting in the process (out of frustration or lack of direction). You'll also have the tools to refine your draft from continued feedback. 

    As a writer and editor who straddles many identities, I know it’s been invaluable for past clients to have a coach who could offer them and their work a level of understanding, care, and kinship.

    My writing coach practice is rooted in my experience as a ghostwriter working under tight deadlines for publishing houses, and coaching clients since 2018 to write first drafts within 6 months to a year. As a writing coach, I'm here to help you start the journey of writing a book, therefore I cannot promise or guarantee any deals with agents or publishers further down the line. What I can promise is a commitment to helping you write regularly and feedback that is incisiveness yet nurturing. You'll come to understand the mechanics of good writing, from what makes a robust character (whether you're writing about a fictional character or yourself), how pacing works, and the importance of scenes and settings, to name a few examples.

  • This service is for those who have a rough draft of a manuscript, whether in its initial stages or near completion. If you’ve written a draft of literary fiction or non-fiction (memoir, a blend of, and self-help) and need an editor’s expert eyes to assess if you’re headed in the right direction, then a manuscript assessment could be for you. 

    You might be feeling stuck on how to complete the story. You might be worried that the story doesn’t flow, that the characters feel one-dimensional, or that there’s not enough of a storyline to carry a reader through. Whatever your concerns, a manuscript assessment is good for writers seeking a professional’s opinion on the quality of the work and where improvement is needed. A manuscript assessment will also give you a clearer idea of those next steps in the writing process. You might need more in-depth writing, a structural edit, copy-edit or proofreading, or else you might be ready to submit to agents or publishers, depending on the quality of your work. Self-publishing could also be an option. 

    If there are problems with the big picture element of the story, then a manuscript assessment is usually the way to go. If the big picture ideas are satisfactory, then a structural edit is most likely a better option to tighten the work overall. Structural edits look at the nitty gritty of your manuscript, and pay more attention to the flow of the story, looking at where sections of text could be moved, where more writing needs to happen, and where the writing needs improvement. 

    Both manuscript assessments and structural edits critically appraise what is and isn’t working within your manuscript. I can assist in making your submission fuller by paying attention to (and questioning) the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of your story. After receiving feedback, you should have a clearer idea of how to further improve your work, and how to be a better editor as you pay closer attention to the fine details of character development, voice and tone, plot and word choice.  

    What to Expect:

    • In-depth feedback to include line edits and several pages of summary

    • 4–6-week turnaround

    • A follow-up email or Zoom call

    Line Edits 

    Line edits provide a microscopic view of what is happening in your story. They are helpful in identifying where, specifically, there are discrepancies in character or plot, and they can highlight where clichés or poor word choice has been used. They also focus on places where more clarification or even reduction may be needed. Line edits are comprehensive and help writers tighten up any piece of work.

    Summary 

    While line edits look at the precise details of your writing, the summary looks at the bigger picture, discussing what works and what could be revamped with more depth. The summary is where I spend time fleshing out the impact and tempo of the manuscript. I provide suggestions as to how elements of the story (such as character and voice, dialogue and pacing, structure, and point of view) could be improved. I also ask questions to help you arrive at more clarity. Summaries will be typed and range between 1-6 pages. 

  • Manuscript Assessments 

    15,000 words = £250

    30,000 words = £400

    60,000 words = £550

    (After 60k words add £10 per 1000 words)

    Structural Editing

    15,000 words = £500

    30,000 words = £700

    60,000 words = £850

    (After 60k words add £15 per 1000 words)

    Book Coaching

    3-months = £550/month

    6-months or longer = £450/month (to be paid 2 months in advance)

    Ghostwriting & Co-writing

    Please contact me for more information 

  • “Jennifer’s feedback and collaboration on supporting a debut author on our list has been paramount to bringing the book together. She worked closely to support and nurture the author’s writing style, and provided detailed, thoughtful and incisive notes to make the proposal the best it could be. I can’t think of anyone better suited to take on the project, and Jennifer’s consideration and care in understanding the story and respecting the author’s wishes were second to none. She is an incredible editor and one I would recommend highly.”

    —Mireille Harper, Editorial Director

  • "Working with Jennifer has been seamless. As a co-writer, she is second to none – brilliant at not only capturing an author’s voice, but doing so with nuance and sensitivity. What’s more, she has established a close and trusting relationship with our author, therefore allowing for the very best content and an altogether rich, intimate read. Added to which, Jennifer’s skills as an editor have proven invaluable in navigating a complex structural approach. I would highly recommend her and look forward to working with her on future projects."

    —Zoe Berville, Commissioning Editor

  • "Working with Jenni brought the manuscript to the next level, reigniting my passion and excitement for the project. She has a combination of structural insight, attention to detail, industry awareness, and respect for an author’s voice, which meant her suggestions felt both precise and inspiring. Jenni brought clarity to where the next phase of the book needed to go and facilitated insights that helped me see the work with fresh eyes. Her way of working is professional, collaborative, and deeply supportive. I have no hesitation in recommending her."

    —Mia Ganda, Leadership Coach & Psychotherapist

  • "Jennifer's feedback without a doubt has been the best thing that's ever happened to this book proposal and my writing in general. I cannot put into words how helpful it was - honestly the most amazing edits and thoughts on how to strengthen the concept and structure. I think her thoughtful feedback and honesty on the edits has made the biggest difference to the way I see the book and my work."

    —Bre Graham, Cookbook Author

  • "As a newcomer to the writing process, the feedback of Jennifer’s has been insightful, intelligent and encouraging; she is very attuned to a writer's needs, and can respond with appropriate assertiveness and truthfulness that is always helpful and respectful. She delivers her assessments in a measured and articulate way, which purposefully does not stifle creativity with personal tastes and viewpoints. The quality of my writing has increased exponentially, both in practical and stylistic terms, and I am in no doubt that this is due to Jennifer's constructive input."

    Fiongal Greenlaw, Founder of the Wellness Foundry

  • “Jenni is everything I could ask for in a writing coach: skilful with structure and storytelling, caring and considerate with her feedback. She brings so much experience and perspective to the work, and her calming, thoughtful energy gave me a lot of confidence. Trying to write a book (or anything you want others to read) is hard, especially if you're new to it, and Jenni's support and faith got me through to the first full draft. Thank you Jenni for being such a great partner!"

    Nina Alexandersen, Sustainability & Social Impact Advisor

  • "I wasn’t too sure what to expect from a writing coach and where I lacked the confidence to put pen to paper, I was worried the feedback could make matters worse. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Jennifer’s feedback was always very clear, constructive, non-judgemental, and always very motivating. We had several discussions over the phone where she created tailored tasks to develop either my story or my writing skills. Jennifer has not only helped me with my writing, but also helped me to grow as a storyteller and reader with her intelligent and insightful comments. I am forever so grateful for all her support. If it wasn’t for Jennifer, I wouldn’t have a manuscript. She has made my dream come true."

    Mel Sevinc, Writer

  • "I didn't know what to expect from a partnership with a professional reader. What I found with Jennifer was someone who worked with me to draw out my best creative writing and to help me push away from lazy plot lines. She came to the work with a unique skill set of compassion, empathy and professionalism and met me where I was: nervous, self-doubting and suffering quite badly from Imposter syndrome. She was attuned to the genre I was grappling with and what I adore most about Jennifer is her ability to help keep my manuscript authentic to where I was coming from. She is a gifted editor in this sense. She challenges the work and encourages the work in equal measure and without her guidance I would never have gotten to a good first draft because it is all too easy to give up and put the writing away and never finish the project."

    Christine de Leon, Content Strategy Consultant

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