Author of The Orosta Chronicles and The Tarvoștan Annals
My Writing Philosophy
“One of the saddest things in my line of work is a brilliant idea let down by poor execution.“
— J. L. Gryphon
I am hugely passionate about writing, but even more than that, I am passionate about good stories. Good stories can be found anywhere, whether they be in books, movies, TV shows, theater, poetry, or even video games. However, far too often I have seen these amazing ideas and stories be let down by poor execution. This, to me, is one of the saddest things to observe in my line of work. I dislike coming across a story that could have been good, even great, if only . . .
It’s that “if only” I aim to minimize, which is why I am committed to making your writing the best it can be. Why do I care? Because I believe the world needs stories, especially well-told stories. Stories give people strength, hope, or, at the very least, an escape. Your story could be the next great thing to do that. I would be honored to help you on that journey and am excited to hear your story.
Credentials & Genres
First, thanks for your consideration. I hope to serve you well. Here is a listing of my credentials:
- Bachelor’s in English & Communication, Minor in History
- Graduated summa cum laude
- 17 years of writing and editing experience
- 17 years of series-planning experience, especially for sprawling epics
- 17 years of worldbuilding experience
- 6 years of teaching experience
- Publication in Worldbuilding Magazine—article “Anāriel Anastil” seen HERE (p. 35)
- Co-winner of The Hero’s Journey 2021 writing contest hosted by World Anvil
- Completed one—soon to be two!—fantasy novels seen HERE and HERE
- In-depth knowledge and familiarity with the fantasy genre
- My author’s blog seen HERE
- For more info, view my LinkedIn HERE.
The fantasy genre is my main area of expertise. Other genres I am experienced with are science fiction, horror, thrillers, romance, historical fiction, supernatural/paranormal fiction, and cosmic horror. If you write in a different genre other than those listed and are still interested in my services, please feel free to reach out, and we can discuss your project.
***A note on fantasy in particular. If fantasy is your chosen genre, finding an editor or writing coach specifically familiar with it is something I strongly recommend, more so than for any other genre. Fantasy is unlike any other genre on the market due to the inherent nature of the genre and how it functions in practice. That’s why I believe this is absolutely vital.
Genres I Will Not Do
Genres and subject matters I will not do are:
- Some non-fiction (reach out if you have a project you’d like me to consider)
- Fanfiction (anything)
- Erotica
These genres I will not do because, speaking transparently and responsibly as an editor and writing consultant, these specific genres I am not overly familiar with. I make a point to say this because each genre has rules, tropes, audience expectations, etc., which is why I would be careful to avoid inadvertently giving advice about these genres that might steer you in the wrong direction.
That said, if you write in one of these genres and are still interested in my services, please feel free to reach out regardless, and we can discuss your specific needs. I may still end up deciding I’m not the right fit for you, but I will take the time to hear you out in full before doing so. I will also try to offer a recommendation for someone better-suited to your project should the need arise.
Thank you for reaching out no matter what you write. I’m happy to hear from everyone.
J. L. Gryphon Books 