Jen Anne Becker

I wanted to be an editor. That's all I knew when I started college in 2012. I had no idea if that was a practical goal, or whether I wanted to edit books, magazines, newspapers, or a combination of the three. I just knew that I had a love for words and a passion for working with words to create a document or manuscript that was the best version of itself.

Fast forward eight years, I found myself in a Publishing Practicum class at the University of Iowa where the professor addressed each of the nine students as "Editors." We were THE Editors of the 4th Annual Iowa Chapbook Prize! I was an Editor! It was only a semester-long gig, but I felt like I'd finally made it.

During that semester I applied and was accepted into the Denver Publishing Institute where I gained more in-depth knowledge and experience with copy editing, proofreading, and marketing from professionals in the publishing industry.

I continue to participate in conferences and other learning opportunities and am a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), Professional Editors Network (PEN), and ACES: The Society for Editing. Contact me at Jen@JabberEditorial.com with information about your writing and editing needs and how I can help you.

500 Words • 20th January 2022

When too busy is TOO BUSY

...the worst part about the whole thing was that I barely noticed the holiday season had passed. I was just too busy.

Image by John Hain from Pixabay

7th November 2021

Growth Requires Change Requires Growth Requires Change

...but it was not because he didn’t care about those people. He was weary of hearing complaints from friends who never tried to do anything to change their circumstances.

2nd January 2021

Theresa Patterson's Lemons

Lemonade cake was one of Theresa Patterson’s favorite recipes to make as a Chef before she lost her vision seven years ago. It’s made with “lots of lemons” and has a light whipped cream topping, but don’t ask her for the recipe. Not that she wouldn’t oblige your request...

26th November 2020

One Day at a Time

I’ve been through a lot in my lifetime thus far, or so I’ve been told. To me it’s just life. I don’t recognize what others term as “a lot” until or unless I’m told by an outside observer that what I’ve experienced is more than the usual lot – sometimes not even then.

15th October 2020

Could it really be worth it?

Now I would like to share this idea with those who’ve either never finished a desired degree program, or those who never had the opportunity or means to even consider attending college. But this is also for those who feel stuck in a job or career that is not fulfilling. No matter what stage of life you are in, you are more than just-a….!

13th September 2020

Never Stop Learning

“No matter how much you think you know about (you fill in the blank) there’s always something more you can learn.”

Photo by mohamed hassan form PxHere

500 Words • 16th May 2020

Hindsight is 20/20

I often referred to this decision as the need to have that special piece of paper to conclusively prove to all employers that I knew what I said I knew, those words often filled with indignation. I felt I had no choice but to change the trajectory I was on.

Or Am I Dreaming

Numb. Maybe stunned. Perhaps my emotions are still processing, but I thought I’d feel more cathartic turning in my final paper at 8:23 p.m. this evening.

500 Words • 5th May 2020

Distracted

I’ve been trying to work on a paper due this Friday for my Medieval literature class. Trying to convince myself not to worry about writing for my 500 Words Blog right now. Trying to not think about the dishes that I haven’t done yet or the laundry that’s piling up, or the various other chores awaiting my undivided attention.

500 Words • 30th April 2020

Doors Opened

My ultimate desire was to become an Editor and work in some form of publishing after graduation. Early in my education, however, I was unsure if my plan was really obtainable.

500 Words • 27th April 2020

Never Stop Learning

The “English at Work” class didn’t seem all that important for me – a non-traditional student who’s been through many interviews that resulted in jobs, and who formerly worked for a Career Services department assisting other students with resume creation and job search. It’s a one-credit-hour, one-hour-per-week, required-by-all-English-majors kind of class designed to help students find jobs and careers geared toward their major.

500 Words • 25th April 2020

Line-Editing Life, Post-Quarantine

We are closing in on approximately two-months of the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States, give or take a week or so depending on what part of the country you live in. Thinking about all of the quarantine-induced changes that have taken place in daily life, I find myself wondering what of those changes will bleed into post-quarantine living. It seems a likely possibility that some changes could stay in place.

500 Words • 19th April 2020

What's today, again?

I assured myself that I had plenty of time. After all, it was only Friday night, right?

500 Words • 14th April 2020

¿Por qué?

Why am I, as an English and Creative Writing major, required to take Español in order to attain my bachelor’s degree? Foreign language is not my major. It is not even my minor. It’s not an interest. Yet, if I don’t both take and pass an upper level foreign language, I cannot receive my otherwise hard-earned degree.

500 Words • 10th April 2020

Teacher Feature

When I started college approximately ten years ago, I didn’t have to worry about what it would be like to sit in a classroom because my classes were all online. Though I did eventually take some in-person classes at Black Hawk College, like my Spanish and journalism classes, they didn’t seem to impact me the same way that my first on-campus class at the University of Iowa.

500 Words • 8th April 2020

Reflections

Today marks one month before the last scheduled day of classes that will complete the requirements for my bachelor’s degree. Reflection, I suppose, is a part of the process in preparation for the next steps toward my future. It feels weird to say that at this stage in my life. I’m almost 50 years old.

500 Words • 4th April 2020

En Español Solamente - Not so fast Google!

I made an interesting observation today. In my Intermediate Spanish 2 class we have to pair up with another student to complete un actividad comunicativa.

500 Words • 3rd April 2020

Virtual Takeaway

It’s the end of the first week of virtual learning for the University of Iowa and the big take-away for me is this: Always stay current with technology! I say this because I see the challenge that even basic technology presents for one of my instructors who has chosen, prior to forced virtual instruction, not to use any online component for teaching.

500 Words • 30th March 2020

Adjusting to Virtual Learning - What I Didn't Expect

Today was the first day back to (virtual) classes at the University of Iowa after an extended Spring Break. I’ve been pretty confident that I was prepared for doing all of the class work in its new virtual format. Afterall, this type of education is not new to me. Still, I found myself feeling just a little bit overwhelmed at the end of the day.

500 Words • 28th March 2020

For the First-time Virtual Learner

Online learning for the University of Iowa begins on Monday, March 30, 2020. Many fellow students who have never taken an online class are concerned about their ability to grasp the material they are expected to learn. While this is an understandable concern, I think a lot of the uncertainty comes from the actuality of being faced with a form of education that they’ve never done before, and quite possibly something they’ve intentionally avoided during their years in college.