EXPERIENCE
1976 – present Writer, Book Coach, and Developmental/Academic Editor
First published in 1976, I have written books, book chapters, articles, essays, white papers, opinion pieces, and educational pieces. I have also “ghosted” books for others.
I have been editing for over three decades, working in a variety of disciplines. These days I do primarily developmental (“big picture”) editing of books and dissertations.
I also offer book coaching services. I can help you develop the concept and structure of your book at the beginning or the project. I also am available to consult on book drafts for advice on how to improve the book.
2011 – present Blogger
In addition to blogging on this website, Medium, and my page on LinkedIn, I have contributed blog posts for “The Heroine Journey Project” at Brandeis University, thewellwrittenwoman.com, FineWiner.com, theglobalquestion.com, The Pacifica Post, and Archetypal Narrative Intelligence.
2009 – present Teaching & Speaking
Have served as supervisor for MA theses and on dissertation committees for doctoral students. Guest lecturer for film classes/workshops at San Bernadino Community College and Capilano University. Taught several adult learning classes at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Co-taught philosophy class for local Clemente Course in the Humanities. Frequent guest speaker at area churches, groups, and organizations.
2007 – present Freelance Copyediting
I currently work as a part-time copyeditor for New Harbinger Publications. Previous clients include the Committee for Children, Cosmic Strands (Elsevier), the Institute for Functional Medicine, GetWellNetwork, NutritionistApproved, Microsoft, CH2M HILL, and private individuals.
2010-2011 Review Editor, Mythological Studies Magazine, Pacifica Graduate Institute
Performed final edit on all papers accepted for publication in graduate program e-zine.
2009-2010 Editorial Board, Mythological Studies Magazine, Pacifica Graduate Institute
Reviewed and recommended papers for publication in graduate program e-zine.
1/99 – 12/06 Medical Writer/Editor, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Port Townsend, WA
Developed health education content using the Internet and medical textbooks and journals; worked with specialist reviewers. Edited company newsletter. Wrote/edited other company materials including white papers. Developed interactive scripts for telephone and Web from pharmaceutical company sales materials. Helped write company style guide.
8/96 – 1/99 Senior Medical Writer/Editor and Managing Editor, Healthwise, Boise, ID
Wrote about health conditions for online database used by HMO patients. Mentored junior writers. For 19 months was the Managing Editor for line of medical self-care books; developed first Canadian, South African, and British editions of the Healthwise Handbook. Wrote health column for Idaho Statesman.
3/93 – 7/96 Freelance writing and editing
Wrote or edited technical documents and manuscripts. Specialized in technical information for the lay audience such as patient information brochures and environmental impact statements. Primary author of manual on legal means of preserving wilderness and open space in Washington State. Clients included Microsoft, CH2M Hill, Access Marketing, and PTI Environmental Services. Also wrote essays and articles for newspapers.
3/90 – 3/93 Senior Technical Editor, PTI Environmental Services, Bellevue, WA
Edited and finalized proposals, reports, user guides, white papers, and manuscripts. Primary editor on project to make public manuals more “user-friendly” for the Environmental Protection Agency and Washington Department of Ecology. Co-wrote company style guide.
8/88 – 6/89 Managing Editor, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Editor of the peer-reviewed Mason Clinic Bulletin. Scheduled physician articles, edited articles, oversaw graphics, proofed galleys and bluelines, managed budget. Revised magazine style guide. Also edited or “ghosted” articles for clinic physicians for other journals, and researched and wrote patient education materials and press releases.
10/83 – 7/88 CME Coordinator, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Put on over 100 conferences for continuing medical education program. Wrote proposal for VMMC’s successful re-accreditation as one of only two Category 1 CME providers in the state.
6/80 – 12/80 Staff Writer, University of Washington School of Social Work, Seattle, WA
Researched/wrote medical sections of A Healthy Old Age: A Sourcebook for Health Promotion with Older Adults.
Other Experience
- Taught 13-week class on writing skills to PhD- and MS-level scientists
- Graduate teaching assistant, 400-level class on human development and sexuality, U. of Washington
- 7 years direct experience providing health education to patients and families
- 3 years direct experience as paramedical assistant providing healthcare to women
EDUCATION
PhD, Mythological Studies with Depth Psychology emphasis, 2013, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, CA
MA, Mythological Studies with Depth Psychology emphasis, 2010, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, CA
Certificate in Nonfiction Writing, 1992, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Masters of Social Work (major Community and Organizational Services; minor in business), 1980, University of Washington School of Social Work, Seattle, WA
Bachelor of Liberal Arts (major emphasis history of science and psychobiology), 1974, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
Other Training and Credentials
- Advanced Writing (4 hours), American Medical Writers Association, 1998
- Writing for Low-Literacy Patients (12 hours), Audrey Riffenburgh, 1997
- Indexing (8 hours), Wasser, Inc., 1995
- Technical editing (24 hours), Society for Technical Communication, 1990
- Publishing (24 hours), Allen Press, 1988
- Fundamentals of Management (40 hours), Virginia Mason Medical Center, 1984
Jody Bower writes 
I heartily recommend Ms. Bower, an accomplished writer and editor, an imaginative seeker and innovator, a quick learner who comprehends the esoteric and arcane and exprersses herself cogently to the reader.
Alfred L. Skinner, M.D.
Life Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics
Clinical Professor, Emeritus. University of Washington
Ms. Bower recently served as an editor for the Mythological Studies Journal for Pacifica Graduate Institute, and I had the privilege of working with her directly on a piece I had written. Her ability to pull from me exactly what I was trying to say, in just the right words, and in alliance with my personal style is the hallmark of her skill. Her imagination, sense of humor, intelligence and creativity, as well as her ability to see both the written piece as a whole and all the details therein, place Ms. Bower at the very top of my list of editors, and I highly recommend her as a writer/editor for any variety of projects.
Leslie L. Stoupas
Ph.D. Candidate, Pacifica Graduate Institute
Ms. Bower has been contributing to the NADb (Nutritionist Approved Database) over the last three years as a researcher and writer. She is a highly skilled medical writer with impeccable work ethic and efficiency. I am fortunate to have worked with Ms. Bower and hope to work with her again in the near future as our suite of medical nutrition iPhone/iPod apps (which she worked on over the last year) launches into the market.
She is highly skilled in medical research and writing and I recommend her without reservation.
Daniella Chace, MSN, Nutritionist
President of Nutritionist Approved Inc.
I had the privilege of working with Jody Bower for 8 years as her supervisor at Allscripts, Inc. Her ability to take complex medical subjects and transform them into their essence, understandable by all, was superb. Her writing was accurate and well researched.
Her keen eye for detail allowed her to improve other medical writers’ work and to translate clinician jargon into superior patient education handouts.
Jody took great ownership and pride in her work at Allscripts – which included medical research and writing, monitoring the medical literature, managing other writers and reviewers and contributing to the data input for our content releases.
Jody was a key employee for Allscripts’ content team. It is without hesitation that I recommend her work as a writer or editor.
Jody Bower has been a fantastic addition to our editorial production at the Institute for Functional Medicine. Her strong attention to detail has been crucial to successful messaging. She has a keen eye for understanding when certain medical terminology becomes jargon and when it is applicable for the messages we send to practitioners. We always appreciate that she provides us with options for improvement to our copy and takes her time to help us understand what wording works best for each of our several forms of media. I would most certainly recommend her!
Alana McConnell
Client Services and Communications Assistant
Institute for Functional Medicine
Jody is a deeply compassionate, thoughtful, insightful editor with a tremendous range of academic and coaching knowledge and expertise. Jody offers academic expertise at the highest standard while always encouraging you to think critically for yourself. At the interpersonal level, Jody’s empathy, listening approach, and feedback helped me at many levels and continued to give me the motivation and strength to continue in my writing journey. I honestly do not think I would be able to make it through my dissertation without her!
I’ve known Jody indirectly for over fifteen years now thanks to a wonderful little online forum for fans of J.R.R.Tolkien. During that time I came to greatly respect her ability to express herself and present arguments and ideas in a compelling and often witty fashion. I recently completed my first draft of a fantasy novel and I felt I needed help from someone who could give me a competent yet completely unbiased opinion on the work, and Jody seemed the perfect choice.
When I received my manuscript back from Jody, it was more than I had ever expected. Her insightful evaluation of my book, along with her COPIOUS side notes and suggestions have been invaluable to me. Of course, she has created many hours of additional work for me but I revel in each evolution of my characters and plot arcs knowing that the work is becoming better and more polished with each edit.
An excerpt from my email to the most excellent Jody Bower concerning the manuscript she’s helping me work on: “DAMN you are good at this. I was all worried when I opened your email, but this is some really concrete help and you should probably do this professionally :). Thank you for the feedback!”
Also, just have to say– I was expecting to the process to take months, not mere days. The advice she gives is logical, clear, and inspirational. I highly recommend working with her.
I hired Jody to edit my manuscript The Gardener’s Daughter in fall of 2016. I was very impressed with Jody’s work. She truly understood my end goal for my manuscript and left a roadmap of detailed notes explaining how to get it there. I also greatly appreciated the care with which she approached the project. Her thorough review of my manuscript let me know she took the work seriously and shared my goal of getting the book in the best shape possible for publication. I highly recommend Jody’s developmental editing services—she was just excellent!
Thank you Jody – Your thoughtful comments and queries spurred some important revisions, and I think the book is much better for it.