Six Months In: New Studio Offerings, Events, and What’s Ahead
If you’re an author, educator, or thought leader trying to get your ideas out of your head and into the world, you’ll want to read to the end of this update—I’ve been building several new offerings designed to make your writing life easier, clearer, and far more supported. But before I get to those, here’s a look at what I’ve been working on this past year and how it’s shaping the next chapter of my studio.
Six months into running my studio full‑time—and one year since I took the leap and left my position at State—it feels like the right moment to share what’s been happening behind the scenes. This spring has been packed with travel, client work, and some big shifts in how I support authors. Here’s a quick recap of the highlights and how they’ve shaped the new and upcoming offerings I’m excited to share.
The ACES Conference: discovering a whole world I didn’t know existed
Even though I’ve been writing and editing for a long time, I somehow never knew that editor conferences existed until just recently. Walking into the ACES: The Society for Editing conference in Atlanta this spring felt a little like stepping into TESOL all over again—that same sense of “Oh, these are my people,” paired with the thrill (and intimidation) of realizing how much there is to learn. It’s never easy to walk into rooms where you don’t know a soul, but luckily for me, editors are a great group of people to get to know!
I spent the week diving into sessions on global authoring, editing efficiency, fact‑checking, English grammar, writing for accessibility, macros, and building stronger editorial systems. And just like in the ed‑tech world, nearly every session had an AI thread running through it—this industry is feeling the impact in real time. Each session sharpened a different part of my practice, and all of them reminded me how much I love the craft of editing—not just the work itself, but the thinking, the problem‑solving, and the care behind it.
Digital‑nomad experiments: still a work in progress
During a recent stretch abroad visiting family, I experimented with working more nomadically. I kept projects moving and met every deadline, but the rhythm was undeniably different—a mix of time‑zone juggling and the natural pull to explore a place while you’re in it. The experience reminded me how much my deep‑focus editorial work depends on the systems and space I’ve built at home, and how hard it is to recreate that flow from borrowed tables and small laptops. At the end of the day, one of the biggest reasons I built this business was to have more time with my family—both the ones nearby and the ones scattered across the map—and I’m still learning how to balance that desire for mobility with the focused, thoughtful work my authors deserve. If you’ve cracked the code on editing while traveling, I’d genuinely love your tips.
Recent client work: education change‑makers + meaningful manuscripts
This spring’s client work has been some of the most energizing of my career. I’ve been partnering with education change‑makers—including ongoing work with X-Factor EDU—and supporting authors who are rethinking systems, challenging assumptions, and advocating for better learning experiences. These are the kinds of projects that remind me why I do this work.
At the same time, AI is no longer just “seeping” into the writing world—it’s gushing in, as it is in all industries, creative or otherwise. This has actually made me even more committed to keeping the human voice and human experience at the forefront—while still using the tools that make certain tasks smoother and more efficient. That reflection has led me to invest heavily in my own growth this year: joining a business mastermind group, becoming an investor of the Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and taking courses to diversify and strengthen my offerings so I can support authors in a rapidly shifting landscape.
Across all my client projects, I’m seeing a similar pattern: AI can help people get words on the page quickly, but it doesn’t always bring clarity or intention with it. More and more, I’m finding that the real work is helping authors sort out where AI supports their message and where it starts to blur it. I’ll be sharing more of these observations over the summer in my somewhat-weekly posts.
What I’ve been building: offerings designed to support authors better
Behind the scenes, I’ve been refining and expanding the ways I support writers at different stages of their process. A few things now taking shape:
Book Blueprint Lab—A strategic deep‑dive to clarify your book’s purpose, structure, audience, and argument. Perfect if you’re circling your idea but haven’t quite landed it yet.
Developmental Editing—Big‑picture support to strengthen logic, flow, and clarity. Ideal for authors who want a partner in shaping their manuscript into its strongest form.
Style & Flow Editing—Sentence‑level refinement that preserves your voice while improving readability, rhythm, and cohesion.
Content Studio Membership—Ongoing support for thought leaders who want consistent, high‑quality content without burning out. Includes strategy, editing, ghostwriting, and accountability.
Blueprint to Draft Studio Membership—A structured, supported path from idea to completed draft, with editorial guidance and momentum‑building systems.
Author Support Services—Flexible, human‑centered support for the parts of authorship that often get overlooked: workflow design, writing routines, conference prep, and project planning.
Upcoming: podcasts, conversations, and summer learning
A few exciting appearances and conversations are coming up—each one a chance to dig into the topics I care about most: learning, creativity, games, and the future of writing in an AI‑saturated world.
Make EdTech 100 with Lindy Hockenbary Podcast: https://www.lindyhoc.com/podcast
What: Conversation with Lindy Hockenbary and Dan Ryder on games + a preview of the Tabletop Thinking & Learning Playground
When: Recorded—link dropping soon
Where: A weekly podcast for K–12 educators and the EdTech community focused on joyful stories and grounded insights
Who: Lindy Hockenbary
Why: To explore how games support thinking, learning, and creative problem‑solving
ClassLink LinkedUp Podcast:
What:What Are We Feeding AI? Protecting Student and Teacher Intellectual Property in an AI World
When: June 23 at 1:00 PM ET
Who: Jerri Kemble + Jamie Saponaro
Why: To talk about AI, data, and the hidden story of what students and teachers upload into tools
Stronger Together Podcast:
What: Conversation on ISTE, editing work with X-Factor EDU, and the future of learning
When: June 24 at 4:25 PM ET
Who: Dr. Matthew X. Joseph
Why: To share insights on collaboration, innovation, and the editorial work shaping upcoming education books
EFA Virtual Conference—Featured Speaker:
What:Editing Beyond the Page: How Visual Thinking Elevates Editorial Work
When: June 26, 1:15–2:45 PM ET
Where: EFACON 2026 (virtual)- https://efacon2026.vfairs.com/
Who: Editorial Freelancers Association
Why: To teach editors how hierarchy, spacing, and visual logic strengthen clarity and reader engagement through hands‑on exercises in Word/Google Docs
ISTE/ASCD 2026 – Orlando, FL
This is the most exciting time of the year and I can’t wait to get there. I’ll be spending time at the X‑Factor EDU booth on the expo floor and talking up Ednology. My sessions:
ISTE Poster Session:
What:Critical Creativity in Action: Building Critical Thinking Skills through Classroom Ecosystem Design
When: Tuesday, June 30, 12:30–2:00 PM
Where: ISTE, West C Lobby, Table 6
Who: Me + Dan Ryder
Why: To explore how ecosystem design builds critical thinking through creative, hands‑on learning
ISTE Playground:
What:Tabletop Thinking and Learning: A Game‑Based ISTE Playground
When: Wednesday, July 1, 8:30–10:15 AM
Where: ISTE, Playground B
Who: Me + Dan Ryder + an amazing slate of presenters
Why: To showcase how tabletop games spark creativity, collaboration, and deeper learning
Summer work + what’s ahead
Alongside conferences and recordings, this summer is shaping up to be a mix of deep creative work and intentional rest:
Book Blueprint Lab cohort—One summer cohort running, supporting authors who want clarity, structure, and momentum.
Upcoming editing projects—Several manuscripts on the horizon, including education‑focused nonfiction and thought‑leadership books.
EFA course design—I’ll be working with EFA to build a couple of teacher-training programs on building out enhanced online courses.
Family beach vacation—A much‑needed stretch of rest, sun, and ocean time.
Loaded calendar of my son’s summer swim team events—62 in six weeks to be exact!
University of Chicago online course—Beginning the course I won at the ACES silent auction—a perfect way to test the waters of their editing certificate program, which I’ve been intrigued by for a while.
Invitations + where to find me
Next week on June 16th, the Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce is hosting my studio’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Chael: The Transformation Space, in Odenton, Maryland to celebrate this new chapter—I’d love for you to join. Details here.
I’ll also be at ISTE, so if you’re attending, send me a direct message on LinkedIn to set up a discovery call in-person. Let’s talk about how I can amplify your voice!
Let’s keep the conversation going
If you’re curious about how your own teaching, speaking, or writing instincts might translate into a book or a bigger body of work, I’d love to talk with you.
You can book a 30‑minute discovery call here: https://www.jacquiegardy.com/contact
And if you’d like a once‑a‑month note from my studio—plus my Content Repurposing Map as a welcome gift—you can join my newsletter here: jacquiegardy.kit.com/editor
