Editing Services

I have 18+ years of editing experience, and I'm fascinated with helping my clients clear away the clutter and find the true essence of their stories.

If you have a book you haven’t been able to finish or a manuscript that still feels a little fuzzy, I’m here for you. I love working at the earlier stages of editing, when all the bigger questions are being addressed—what is my book really about and who is my ideal reader and how will it help or impact them?

My editing superpower is my ability to read your manuscript (and read between the lines of what you’re saying and not saying) to find the most potent and essential aspects of your book and what your book is trying to do/say/solve/shift for the reader. And then I share that vision with you in my feedback and provide my method for structuring your book accordingly.

I’ve found that all manuscripts really benefit from getting more clarity on the essence/thesis/arc of the book. Even authors who think they are clear on this are shocked to find that I’m able to provide a new level of clarity and point out places where it’s not resonating—and this is what really sets a book apart.

I do this “essence-finding” or “thesis-finding” in all my editing services—editorial assessments, developmental editing, and coaching/editing sessions (I don't copyedit or proofread).

I specialize in nonfiction with a special interest in essay collections, memoirs, and manuscripts that engage topics of personal transformation, mindfulness, and spirituality. I also love writing that has a sense of humor and playfulness. I am a poet and also specialize in poetry manuscripts and hybrid nonfiction/poetry manuscripts. I occasionally work on fiction, especially if it has a spiritual/mystical bent.

I have a master’s degree in English literature, and I was the editor-in-chief of Ruminate (a contemplative art and literary magazine) for thirteen years. I am also a certified Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach and a graduate of The Center for Action & Contemplation’s Living School founded by Richard Rohr.

I bring all this experience together in my editing and book coaching work.

Sign up for a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your project and make sure we’re a good fit. Or you can email me and we can discuss your project that way, too.

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THE SERVICES:

Coaching for the writer (for any stage of the writing process):
There are the outer aspects of writing a book and then there is the inner work it takes to believe that your vision matters, to show up for your creativity, and to share your work and be visible. Writing and publishing a book is a transformative experience that requires courage and a strong sense of yourself. I love helping people tap into this deeper process so that they can foster a more loving and relaxed writing practice and a true-to-them publishing experience, which, no surprise, makes for powerful books that people want to read.

  • As a certified Wayfinder Life Coach, one of my specialties is creativity/writing. I'll help you access your creativity, move through any stuck areas, get curious about what’s in the way or holding you back, and get your work/practice in motion

  • Sessions are $88/hour

  • Coaching sessions are via phone, zoom, or walk-and-talk coaching sessions for folks in Fort Collins, CO

  • See my calendar and book a session here, if you’d like. You can also sign up for a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your goals and make sure we’re a good fit.

Coaching for the book (for any stage of the writing process):
These sessions are a combination of consulting, coaching, and editorial feedback and they are especially helpful for people wanting editorial feedback plus a little more ongoing support, camaraderie, and accountability during the book-writing process.

  • For new clients, we'll meet for at least 4 sessions to help you pursue your book goals (existing editing clients can just schedule as needed)

  • You'll send me up to 5,000 words (or ten pages of poetry) of new material or material you are re-working at least 48 hours prior to each session. If you want to send me more than 5,000 words, I charge an additional .015 cents/word.

  • Our 1-hour zoom call sessions (can be recorded) will include verbal feedback on the submitted material. We can also brainstorm ideas, talk about the writing process, submission goals, and I'll help you move through any blocks and plan next steps.

  • Pricing is $150/session

  • For new clients, email me with your current word count, the topic of your book, and, if possible, some sample pages or an outline and we’ll go from there. You can also sign up for a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your goals and make sure we’re a good fit. For existing editing clients, you can book a session here.

Editorial Assessment :
This service can be done as soon as you have at least half of your first draft completed.

  • I provide an editorial letter with an overview of your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and specific recommendations for improving the manuscript. In this letter, I typically identify 3-4 key strengths and 3-4 key weaknesses to focus on along with some smaller misc. editing notes. I cover issues with the overall narrative arc/thesis, structure, pacing, flow, organization, logic, voice/tone, focus, accuracy, clarity, and any other larger issues that might spoil the reading experience. I will also provide suggestions for addressing key issues.

  • We’ll meet for a 1.5 hour zoom call to discuss the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and my suggestions for taking it to the next level

  • The process:
    1. You send me your manuscript (as a Microsoft Word doc) along with any questions/concerns you want me to be sure to address
    2. I read your manuscript and then give you my editing feedback in a zoom call
    3. I send you the recording of the zoom call and the editorial letter
    4. After you’ve had time to process our conversation and review the editorial letter, you can follow up with any questions about my editing comments

  • Pricing is .025 cents/word

  • What my editorial assessment isn’t: This service doesn't include any direct comments/edits/suggestions in the manuscript itself (if you’d like this option, please see the developmental editing service below). This is not a collaborative/back-and-forth process but you’ll have the option to move into collaborative work with me via book coaching after the dev. edit is complete.

  • What my editorial assessment is: Holistic feedback about the book’s strengths and weaknesses, which includes feedback on what I see as the core thesis/arc of the book, which will serve as your focus and filter as you work on your next draft. This service is geared toward people at the early stages of a book and people who are prepared for big-picture feedback and ready to make significant revisions.

  • For a quote/availability, email me with your current word count and the topic of your book, and some sample pages, ideally from your intro or first chapter.

Developmental Editing:
This service can be done after you've written most or all of your first draft and it includes everything that is part of an editorial assessment, plus extensive sidebar comments and editing notes in your actual manuscript.

  • I provide an editorial letter with an overview of your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and specific recommendations for improving the manuscript. In this letter, I typically identify 3-4 key strengths and 3-4 key weaknesses to focus on along with some smaller misc. editing notes. I cover issues with the overall narrative arc/thesis, structure, pacing, flow, organization, logic, voice/tone, focus, accuracy, clarity, and any other larger issues that might spoil the reading experience. I will also provide suggestions for addressing key issues.

  • I review the manuscript document with Word Track Changes markup and provide specific developmental editing suggestions and extensive sidebar comments throughout.

  • We’ll meet for a 1.5 hour phone or zoom call to discuss your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and my suggestions for taking it to the next level

  • The process:
    1. You send me your manuscript (as a Microsoft Word doc) along with any questions/concerns you want me to be sure to address
    2. I read your manuscript and then give you my editing feedback about your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses in a zoom call
    3. I will send you the recording of the zoom call, the editorial letter, and your manuscript with my notes/suggestions/reactions in the sidebar
    4. After you’ve had time to process our conversation and review everything, you can follow up with any questions about my editing comments

  • What my dev. editing isn’t: I don’t make changes to the words on the pages of your book, and I won't rewrite sentences or paragraphs. This is not a collaborative/back-and-forth process but you’ll have the option to move into collaborative work with me via book coaching after the dev. edit is complete.

  • What my dev. editing is: Holistic feedback about the book’s strengths and weaknesses, which includes feedback on what I see as the core thesis/arc of the book, which will serve as your focus and filter as you work on your next draft. This service is geared toward people at the early stages of a book and people who are prepared for big-picture feedback and ready to make significant revisions.

  • Pricing is .035 cents/word

  • For a quote/availability, email me with your current word count, the topic of your book, and some sample pages, ideally from your intro or first chapter.

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What my editing clients are saying…

“I considered many editors for my book. It was not a choice I took lightly, but after interviewing several other editors, it became clear that Brianna is quite simply a magic human—one who can do her job so efficiently and deliver above and beyond her clients' expectations. I'm SO glad I chose her. Not only did she work quickly (which helped me stay on track with the project) but her edits were truly thoughtful, tailored to my voice as an author, and crafted specifically to strengthen the message I'm sharing in my book. To say she made my work stronger would be a ridiculous understatement. Brianna lifted the potential of my book so that it truly has the potential to make a mark in the world.” —Kelly LaPlante

“This was my first experience with an editor and I could not have been more impressed with Brianna. I have such a better grasp on what this book is about. I now have a clear direction and know the work I need to do to make this book great. I feel like Brianna pulled this book out of me. Amazing—I highly recommend Brianna!” —Robbie Leffel

“I loved working with Brianna! I can tell she really took the time to read and understand my book on a deep level. She was very thoughtful and detailed with her feedback. She also has a kind heart and really wants to encourage writers. She made the process fun and I now have the tools I need to take my book idea to the next level. I highly recommend!!!” —Allison Zatarain

“There's an ineffable quality to Brianna’s feedback that I'm still processing, but practically, she understood the core idea of the book and helped me see where it's not resonating. She highlighted key issues at the level of structure and helped me see where people are highly likely to get lost. Also, she came up with a way better title than I had and suggested research materials I was unaware of, which is fantastic. I highly recommend choosing Brianna for your project.” —Anthony Metivier

“Brianna is the best!!! Hands down. If you are thinking about having someone do your editing, choose her! Stop looking, and pay her. And if the timing doesn't work, then change your dates for her!” —Samson Sembeba

“Brianna was amazing to work with, and I don't use that word lightly. I was impressed from the very start that she understood my project and what I was trying to convey to my readers, even with very little background on the topic. She dove right in and got to the heart of my project. She helped me immensely, not only with pacing, voice, and accuracy, but also brainstorming together on a Zoom call about my overall theme and narrative arc. I appreciated that extra face time where we had a conversation, rather than just through email correspondence. She gave honest feedback that will strengthen my book and me as a writer. She truly cares and is passionate about your work and her job as an editor. If you need someone for a developmental edit in the very early stages of your book, or like me where you just have a confused mess of writing and need help/don't know where to go next, I highly recommend her. She will get you organized and on the right track. Thank you Brianna!” —Cassie Houchin

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