Book Coaching & Developmental Editing for Nonfiction Writers
I take a holistic approach with my editing work because the act of writing a book tends to stir up some pretty big stuff that is best served by looking at the full picture. The chapter that won't come together, the voice that feels flat, the fuzziness around the big idea—these often have deep roots. Some clients come to me for a developmental edit and find themselves also wanting to explore what's underneath the writing block. Others come for book coaching and discover that what they really need is someone who can support both the manuscript and the person writing it at the same time.
I’m here for this kind of deep work (and I wrote more about the inner work of writing and publishing a book here.)
I specialize in nonfiction—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 have 20+ years of editing experience and I have a master’s degree in English literature. 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, a certified House Therapy feng shui consultant, 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.
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THE SERVICES:
Coaching Sessions for Writers (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 and find the strategies that will help and support you in your writing process. In coaching sessions, I help writers who might be feeling stuck or overwhelmed tap into this process and loosen the hold of perfectionism or procrastination. If a client wants help with the arc/structure of their book, I can also share my strategies for clarifying these elements. I also offer practices for connecting with the sprit/essence of your book.
I’m a certified Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach
Sessions are $145/hour
Coaching sessions are via phone, zoom, or walk-and-talk coaching sessions for writers in Fort Collins or Northern Colorado
If you’re ready for this kind of support, let’s talk.
Book Coaching Sessions (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.
You'll send me up to 5,000 words at least 48 hours prior to each session. If you want to send me more than 5,000 words, I charge an additional $.03/word.
Then, we’ll meet for a 1-hour zoom call. These sessions will include feedback on the submitted material. We can also brainstorm ideas, talk about the writing process, and I'll help you move through any blocks and plan next steps.
You'll get light margin notes on your pages, and sessions can be recorded and a transcript of the session can be provided
Pricing is $250/session
For availability, send me your current word count and the topic of your book, and we’ll go from there.
Editorial Assessment:
This service can be done as soon as you have at least half of your first draft completed.
Deliverables:
I provide an editorial report that outlines your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and offers specific recommendations to improve it. In this report, 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 and I will also provide suggestions for addressing these key issues. In the report, you’ll also get a chapter-by-chapter overview (couple specific sentences on each chapter) that will summarize each chapter and address specific issues with that chapter.
A 90-minute video call going over my feedback and suggestions
A 45-minute video call going over follow-up questions
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. We’ll have a 45-minute follow-up zoom call where you can ask me any questions, talk about revisions, and plan for next steps.
5. You can follow up via email with any questions about my editing comments
Rate and details:
Pricing is $.03/word + flat fee
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 service does not include multiple rounds of editing—it is for just one round of developmental editing. It is not a collaborative/back-and-forth process beyond our brainstorming on our two zoom calls, but you have the option to move into more collaborative work with me via book coaching after the assessment is complete
What my editorial assessment is: One round of editing where I provide 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 very early stages of a book and people who are prepared for big-picture feedback and ready to make significant revisions.
For a quote/availability, send me your current word count and the topic of your book, and we’ll go from there.
Developmental Editing:
This is my most in-depth service and it can be done after you've written most or all of your first draft. It includes everything that is part of an editorial assessment, plus margin notes throughout your manuscript.
Deliverables:
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 provide margin notes throughout your manuscript (average of 1.5 comments/page)
90-minute video call going over my feedback and talking through my suggestions for your manuscript
60-minute follow-up video call
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 we meet for a 90-minute zoom call where I give you my editing feedback about your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses.
3. I will send you the recording of the zoom call, the editorial letter, and your manuscript with my comments in the sidebar
4. Then, we’ll have a 60-minute follow-up zoom call where you can ask me any questions, talk about revisions, and plan for next steps.
5. You can follow up with any questions about my editing comments via email.
Rate and details:
Pricing for nonfiction is $.045/word + flat fee
Pricing for poetry is $950 plus a flat fee for full-length collections (50-90 pages of poems). For poetry manuscripts longer than 95 pages, I charge an additional $8/page.
What my dev. editing isn’t: This is a true developmental edit, so I don’t make changes to the words on the pages of your book, and I won't rewrite sentences or paragraphs. This service does not include multiple rounds of editing—it is for just one round of developmental editing. It is not a collaborative/back-and-forth process beyond our brainstorming on our two zoom calls, but you have the option to move into more 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 margin notes and 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 who have completed their first draft and are ready for big-picture feedback and ready to make significant revisions.
For a quote/availability, send me your current word count and the topic of your book, and we’ll go from there.
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What my editing clients are saying…
“The PERFECT editor and guide for intuitive/deeper writers. Brianna understood me and the "spirit" of my book with a level of accuracy I genuinely didn't know was possible. I've been a highly successful entrepreneur for over 12 years and yet, I have never felt so seen, heard and well-guided before. How she mixes structure and tangible principles with spirit, flow and intuition so effortlessly is beyond me. Further to that, she holds incredibly high standards for herself by responding rapidly and considers all of your questions with deep respect and reverence. If you GET to work with Brianna, I'm certain it'll be a blessing.” —Tom Clark, Resistance: Allowance
“Brianna, I can't tell you how much it has opened me up to have you receive what I am sharing. You are the first person to receive this work from me with such understanding, graciousness, and appreciation.” —Alexis Kennedy, Pain Is a Portal to Beauty: Stunning Discoveries After Loss, Psychedelics, and Feeling It All
“I can't say enough wonderful things about working with Brianna. I felt lost, overwhelmed and uncertain about writing my first book. I had already written a lot and needed feedback and support to help me understand if I was on the right track. Brianna provided me with an amazing editorial assessment with so much helpful feedback. It was exactly what I needed to help me move forward in the right direction. I loved working with Brianna. She was so personable, knowledgeable, and helpful. It was the best money I have spent on this project and worth every dime. I would highly recommend her and would certainly use her again.” —Anjalia McGoldrick, The Child I Left Behind: A Mother's Journey Toward Healing & Forgiveness
“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 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.” —Kelly LaPlante, Black Sheep Bluesprints: Design Your Life, Your Way
“From the beginning I liked Brianna’s demeanor, directness, and the interest she brought to the discussion. I completely trusted her with my work, knowing that she would provide honest and thorough yet compassionate feedback, which is exactly what she did. The developmental edit and zoom call explaining the strengths and opportunities of the manuscript were nothing short of a life-changing experience. She read my work and knew me! I am so glad I found my way to Brianna and her talent!” —Brooke Rye, Out of Office: A Retirement Memoir of Stepping Back, Showing Up, and Sucking at New Things
“Working with Brianna has been an absolute joy. She helped me see what my first book actually is—not what the industry might try to shape it into. There was no cookie-cutter lens, no pressure to make it fit a mold. She just got it. Even when my writing went off the traditional path, she rolled with it and honored the heart of it. I’m so grateful for her Developmental Editor eyes—and for how deeply she sees.” —Sue Gayle, Safe to Be Me
“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.” —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. She will get you organized and on the right track!” —Cassie Houchin
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