Editing

I specialize in developmental editing of books, articles, essays, and online content.

As a developmental editor, I help you improve your project by refining your words, organizing your message, and clarifying your voice.

I’ve worked in the article, content, and book market for over 25 years and have a keen eye for what works. In addition to working with individual clients, I edit for Forbes and Lucid House Publishing.

I can read a project and see the potential and underlying message of a book, article, essay, or post and help you bring it fully to light. Having another set of eyes read your work can pick up inconsistencies, key in on how to better organize information, and locate places where additional details and explanation can be useful. For fiction, it’s helpful to have an experienced editor examine pacing, flow, and character development so that your story can shine. I also am an expert at honing word choice and adjusting punctuation and grammar.

I work closely with my authors and clients and am committed to helping them bring their projects to successful completion. I have worked on a variety of proposals and manuscripts for Hay House submission and one of my clients won the Hay House Workshop Grand Prize and another won Honorable Mention. In addition to self-help, I love to work on fiction, memoir, children’s books, non-fiction, articles, and essays. I work with individual authors as well as a few select agents and publishing houses, including Lucid House and KN Literary. I edited As the Sycamore Grows by Jennie Helderman for Lucid House which was named as a Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Books of 2023.

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What People Are Saying

“Brette has brought so much value to our legal content. She is easy to work with, detail-obsessed and expedient with every deadline I’ve ever asked of her. I would wholeheartedly recommend her for any open roles or opportunities.”

Rob Watts
 Managing Editor, Business at Forbes Advisor

“Brette has become one of my favorite go-to freelance editors and fact-checkers for MoneyGeek.com. Her ability to turn around copy in a reliably quick amount of time with thorough edits has made her an incredibly valuable asset to our company. On top of that, she’s a pleasure to work with! Professional and meticulous, Brette would be a beneficial addition to any team that needs rigorous content fact-checking.”


Chanelle Bessette
Content Editor at ABUV Media

Brette is a tremendous legal editor and has brought a high caliber of editorial excellence to Forbes. Her legal acumen and knowledge of the law are exceptional. The content she edits shines when she’s done with it — and always on deadline. I give my highest endorsement to Brette. Thanks for all your great work.

Adam Ramirez
managing editor, Forbes Advisor

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Brette on several editing and writing projects. She has a fluid style, mega editorial chops, and legal writing acumen. Brette is also easy to work with and always open to feedback–I highly recommend her services.


Adam Kosloff
CEO & Founder, Virtuoso Content, LLC

“I hired Brette to help me with an ebook project and was quite satisfied with her work. She asked intelligent questions and gave good feedback as I provided first drafts of written text and she edited the content. Would be happy to work with her again on future projects of a similar nature and can recommend her to others seeking a freelance writer or editor.”


Deborah Regen
www.ecotourlinq.com

“I would highly recommend Brette Sember’s coaching, editing, proofreading, marketing, and ebook/paperback publishing guidance for authors wanting to publish a manuscript. As a new author, having a seasoned professional shepherd me through the process from my first draft to the book’s placement on Amazon/Kindle was invaluable! Brette, thank you for all your support, expert guidance, and most importantly your patience associated with the publishing of my recent book. I would highly recommend all of your comprehensive author’s services to others!”


Steve Grady
Author of Achieve Employer Health Plan Excellence

“I have just finished working on my book with Brette and it has been an amazing experience. She started as my book coach and then continued as my editor and because of her skill and wealth of knowledge I have a finished manuscript.

Her guidance and insight to a first time author was invaluable, helping me to bring my vision of this book to fruition. I’m forever grateful for all she has done for me and would recommend her highly.”


Patricia Comeau-Simonson
Author of Recipes for Healing: Working Through Grief One Plate at a Time (Just Not Lasagna!)

“I’ve so enjoyed working with Brette as one of our freelance editors at KN Literary. Her skill set is so versatile, making her a great fit for a variety of clients. She is thorough, asks excellent clarifying questions, and always comes with a supportive and open mindset. Our clients have had nothing but effusive praise for her, and I would highly recommend!”


KJ Grow
General Manager at KN Literary Arts

“Brette Sember is the most thoughtful content/copy editor with whom I’ve ever worked, and I’ve written 22 books. She is my go-to person as the publisher of Lucid House Publishing, and has done excellent work in several different genres. I’ve also used her services as an Indexer. Again, her attention to detail and timeliness are impeccable. I highly recommend her. In almost 40 years of working in
publishing, she is the best I have ever encountered.”


Echo Garrett
co-founder/co-publisher Lucid House Publishing

Lucid House titles I have edited include:
  • The Renaissance Sisters (romance)
  • Please Don’t Cut the Baby (memoir)
  • Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss (fiction)
  • Rusty and Emma’s Big Shock! (children’s fiction)
  • This Penis Business (memoir)
  • Love Child (romance)
  • Paradise Road (memoir)
  • As the Sycamore Grows (creative nonfiction)
  • The Box Must Be Empty (memoir)
  • Suspension (fiction)
  • Waiting for Gabe (fiction)
  • Walking the Mystic (fiction)

“I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with Brette.  I had never worked with an editor before and she skillfully guided me through the process, sharing her expertise, and providing both constructive and encouraging feedback. I have no doubt that her editorial skill helped to elevate the quality of my writing. I highly recommend Brette Sember as an Editor and I hope to work with her again in the future.”


Lisa Lauter
author of Journey to Brain Health

“After participating in a Hay House writer’s workshop, I came to Brette with an idea, but it was her magic touch that helped me make it a book. Not only she has many years of experience and can spot immediately what can make the book more fun, engaging and easier to understand, she knew exactly what Hay House would want to see in my book proposal and how to make it a great value proposition.

She helped me keep pace with her very prompt response and clear guidance.

Brette was my editor, my book coach and my cheerleader. I am now happy to say that thanks to her amazing help my book won the grand prize and will be published by Hay House! I couldn’t be more grateful for Brette’s advice.”


Sandra Hinojosa Ludwig
author of Chica, Why Not? How to Live with Intention and Create a Life That Loves You Back
Grand prize winner of the Hay House Writer’s Workshop Contest

“Brette is a great writing coach, cheerleader and editor in one. She helped me to work on big enough pieces of my book proposal to feel like ( and make ) great progress while keeping it from feeling overwhelming. From concept to proposal in just over 8 wks! Wahoo! I look forward to working with her again- on the full book when it gets accepted in the next few months.”


Mary Meston
VP of Talent Management at Concentrix and author of the upcoming book Intuitive Leadership

“Brette was a huge part of my book writing process. She gave so much incredibly helpful feedback and helped me bring my book together. The advice I was given was to DEFINITELY get a book editor, and I’m so glad I got to have Brette as mine!”


Felicia Broccolo
Impossible Goal Coach
author of the upcoming Create the Impossible Life

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