Do you have a story to tell?
Can I read it?

BFF Editing offers a variety of beta reading or editing services to help get your story ready for readers!

Every writer's journey is different with unique goals, challenges, and priorities.

And you don't need to travel that creative road alone. It's always best to travel with a buddy.

Read on to find out if BFF Editing would be a good companion for you as you wend your way along one of the wild and woolly paths to publication. ;)
Kia Ora! I'm Kathryn (Kate) Schieber (she/her), lover of stories and wrangler of words.

As my "friendly" business name implies, I celebrate the accomplishments of my author clients and encourage them, honestly and collaboratively, to refine their work. I'm always happy to brainstorm or explain my suggestions as we work together to clarify a story's message to better engage its audience.

My authors also reap the benefits of my decades of living and reading experience and my expertise in the art of storytelling and editing. As a person (rather than a program or algorithm), I bring my human empathy, sensitivity, and emotional intelligence as well as my understanding of subtlety, tone, nuance, flow, and cultural references to any project.
“I loved how personable Kate was during our chats and emails, making it feel like I was talking to a good friend, and she was always open to explaining her suggestions if I didn’t understand something. She has this way of still being friendly while offering critiques, so I never felt like I was being made fun of for missing things. I felt like Kate wanted what was best for my story and really put her heart into helping in any way she could.”

- Author Michelle A. Marie
I admire the creativity, discipline, and courage it takes to craft and share a story, especially if it is a personal one, like a memoir! And maintaining an author's creative vision and voice is a priority for me when I edit.

I also advocate for readers who expect and deserve a quality experience when they open a book.

And finally, I honor the role of story in our world. I want to help authors refine their tales to be all they can be before they get launched into the world to inspire, instruct, or entertain.
I urge aspiring authors to ask questions, plan ahead, and get many fresh eyes and perspectives on their work.

And because every story, situation, and author is unique, BFF Editing offers tailored services (see my Services page) to meet a variety of editorial needs and budgeting realities such as:

Beta reading and developmental editing -
personal and professional feedback for your big picture issues as well as subtle nuances

Line and copyediting -
reducing redundancies, inconsistencies, and passive construction; ferreting out issues of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, style, tone, pacing; etc.

Final polish (i.e., proofread) -
eagle-eyed scrutiny of your manuscript to detect any overlooked issues

This careful and conscientious work of shoring up plot foundations, clarifying language, maintaining consistency, and reducing distractions makes a difference to readers.

And let's face it, satisfying readers is good business for authors.
​“Kate did a very thorough job proofing my manuscript. ​The book even made it to the finals of the RONE Awards! I highly recommend her.”

-Lexi Post, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
So back to you!
Would you and I make a good team? Not all qualified editors and gifted writers are a good match.

A comfortable working rapport makes collaboration easier and, frankly, more fun. Authors and editors need to at least start out on the same page, but it takes time to develop a relationship of trust and respect.

So you might start to explore my website by reading the Testimonials of other authors who've worked with me. Then check out my About page for my editing philosophy and ​preferred genres, ​and my Business page for a description of my​ process. Ask to have a video chat with me to see what your gut tells you.

While you are here, I invite you to wander through the rest of my website. You'll find helpful hints to educate and equip you, such as publishing terminology; writing and editing process, stages, and support; and resources to help you develop your Writing and Word Craft.
If you think we'd make a good team, ​then contact Book Friends Forever Editing today for a Sample Edit.​