Have you written a story? May I read it?

BFF Editing offers kind, professional editing services and personal, detailed beta feedback
to help you polish and refine your message
to more effectively entertain, edify, or inspire your readers.

​“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

Because every story and author is unique, BFF Editing offers tailored services to meet a variety of editorial needs and budgeting realities:

• Beta reading and developmental editing - 
  

personal and professional feedback for big picture issues such as plot holes, pacing, inconsistencies, and character arcs

• Line and copyediting - 

checking for redundancies, inconsistencies, and passive construction; ferreting out issues of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, style, tone, etc.

• Final polishing (i.e., proofreading) - 

eagle-eyed scrutiny of your manuscript to detect any overlooked issues

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

(Check out my Service options.)

“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. ... I felt like Kate wanted what was best for my story and really put her heart into helping in any way she could.”

- Michelle A. Marie, Author ​

Every writer's journey is different, with unique goals, challenges, and priorities. I urge you to look ahead, join writer groups, ask questions, and do your research. (Although I admit that it can be difficult when you don't know what you don't know. My BFF Resources pages have some fantastic places to start!)

If you're feeling overwhelmed or confused, don't worry! You don't have to travel this creative road alone.

Getting fresh eyes and perspectives on your writing by joining a critique group and inviting others to read your work is a good first step. You can learn a lot from writers who've gone down the publishing road before you and from dedicated readers (i.e., beta readers or sensitivity readers) who are knowledgeable about your themes and genre.

At some point, you'll be ready to find the right collaborative fit for your editorial needs, and BFF Editing offers a variety of beta reading and line and copyediting services to help get your story ready for readers!

Hello! I'm Kate Schieber (she/her),
lover of stories and wrangler of words.

• As my "friendly" business name implies, I celebrate the accomplishments of my author friends and encourage them, honestly and collaboratively, to refine their work. I ask lots of questions to help me understand their vision and am always happy to explain my suggestions or brainstorm as we work together to clarify a story's message so that it will more effectively engage their audience.

• Besides my professional support, my author friends also benefit from my decades of living and reading experience, my acquired editing skills, and my expertise in the art of storytelling.

• As a human editor in this age of AI, I guarantee that you'll be working with a person rather than a program or algorithm. I bring empathy, sensitivity, and emotional intelligence as well as my understanding of subtlety, tone, humor, nuance, and flow to any project.

 

• The creativity, discipline, and courage it takes to craft and share a story is beyond admirable. And protecting an author's creative vision, voice, and intellectual property is a high priority for me.

 

• In my editing process, I also advocate for readers who expect and deserve a quality experience when they open a book. This includes not only sensible, strategic adherence to conventions but to the use of conscious, caring language.

 

• And finally, I honor the role of storytelling in our world. I try to help authors refine their tales to be all they can be before they get launched into the world to inspire, instruct, or entertain.

*Learn more about me on my About page.

So back to you! Would you and I make a good team?

Not every editor is right for every project or author, and vice versa. I prefer to work with writers who are motivated to produce quality stories (regardless of genre) that uplift, inspire, entertain, or enlighten.

A comfortable working rapport between author and editor makes collaboration easier and, frankly, more fun. Authors and editors should frankly discuss expectations, which I then spell out in a contract. But it takes time to develop a relationship of trust and respect.

You might start to learn about me by exploring my website, starting with the Testimonials from 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, fees, etc.

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 on your journey toward publication, such as publishing terminology, stages, and the writing & editing process; plus resources to help you develop your Word Craft.

If you'd like to start a conversation about your editing needs, Contact BFF Editing today!