As an author, I understand how precious your manuscript is to you! I understand the time and energy you have spent and I am committed to helping your work be the very best it can be. By pruning superfluous words, tightening prose, and adjusting character arcs, your work can sparkle and shine. Let me help you polish your masterpiece.
I provide content editing and critiquing services at the basic rate of $1.75 a page (if a project will require more rigorous work, that may increase). This includes detailed comments on big-picture issues like plot holes and character motivations. I also pay careful attention to the flow, clarity, and grace of the prose. It also includes my total OCD approach, my caring attitude, and the same scrupulous attention I would give my own manuscript. Please note, this does not include line editing, proof reading, and so forth. I will edit your first 5 pages for free so you can see what kind of service I provide. You may contact me for more information here. I am not a good fit for erotica or horror.
I can also edit and critique academic work: papers, essays, theses, dissertations, and so forth. With an earned doctorate, I am familiar with academic writing from the high school to doctoral levels. Academic writing has different demands than a novel, but the goal is still clarity and precision. NB: I provide editing services. I do not help people cheat by writing their essays for them.
You can read comments from those I have worked with in the past below (check back, I'll be updating these).
Endorsements:
"Not only are Braden's critiques insightful, spot-on, and thorough, but his comments always have me laughing. No matter the genre, I trust his opinion implicitly and will always come to him for help with my manuscripts. He is THE best!" Rachael Renee Anderson (Divinely Designed; Luck of the Draw;Minor Adjustments)
"I appreciated the candid, but kind words Braden Bell offered when he provided a content edit to my manuscript. They were invaluable in helping me recognize weaknesses as well as what was working. This honest feedback is the type of help writers need." Susan Dayley(Redemption: A Historical Novel)
"Braden’s advice is invaluable. When I first sent him my manuscript, I wasn’t sure how much he could do. He shocked me. He caught things I had never noticed and pruned my manuscript until it blossomed. He is the eagle-eyed editor all the agents and publishers wish every author had." Tamara Grantham (Forbidden).
"As an editor, Braden Bell has a terrific ability to weed out anything that doesn't make the writing soar. He not only focuses on the text but keeps in mind the core objective of the project. He is able to catch large conceptual errors as well as fixing minute details that enhance clarity and sharpness. He helped make my book spot on, correcting things I hadn't even considered, and asking questions that compelled me to better clarify my thoughts. I would definitely recommend his services." Connie Sokol (Faithful, Fit & Fabulous).
"Braden has edited my manuscripts (I've had seven books published) and I've found his comments to be very helpful. Braden brings a fresh eye to my manuscripts and has been able to catch awkward sentences, questionable details and information, and many other things, which has improved my manuscripts." Marlene Bateman Sullivan (Light on Fire Island, Brigham's Boys, and five other titles)
"Braden Bell is both meticulous and honest in his critiques. He aptly finds plot holes, character inconsistencies, info dumps, and stilted dialogue. He has helped me improve my skills as a writer and I trust him as a valued resource to spot problems in my manuscripts." Rebecca Talley (The Upside of Down, Altared Plans, Heaven Scent, Grasshopper Pie, Gabby's Secret)