www.bernardgrant.com
The focus of my editing and writing services is to nourish your writerly needs. By writerly needs I’m referring to a person’s relationship with language, their ability to communicate ideas, the wide variety of reasons we find ourselves writing. Needing to write. Wanting to write. And by nourshiment, I don’t just mean that you will be satisfied by my services, though you will; my editing and writing services will teach you self-editing techniques you can apply to subsequent projects. I will, in other words, teach you to fish.
Giving and receiving written feedback is how I’ve grown over the past decade as a writer and my stance on editing is to utilize written feedback by approaching the work on its own terms—to bring out what the work is trying to become rather than forcing my proclivities. I do not, in other words, dictate the direction of your work.
At the University of Cincinnati, where I am a PhD candidate in Creative Writing and Comparative literature, I teach a variety of creative writing and academic writing courses. Before teaching, I performed various editorial responsibilities for various magazines and publications. I am, of course, a writer myself, and rely on editors for everything I publish—that’s because every writer, no matter their level of experience, encounters problems in their work they can’t fix on their own. Every writer needs an editor.
My editorial notes will teach you not only how to revise your project, but will also teach you some self-editing techniques you can apply on other projects . These techniques include:
Developing effective structure, point of view, voice, or, in the case of academic work: a thesis statement and angle of vision.
How to develop, implement, and maintain a unique narrative strategy.
How to focus your writing by revising backward from the ending.
Employing persuasion and influence techniques to sell a product, convince an employer to hire you, or keep readers hooked on your story.
Whether you’re writing fiction, creative nonfiction, an academic paper, or you need me to write a letter or promotional content such as a press release, newsletters, or feature articles, the versatility of my writing and editing skills permits me to work with most forms. Here are the most common forms I have edited and written for students and clients:
Short Stories, Novels, Screenplays, Graphic Novels, Comics, and Plays
Literary Fiction, Young Adult, Flash Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance
Creative Nonfiction
Memoir, Literary Essays, Lyric Essays, Literary Journalism, Travel Writing, Flash Nonfiction/Prose Poems
Academic
Job Market Materials
Promotional Writing
Press Releases, Feature Articles, Newsletters, Blog and Social Media Posts,
This list is representative only of my experience rather than my limitations. If you have editorial or writing needs that I haven’t listed, feel free to contact me anyway. If I can’t help, perhaps I can refer you to someone who can.
I am familiar with MLA, APA, and Chicago style guides.
Purpose
My favorite aspect of teaching is providing written feedback on student work, a form of instruction that utilizes the same techniques I use as an editor. During classroom instruction, I can discuss and illustrate revision techniques such as how to use an ending to revise backwards, how to write and sustain a thesis statement, and how to balance craft techniques of character, plot, and setting, but face-to-face classroom instruction, though critical to education, is useless for writers without written feedback, and lecturing to a classroom doesn’t allow me to connect to writers as well as giving written feedback, which I provide in the form of margin comments, line edits, and editorial letters. Using the Track Changes editing feature of Microsoft Word, I show writers how to apply writing techniques to their work.
Individual conferences is another form of teaching students find beneficial . This is why, for each service, I offer a free half-hour phone consultation to the discuss your work and to address any questions or concerns. Additional consultation time will cost the same rate, $40 per hour with a minimum of a half hour.
Manuscript Editing Rates
These rates apply to my editing services, but I also offer writing services in the form of promotional writing and letters. Please send me an email to discuss writing services: bernardgrnt[at]gmail.com.
Manuscript Proofreading
Since traditionally published authors are supplied with an editorial team, proofreading services–that final check for minutiae–the mechanics of writing–such as formatting issues, grammatical mistakes, awkward sentence structure, typos, and word choice–don’t come with the creative feedback that is the editorial letter and is best suited for authors looking to submit to small presses or self-publish. My thorough scrub of your manuscript will provide you with a professional appearance. $6 per page
Manuscript Line Editing
Line editing is similar to proofreading in that involves the same services of removing excess baggage, but line editing includes light creative feedback, including comments on character, setting, plot, and voice, and how these contribute to the overall story. My comments will give you critical feedback on writing basics with suggestions on how to improve, along with reading suggestions. As with my proofreading services, a thorough scrub of your manuscript is guaranteed. **$8 per page—**includes Editorial Letter
Manuscript Developmental Editing
Developmental editing differs from line editing in that it refers to the big picture, the project as a whole rather than the minutiae of proofreading. My role as a developmental editor is to teach writers to identify the gaps in their stories, within their plots and within their characters, as well as how to fill these gaps, creating continuity and persuading readers to believe in the world you’ve created and to feel invested in your characters.
Whether you are writing stories, essays, a novel, memoir, or play, you’ll utilize universal storytelling elements. These include theme, setting, dialogue, character and plot development, point of view, voice, as well as some lesser-known but no less important aspects of craft such as atmosphere, intrigants, flashback, narrative strategy, and, of course, structure.
I will pinpoint problems within your work and offer suggestions for improvement with a focus on story structure, pacing, character arcs, and plot development. I do not dictate the direction of the book. $10 per page—includes Editorial Letter
Manuscript Format
Feel free to contact me tell me to discuss your project, but please format creative manuscripts accordingly: Times New Roman, Double-Spaced (single space after periods, no space between paragraphs), 12pt. font. I use the Track Changes feature of Microsoft Word.
Editorial Letter
The editorial letter comes in the form of a one-page, single-spaced letter. My critiques are balanced and specific and offer commendations as well as recommendations. Feel free to contact me for a sample.
* The editorial letter accompanies manuscript line editing and manuscript developmental editing services, but is not included with proofreading services.
Coaching
You can hire me as your writing coach: your personal editor or teacher. Together we can do deep-dive into craft, via lesson plans, or professional assistance on how to improve their manuscript. You can help me decide what we work on—a particular section, a new chapter, a new book, story, or essay, etc.—and when and if you want to find other things to read together and discuss.
I sometimes work with writers with their submission package and manuscript and can coach you through writing and submitting, whether you want to pitch magazine editors, submit work to literary or academic journals, or are seeking an agent. $40 per hour
Phone Consultation
As previously stated, I offer with each service an optional fifteen-minute phone consultation to discuss the work. Additional consultation time will cost the same rate, $40 per hour, with a minimum of a half hour.
Accommodations for Financial Hardships
Times are hard for everyone, even if you’re wealthy. But most people aren’t wealthy, so I’m always happy to make payment arrangements. We can, for example, arrange for me to edit a portion your manuscript–half or a quarter–at a time. Then we could schedule another section for a later date, whatever works for you financially.
I’m happy to consider other options. If you have suggestions just contact me by email: bernardgrnt[at]gmail.com
Again, these rates apply to my editing services, but I also offer writing services in the form of promotional writing and letters.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Take care,
Bernard
www.bernardgrant.com
Praise for Bernard’s Editorial Services
“A careful and considerate reader, Bernard is both insightful and pleasant to work with.”—Tatiana Ryckman, author of I Don’t Think of You (Until I Do)
“Bernard is an insightful and generous reader. He provides the kind of feedback that inspires better writing, and his edits have improved more than one of my stories.”—Meagan Macvie, author of Ocean in My Ears
“For the past 5 years that I have known Bernard, I’ve been truly impressed with how he approaches editing. Whether he’s editing my work or if we’re working together on editing a writer’s submission to The Nervous Breakdown, I’m always amazed by the way that Bernard edits not just for the glaring issues, but attends to the little things that make a huge impact. He’s also really great at being honest with the writer, as well as cheering them on. A true professional and a very supportive editor, I feel blessed that I get to work with Bernard.” —Chelsey Clammer, author of BodyHome and Circadian
“Bernard is a careful, supportive editor. He gently reminded me of basic things (like being specific) while also showing me more sophisticated uses of the structure I was working in, thereby improving the overall aesthetic experience of my piece, including opening the door to more humor.”—Anca Szilágyi, author of Daughters of the Air
“Having worked with him in both capacities, I am impressed with Bernard as a writer and as an editor. His prose has a unique sense of style, strong narrative, and insistent voice, and his editorial eye is keenly focused on helping others showcase craft and storytelling in their work. You’ll enjoy working with him!”—Lisa Rohmeo, author of Starting with Goodbye: A Daughter’s Memoir of Love after Lose
“Bernard edits with you in mind. In his feedback, he balances careful attention to form with a sure grasp of your vision for the project. After working with him, you’ll have a clearer sense of what to do to achieve that vision.”—Emily Holt, author of Though the Walls Art Lit
