Editing & Ghostwriting

My Philosophy
Hi, I'm Sarah Berti. I founded Bright Leaf Literary to assist creatives to write their best book, from first draft through to publication. Check out the Bright Leaf website here.
As an editor or ghostwriter, it’s my job to escort your manuscript or piece of writing to the next level. My specialty is to detect missing dimensions that if addressed, will expand the capacity of the work. I point out key portals of possibility. Applying the critical and creative imagination, my mind will seek out and destroy what is weak, polish what is strong, and identify dormant seeds that can flourish into gardens when care is applied.
I’m here to help you vitalize the living truth encoded in your words.
I specialize in speculative fiction, fantasy and sci-fi but work with any genre and age category, from picture book through middle grade, young-adult, and adult. I have edited for traditionally published authors, self-published authors, conscious entrepreneurs, students, and university professors. I have a masters degree in English Literature and have spent the bulk of my life reading, writing, and studying good writing craft. I have received numerous scholarships and awards for my writing and am committed to continual professional development.
Types of Editing Services
Content Editing
This level of editing will enhance and give feedback on the substance of the text, including vision, depth, height, appeal, and readability. Feedback can touch on plot, characterization, theme, overall structure, arcs, pacing, conflict, and setting, as well as more specific elements including subtext, context, and tension. Feedback will be returned in the form of a letter and does not include line-by-line editing of the text.
Any plot holes, inconsistencies, lack of conflict, pacing issues, and other problem areas will be addressed, chapter by chapter.
Line Editing
Line by line, your work will be evaluated and edited for such things as style, tone, dialogue tags, flow, word choice, clarity, line-by-line continuity, potency, descriptions, structure, and voice, to name a few. This is NOT proof-reading or a grammar check: hire a copy-editor for that. You will receive this editing in the form of tracked changes in a document. I will address such issues as excessive adverbs, purple prose, over used words, confusing sentences, awkward or unnatural dialogue, and many more.
Sculpting each sentence into the Masterpiece it is.
Ghost Writing
Ghostwriting is when I write original content to fill in the gaps in your work. Sometimes it is just a small piece here or there, a few lines or a paragraph, and other times it can be more substantial.
Ghostwriting isn't editing, but can be part of line-editing as I make suggestions. It can also be inspirational: maybe you've hit a wall and just need a paragraph to get you rolling again.
Critical Imagination
Guided by the critical imagination, I offer an in-depth review on how to "up-level" your manuscript. This level of editing specifically looks at portals of possibility—what dimensions are currently lacking that if addressed, will remind the work how to become its best self. This type of editing is usually done in conjunction with "Content Editing" and your feedback is offered in the form of a letter.
$55 CAD/ hr
€36/ hr | $43 USD/ hr
What to Expect

As a courtesy, I offer a free 1/2 hour of editing when you purchase your first two hours of editing, so you can make sure I'm the right editor for you. If I think you would benefit from a different editor, I will tell you. I won't edit your work unless I know I can take it to the next level.
For extensive and longer projects, depending on the project, we sometimes offer a lower hourly fee.
Contact Us
Please send an email to thehelixlibrary.com[at]gmail.com and let us know what type of editing you want. Most people want a combination of line-editing and content editing, but if you have specific parameters, let me know.
Please also provide a brief (less than 250 words) description of your work. Include what genre it is, whether it is young-adult, adult or middle grade, fiction or non-fiction, and the word count. You can attach a file of what you would like edited or upload it to google docs and give us access.

Hi, I'm Leaf
aka Sarah.
I'm here to help you vitalize the living truth encoded in your words.
I am interested in shaping excellence and drawing forth genius. Together we can make your writing come alive.