Brett Savory

Brett Savory – Editor

Multi-award-winning horror/fantasy/science fiction editor with 27+ years experience at major publishers, small publishers, and freelancing.

Overview

I am a multi-award-winning horror/fantasy/science fiction editor with 27+ years experience at major publishers, small publishers, and freelancing. Career highlights include starting out at Harcourt Canada as a Developmental Editor, moving to Scholastic Canada to become a Senior Editor, running a small spec-fic press for over a decade, then going freelance for several small publishers over many years and many, many books. I am the winner of the World Fantasy Award, Bram Stoker Award, and British Fantasy Award—all for fiction editing. Several novels and short fiction I’ve edited have won or been nominated for the Nebula, Scotiabank Giller, Amazon Canada First Novel, Sunburst, Toronto Book, Shirley Jackson, Theodore Sturgeon, Bram Stoker, and Million Writers Awards.


Recent jobs include copy editing/proofreading Barbara Radecki's MESSENGER 93 for Cormorant books, and Craig Davidson's CASCADE for Knopf Canada. My specialties are horror, science fiction, fantasy, and thrillers, but mystery, crime, and contemporary fiction are also genres in which I have many years of experience. I am also skilled at editorial assessment, having appraised thousands of book submissions in my career.


I believe communication is the most important thing between an author and an editor, so I make myself available for my clients' needs in an extremely timely manner.


TESTIMONIALS:


"I couldn’t be more impressed with Brett’s feedback on my manuscript! His suggestions, especially around character dialogue and scene transitions, have greatly improved the story’s flow. By aligning the characters' actions with their dialogue and adding scene breaks, Brett helped key moments stand out and breathe more naturally. . . . On top of the technical improvements, his comments were insightful and even downright entertaining (I had a few good laughs!). Working with Brett has been such a rewarding experience. I’ve just started requerying my manuscript, and two agents who were previously interested have already asked to read the revised version!"

—Emily Fang


"As long as Brett is working as an editor, he's going to be my guy. He polished and tuned up the grammar and flow in my novel to absolute perfection. . . . My self-serving side feels a bit off giving him such a glowing but honest review because I know it'll take longer until he's available for our next collaboration. There's a reason he's booked so far in advance. His work is that excellent."

—Pat Meehan


"If you think a 'copy edit' can't drastically improve your story, as well as your prose, you have not worked with Brett! I'm a TV writer and showrunner who has worked on some of the most successful network and streaming shows of the last decade and working with Brett on my first novel was an absolute joy. In addition to drastically elevating what I THOUGHT was top-notch writing into actually BEING top-notch writing, he was incredibly supportive and encouraging. There is a very good reason why he is booked for months in advance. . . ."

—Robert Hull


"Man, you are really good at this."

—Kevin Timm

Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Contemporary Fiction Cozy Mysteries Dystopian Horror Magical Realism Urban Fantasy
Languages
English (CAN)
Awards
  • World Fantasy Award (2015)
  • British Fantasy Award (2013)
  • Bram Stoker Award (2000)
Certifications
  • Book and Magazine Publishing Certificate (Centennial College)
  • CS50 Computer Science Certificate (Harvard University)

Work experience

Self-employed

Dec, 1997 — Present

Created and managed publishing companies, including the acquiring, editing, and proofreading of hundreds of manuscripts • In 2000, received the Bram Stoker Award for superior achievement in editing; a British Fantasy Award came in 2013, with a World Fantasy Award following in 2015 • Several pieces of short fiction I’ve edited have won or been nominated for the Nebula, Theodore Sturgeon, Bram Stoker, and Million Writers Awards • In 2008 and 2020, did proofreading and editing work for Fitzhenry and Whiteside • From 2010 till 2012, wrote book reviews for THE GLOBE AND MAIL, THE NATIONAL POST, and THE TORONTO STAR • Occasional contributor to QUILL AND QUIRE, Canada’s foremost magazine of book news and reviews • Have published three novels, over 50 short stories, two novelettes, and two novellas, including appearances in mass-market anthologies from Penguin and Warner Books

Scholastic Canada

Sep, 2005 — Nov, 2008 (about 3 years)

Responsible for editing K–6 fiction and non-fiction early literacy manuscripts and graphic novels, as well as liaising with production department and authors from a project’s start to its finish • Wrote content, copy edited, and proofread all stages of manuscript, ensuring consistent high quality of material • Oversaw contracts and rights • Produced clear and concise art and photo manuscripts • Consistently transmitted material to publishing services on or before deadline • Worked closely with authors to retain solid and beneficial relationships

Harcourt Canada

Jul, 1998 — Jul, 2005 (about 7 years)

Responsible for editing K–12 science, social studies, mathematics, and English manuscripts, as well as liaising with production department and authors from a project’s start to its finish • Wrote, content edited, copy edited, and proofread all stages of manuscript, ensuring consistent high quality of material • Produced clear and concise art and photo manuscripts • Consistently transmitted material to publishing services on or before deadline • Produced highly organized curriculum correlation documents • Worked closely with authors to retain solid and beneficial relationships

Portfolio

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
The Unconquered

Man, Peter

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Tales From Grimlock Cove: Volume 1

Whiting, Oscar

Copy Editing
Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Spill

Abbott, Keith

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading
Proofreading
Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
The God Protocol: Dragon

Wilburn Jr., D. L.

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
The Liberty Wars

Rayder, Clark

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Mount Refuge

Mertz, Bob

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
EMPIRE OF SAND: Book One (Sand series 1)

Brandt, Ashley

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
The Bone Spear (The Flayed Sun Trilogy Book 1)

Layne, Alexander

Proofreading
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
The Bone Mother

Demchuk, David

Developmental Editing
Little Bones

Baillie, David

Copy Editing
Cascade: Stories

Davidson, Craig

Proofreading
Messenger 93

Radecki, Barbara

Proofreading
October: A Novel

Rowe, Michael

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
The Acolyte

Cutter, Nick

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
OVERCAST

Petrie, Timothy

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Orbem (Homonian Chronicles Book 1)

Adrian, Scott V.

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
The Angelics

Swainhart, Roxanne

Copy Editing
Made with Reedsy
Bad Karma

Chartrand, Richard

Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
It's All Good: A Whistler Cabbie Memoir

Meehan, Pat

Copy Editing
Only the Devil Is Here

Michell, Stephen

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Knots

McDonough, Myles

Copy Editing
Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
The Valley of the Mountain Goddess

Narimattom, Joseph

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Proofreading
Made with Reedsy
Mephisto

Brady, Baron

Query Letter Review
Proofreading
Cold Hillside

Baker, Nancy

Proofreading
What We Salvage

Baillie, David

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Gamification/C-Monkeys

Hollihan, Keith

Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Proofreading
Developmental Editing
The n-Body Problem

Burgess, Tony

Developmental Editing
Copy Editing
Wrapped in Skin

Morris, Mark

Copy Editing
Filaria

Hayward, Brent

Developmental Editing
Sarah Court

Davidson, Craig

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Proofreading

Brett has 107 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Edward B.

Edward B.

May, 2024

Pinned
This is my second time receiving a proofread from Brett. Very professional, and he found all sorts of little things, including misspelled names and inconsistencies with my style sheet, which I might have read fifty times and still didn't notice. Thanks, Brett.
Brett S.
Cheers for the kind words, Edward! A pleasure working with you again. 🙂
Morgan F.

Morgan F.

May, 2024

Pinned
Brett was a great help in figuring out what shape my novel was in and getting it all polished up for publishing! He was very responsive, friendly, encouraging, and professional. He works very quickly (I had a monster of a word count for him to get through). I'd recommended him to anyone looking for a great editor.
Brett S.
Thanks so much, Morgan! I had such a good time with your book. Truly a pleasure! 😁
Matt R.

Matt R.

Mar, 2024

Pinned
Brett did a GREAT job on my novel and gave an excellent deal for all the professional services included. Developmental Editing, copy editing, and proofreading will really help me fine tune my work. I was really impressed. He provided tips to improve plot and pacing as well as proofreading your work to be up to the standards of other professional authors in the field.
Brett S.
Howdy, Matt! Big thanks for the kudos, man. Much appreciated! 😁
Emily F.

Emily F.

Oct, 2024

I couldn’t be more impressed with Brett’s feedback on my manuscript! His suggestions, especially around character dialogue and scene transitions, have greatly improved the story’s flow. By aligning the characters' actions with their dialogue and adding scene breaks, Brett helped key moments stand out and breathe more naturally. These adjustments transformed the pacing and clarity of the narrat...
Read more
Brett S.
Hey, Emily, great to hear about the renewed interest from agents. Excellent news! Many thanks for the kind feedback. So glad you found the work to be valuable! You were an absolute pleasure to work...
Read more
Ian H.

Ian H.

Oct, 2024

Brett is awesome! Every communication was professional, pleasant, and prompt. The feedback on my debut novel was contructively presented and thourough. I have no doubt my novel has been strengthened ten-fold. Sorry, this review feels a bit dry - Brett's great and makes everything he touches better. I'll be using him on my next 29 novels, so there's something. :)
Brett S.
Ha! People will think you're joking that you've got 29 more novels planned, but we know better! 🙂 Thanks a million for the kind words, Ian. I'm here for number 2 of 29 when you're ready. 😂

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