Brianna McCabe

Brianna McCabe – Editor

Editor/coach with 18+ years of finding a book's essence and removing the clutter and confusion. I specialize in transformative nonfiction.

Overview

Hello! I’m Brianna. I’m a coach and editor, and I love helping my clients write and finish their book, identify the essence of their book, and filter and shape that essence with clarity and personality. And no surprise, this makes for powerful books that people actually want to read!

I work at the earlier stages of editing when all the big questions are being addressed—what is my book really about and who is my ideal reader and how will it help or impact them?

My editing superpower is my ability to read your manuscript (and read between the lines of what you’re saying) to find the potent and essential aspects of your book and what your book is trying to do/solve/shift for the reader and where your book is missing the mark. Then I share that vision with you in my feedback and provide my method for re-structuring or re-focusing your book accordingly.

I do this “essence-finding” or “thesis-finding” in all my editing services—editorial assessments, developmental editing, and coaching (I don't copyedit or proofread).

I work on essay collections, memoirs, and nonfiction that engages topics of personal transformation, mindfulness, and spirituality. I also love writing that has a sense of humor and playfulness. I also specialize in poetry manuscripts and hybrid nonfiction/poetry manuscripts.

RATES/DETAILS:

Book Coaching:

-We'll meet for at least 4 sessions to help you pursue your book goals

-You'll send me up to 5,000 words at least 48 hours prior to each session (if you want to send me more than 5,000 words, I charge an additional .02 cents/word)

-Our 1-hour zoom sessions will include discussion of your writing process, big-picture editorial feedback on the submitted material, and planning next steps

-You'll get a copy of your pages with my sidebar editorial comments and a recording and transcript of the session

-$175/session (min. of 4 sessions)

Author Coaching:

-Most people focus on the outer aspects of writing a book and forget the inner work—and then folks wonder why the book is floundering!

-Our 1-hour zoom sessions help you find a more courageous and settled writing practice and offer accountability and ongoing support during the book-writing and publishing process

-You'll access your own writing wisdom, move through resistance, and put your work in motion

-$115/session (min. of 2 sessions)

Editorial Assessment (when you have at least half of your first draft completed):

-I provide an editorial report detailing the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript and ways to take it to the next level

-I'll address big-picture issues with the overall thesis, pacing/flow, structure/organization, logic, voice/tone, accuracy/clarity

-We’ll meet for a 1.5-hour zoom call to discuss your manuscript and my suggestions

-Pricing: .025 cents/word + flat fee for shorter manuscripts

Developmental Editing (after you've written most or all of your first draft):

-Includes everything that is part of an editorial assessment (see above), plus extensive sidebar comments in your manuscript to help illustrate the developmental editing feedback

-Pricing: .04 cents/word + flat fee for shorter manuscripts

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Health & Wellbeing LGBTQ Non-Fiction New Age Psychology Religion & Spirituality Self-Help & Self-Improvement Writing & Publishing
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • Magazine I edited was awarded a Notable Special Issue by The Best American Essays 2017 anthology.
Certifications
  • M.A. English literature
  • B.A. English literature
  • Graduate of Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach Training
  • Graduate of Center for Action and Contemplation's Living School

Work experience

Self-employed

Mar, 2010 — Present
I edit nonfiction manuscripts and provide developmental editing and editorial assessments and partner with my clients in clarifying their editing needs and the overall objective and goals for their manuscript. I am also a book coach and work with clients in one-on-one sessions to help them achieve their writing goals (start a book, finish a book, apply developmental editing feedback, implement marketing/publicity for a book, etc). I have led writing retreats and workshops and spoken on writing and editing panels at a variety of colleges and writing conferences.

Ruminate Magazine

Apr, 2006 — Jan, 2020 (almost 14 years)
I led and supervised a 10-person staff for Ruminate, an award-winning print and online literary magazine. I led thematic content decisions for print issues and wrote and edited content including a quarterly magazine column, blog posts, marketing campaigns, and donor campaigns; evaluated author submissions in nonfiction, fiction, and poetry and provided developmental editing and line editing feedback to writers; proofread all final copy and approved magazine layout; supervised art editor, graphic designer, and online photo curator to achieve consistent aesthetic; supervised interviews, hiring, and onboarding of staff; executed the development and implementation of the magazine’s production calendar; oversaw annual budget and served as liaison to the board of directors and oversaw legal issues related to publication (copyright registrations, releases, permissions, etc.); oversaw the publication’s editorial and production policies and procedures; supervised social media campaigns and fundraising events and acted as spokesperson at internal and external events

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
The Child I Left Behind: A Mother's Journey Toward Healing & Forgiveness

McGoldrick, Anjalia

Anjalia Productions, LLC

Developmental Editing Book Coaching
Made with Reedsy
Bipolar, A Gift of Thorns

Zurawski, Dale

Book Coaching
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment Book Coaching
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
CFS, My Invisible Companion - How to Live and Deal with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Eggers, Theresia

White Falcon Publishing

Developmental Editing
Made with Reedsy
Changing the Story: Navigating Anxiety in Relationships

Sembeba, Samson

Independently published

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Editorial Assessment
Sky Mesa Journal

Dupree, Judith Deem

Editorial Assessment

Brianna has 26 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Abi O.

Abi O.

Jun, 2025

Working with Brianna was an absolute gift. When I first came to her, I had pages and pages of content—thoughts, reflections, stories—all meaningful, but scattered and disorganized. Brianna stepped in with clarity, insight, and deep editorial expertise to help shape my ideas into a cohesive, logic...
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Gayla P.

Gayla P.

May, 2025

I had a great experience with Brianna! This was my first time working with Reedsy and she provided an editorial assessment for the manuscript I'm working on. I was really looking for someone who would give me unbiased input on the strengths of my writing, but I also wanted to hear about areas for...
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Natalia L.

Natalia L.

Mar, 2025

Brianna was incredible to work with. Her comments were helpful, insightful an applicable. I was worried I'd feel overwhelmed when getting my manuscript back but she laid out a clear plan to take my book to the next level. One of my favorite things she offered was a zoom call before hiring, I left...
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Chelsea S.

Chelsea S.

Jan, 2025

As a complete beginner, Brianna was the fairy-Godmother I needed to alchemize my ideas into something thematic and arc-able. Her leadership and vision were coupled with professionalism and expertise. She accommodated my unique schedule and I always left my sessions feeling more confident and capa...
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Rebecca F.

Rebecca F.

Oct, 2024

Brianna was a dream to work with - she completely engaged with my book, "3000 Orgasms," and helped me to feel confident in my work. She is an exceptional developmental editor and immediately grasped the heart of the story, helping me refine the narrative arc while enhancing emotional depth withou...
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