Bronwyn Kato – Editor

***NOTE: Each stage of editing is different. Please review my SERVICES below to determine which your book needs.***

BACKGROUND

Since 2003, I've worked on 400+ titles in my role as editor, writer and coach.

I’ve worked with Booker-nominated author André Brink and collaborated on books that were shortlisted for or won literary awards, such as the Sunday Times Literary Award, the Nadine Gordimer Award and the University of Johannesburg Debut Prize (see the first eleven titles under PORTFOLIO).

My coming-of-age novel was shortlisted for the 2025 Caledonia Novel Award and longlisted for the 2024 Bath Novel Award. In 2024, I was shortlisted for the Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarship.

I'm passionate about the role writing plays in bringing insight, clarity and catharsis. Equally, I believe in the power of stories to inspire change.

SERVICES

EDITORIAL ASSESSMENT: A comprehensive report offering feedback on plot, structure, characterization, pacing, perspective, and themes, with suggestions for revision.

DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING: An editorial assessment plus detailed margin notes throughout the manuscript.

LINE EDITING: Refining sentences to improve readability and flow.

COPY-EDITING: Correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

***NB: Copy-editing or line editing are recommended only AFTER developmental issues have been addressed.***

PROOFREADING: A final check for typos and minor errors.

INTERESTS

Art, music, psychology, philosophy, neurodiversity, Buddhism, Japanese and South African literature, poetry, tarot, fairytales, occult, dreams, mythology, gothic fiction, horror, magical realism, mythic fantasy, new adult and queer stories.

SOME FAVOURITE WRITERS

Virginia Woolf, Angela Carter, Alice Walker, Banana Yoshimoto, Mary H.K. Choi, Mieko Kawakami, Elena Ferrante.

TESTIMONIALS

“One of our trusted and valued freelancers, Bronwyn is commissioned regularly by us to edit manuscripts and write reader reports on novels being considered for publication. We appreciate her keen eye for quality writing, her suggestions for improving a manuscript, the warm and constructive working relationships she forms with the writers whose novels she edits, and her general care and precision in her work. She is also very reliable and delivers on time. Thank you, Bronwyn!” – Catriona Ross, Managing Editor, Penguin Random House

“I must say, I found the editing magnificent and sensitive. I hope I can work with Bronwyn again!” André Brink

"Bronwyn, you are a true gift from the Universe. Thank you for loving this project, for encouraging me and for being the finisher." Donna Macallan

“This book would not be anything without the wonderful editor I was blessed to have, Bronwyn. Thank you for making sense of my book and turning it into something people can understand and relate to. It has been a pleasure working with you as I found you to be open and sensitive to my needs as the author. It is a difficult thing to give over your creative work and you showed such patience and understanding. I gave you vegetable soup, but you whipped it into a gourmet soufflé of haute cuisine standard! I don’t know how you did it, but well done!” Toni Lee