Gregory Newton Brown - Editor
Book editor specializing in business, health, the arts. Experience in traditional, hybrid, self-publishing. Let's chat about your book.
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Overview
For my first organized foray into writing, I wrote a vampire romance novel where the protagonist-lovers constantly bared their fangs at each other. I was eleven years old. It was summer. I was reading lots of Bram Stoker. I was madly in love with a sixth-grade crush I won't slander here by naming.
My understanding of storytelling has come a long way since then. I promise.
I hold an MS in Journalism from Columbia University, where I honed my editing skills, and an MFA in English from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where I studied fiction writing and the nuances of storytelling with some of America's finest writers, including Marilynne Robinson, Lan Samantha Chang, Kevin Brockmeier, Alexander Chee, and Michelle Huneven. I started as storyteller, became a journalist for a while, realized I was fiction writer at heart, and developed into an editor as I came to understand the importance of great editing in crafting great storytelling.
I primarily work as a book-length non-fiction editor these days for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors. As an editor I specialize in entrepreneurship; medical, health, and wellness writing; science writing (both the physical and social sciences); nature and environmental writing; technology and the arts; and general business-related books. As an editor, I love a book that helps people (or companies) find a path towards something more, chooses human value over pure profit, and seeks to disrupt highly-entrenched trends in desperate need of change.
Some of my past and current clients include Random House, BenBella Books, HarperCollins, Ryan Moran, Christine Kane, Alex Hormozi, Ashley Stahl, LifeTree Media, Consumer Reports, The New York Times Company, Forbes, The Chicago Tribune, Beyond Type 1, The Mayo Clinic, Healthline Media, The University of Iowa Press, Bull City Press, and the Jenny Holzer Studio Gallery.
In addition to editing, I'm an author myself: My debut novel, The Lowering Days is out with HarperCollins in the United States and Editions Gallmeister in France. My short fiction and non-fiction have appeared in national publications such as the Alaska Quarterly Review, Shenandoah, Epoch, Tin House, Narrative Magazine, The Chicago Times, The New York Times, and Consumer Reports.
So, while my middle school vampire fiction never took off, I have had the good fortune of being on both sides of the publishing equation as an editor and author for the past fifteen years. My goal is always to help my authors tell their stories in their voices as artfully and effectively as possible. Writing isn't just the act of composition; it's the act of connecting at both the head and heart level.
Testimonials
Ryan Moran, author of 12 Months To $1 Million, BenBella Books
"My name is Ryan Moran, and Greg Brown was my editor for my first book, 12 Months To $1 Million.
I was nervous about being traditionally published, because I feared that a publisher would edit my words or water down my message. However, my publisher tabbed Greg Brown as my editor, and he single-handedly made the deal worth it. I was shocked at how he was able to preserve my voice while making me sound better than I could on my own.
When I write my next book, I'm not sure that I will allow anyone to edit my words except for Greg. I would enthusiastically recommend working with him."
John and Ana Mann, New York Times-bestselling authors of The Go-Giver Marriage, BenBella Books
"Having Greg as our editor [on The Go-Giver Marriage] has been an absolutely wonderful experience. It made us both feel enormously solid to have such a thoughtful and perceptive pair of eyes on our work, and Greg’s edits and suggestions were spot on, all the way from slight sentence restructurings to several more major issues of content. It would be hard to imagine a more perfect editor for our little book."
Christine Kane, author of Soul-Sourced, BenBella Books
"Greg was one of the highlights of the experience of publishing my first book. From the very start, he "got" me. And throughout the editing process, he honored my voice, while also skillfully helping me through some of the structural issues he saw in my writing. With his keen awareness and writing expertise, he helped make it a book that has done remarkably well—and most importantly, a book that I'm proud of. (I asked him to ignore the fact that I ended this with a preposition.)"
Richard Heimann, author of Doing AI, BenBella Books
"Doing AI is a better book because Greg was involved. As the developmental editor, Greg helped me identify the areas of my book that were strong and other weak areas. It is so hard to evaluate your own book. Still, Greg carefully helped me shape my book into a superior version of itself. The book is better because of Greg. The truth is, I am a better writer because of Greg."
Ashley Stahl, author of You Turn, BenBella Books
"Greg totally understood my book, my vision and my intention. His work was important in me feeling proud of the book I got out into the world!"
Greg Graves, author of Create Amazing, BenBella Books
“Greg isn't just a great editor, he made my entire book product and experience to becoming a published author better. His advice, comments, and edits were technically superior, gave me terrific ideas and, best, made me incredibly confident when my book arrived into the world."
Neal Schaffer, author of The Business of Influence, HarperCollins
"I worked with Greg on a special project to edit my manuscript while reducing word count by approximately 30 percent on a tight schedule. Not only did Greg help me realize what content was and wasn't necessary for my manuscript, but he went above and beyond the duty by strengthening my content as he reduced unnecessary words.
Greg was professional with every communication and over-delivered in terms of his final product and the quick turnaround.
I highly recommend Greg to anyone looking for a developmental editor or someone for an editing project similar to mine, and I do hope to have a chance to work together with Greg in the future."
Pat Musick, author of Trajectories: the Artist and the Astronaut
"Greg and I made an easy connection. I was looking for an editor who was communicative, thoughtful, non-combative, and an educator. Writing is a very personal experience, and, for me, an editor must almost be an extension of the author.
As a result of our collaboration my book is tighter, less reductive, and more informative. I learned a lot from my work with Greg, and he prepared me for the next step--finding a publisher who has the same approach.
In addition, for a reasonable supplemental fee, he drafted a query letter, a synopsis, and formatted the manuscript. This was above and beyond!
It was a meaningful experience and chapter in my life."
Tabitha Laser, author of Organization Culture Killers
"Greg is a star! He joined me on a project that was heading south quickly. Greg jumped in when others wouldn’t. He helped me avert disaster and exceeded my expectations. He’s great at his trade and a true pleasure to work with!"
Languages
English (CAN)
English (UK)
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Art
Business & Management
Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences
Health & Wellbeing
Nature
Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Sociology
Technology
Work experience
Freelance Book Editor
Self-employed
August, 2006
–
Present
(over 15 years)
Portfolio (31 selected works)
If today’s brands want to succeed, they have to be in the conversation, and influencers make that happen. The Age of Influence is an essential guide for marketing professionals and business owners who want to create and implement a highly effective and sustainable influencer marketing plan.We are in the midst of an unprecedented digital transformation and tapping into this change is vital to a... read more
This is the road map to a seven-figure business . . . in one year or less The word “entrepreneur” is today’s favorite buzzword, and any aspiring business owner has likely encountered an overwhelming number of so-called “easy paths to success.” The truth is that building a real, profitable, sustainable business requires thousands of hours of commitment, grit, and hard work. It’s no wonder why m... read more
The AFib Cure: Get Off Your Medications, Take Control of Your Health, and Add Years to Your Life
Day, John D., Bunch, T. Jared, LaPlante, Matthew
Healing Your Child's Brain: A Proven Approach to Helping Your Child Thrive
Newell, Matthew, Newell, Carol
Connecting with Life: Finding Nature in an Urban World
Summer, Martin
Seventy percent of business leaders believe that AI will provide significant business value in the future. However, they also think that AI and automation will have a negative impact on stakeholder’s trust over the next five years. They feel the pressure of using AI to stay relevant, while being concerned of facing the unintended consequences of a largely unproven technology that they don't un... read more
Consumer Reports brings you the best products, the best brands, the best services and the best prices! Consumer Reports compares features, sorts through the choices, analyzes the options and reports back to you. You benefit from the clear advice, useful recommendations, wise insights and easy-to-understand information. When you put Consumer Reports to work for you, you get more than 100 car ex... read more
Forbes focuses on top management and those aspiring to positions of corporate leadership in business. This insider publication features information on successful companies and individuals, industries, marketing, law, taxes, technology, computers, communications, investments, management performance
When Mystical Creatures Attack! (Iowa Short Fiction Award)
Kathleen Founds
In When Mystical Creatures Attack!, Ms. Freedman’s high school English class writes essays in which mystical creatures resolve the greatest sociopolitical problems of our time. Students include Janice Gibbs, a feral child with excessive eyeliner and an anti-authoritarian complex that would be interesting were it not so ill-informed,” and Cody Splunk, an aspiring writer working on a time machi... read more
How to Break Writer's Block Today & Where To Get Ideas
N. M. Beguesse
As the sole author, illustrator and publisher of my own indie manga series, people often ask me how I achieve my prodigious productivity and motivation. I outlined my process in this new book. Every other book on writer's block gives you the same old techniques, such as "just start writing". But what they don't tell you is how those techniques work--that is, if they work at all. In How To Brea... read more
WHAT IS STOPPING YOU FROM FULFILLING YOUR DREAM OF BECOMING AN AUTHOR? Do you feel a deep longing to write a book but struggle to find the time, energy, focus, or know how to do so? Have you postponed your dream because you're striving for the perfect manuscript or because you've been searching for an agent or a publisher for a while? This book will help you break through the obstacles, better... read more
Pattern for Excellence: Engage Your Team to WOW More Customers
Brigham Dickinson
When was the last time you received WOW worthy customer service from a business? Have you ever been curious how some companies consistently deliver this WOW factor? Pattern for Excellence is designed to help business owners create WOW Experiences on a daily basis…not one customer at a time, but by building relationships and uniting employees behind a greater cause. This amazing phenomenon begi... read more
It's like an IKEA guide for building your next startup. Based on global research of 1,447 startups and highly recommended by more than 30 international experts. It's not a book you read in a day, but like a manual you take with you and consult from time to time. Every startup founder should have it on the desk!Shows The WayDonatas Jonikas (PhD) provides clear and actionable guidelines for what... read more
Creating a Kaizen Culture: Align the Organization, Achieve Breakthrough Results, and Sustain the Gains
Jon Miller, Mike Wroblewski, Jaime Villafuerte
FOSTER AND SUSTAIN A KAIZEN CULTURE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION WINNER of the 2015 Shingo Research and Professional Publication Award! FOREWORD BY JOHN TOUSSANT, CEO OF THEDACARE Transforming a culture is far more about emotional growth than technical maturity. Co-written by leaders at the Kaizen Institute, Creating a Kaizen Culture explains how to enable an adaptive, excellent, and sustainable organ... read more
The Foot & Ankle Pain Bible: A Self-Care Guide to Eliminating the Source of Your Foot Pain
Christopher J. Kidawski
ELIMINATE YOUR PLANTAR FASCIITIS AND ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY WITHOUT DOCTORS, DRUGS, OR PHYSICAL THERAPISTS! Do any of these statements sound like you? “My first ten steps in the morning are killing me!” “I’ve had to stop all of my activity because of my foot/heel pain, and now I’ve gained 20 pounds and I’m miserable.” “I can be as active as I want, but an hour after I’m crawling around the hous... read more
COMPLETELY RID YOUR KNEES FROM THE PAIN OF TENDINITIS, OR DISCOMFORT WITHOUT PAINFUL INJECTIONS, DRUGS, OR SURGERY!Do any of these statements sound like you?“I would be able to lose the weight, and exercise if only my knees didn’t hurt so bad.”“If my knees didn’t hurt I would be able to run faster for a longer period of time.”“I love basketball, but playing will leave my knees in pain for days... read more
The Head, Neck & Shoulder Pain Bible: A Self-Care Guide To Eliminating Upper Body Pain
Christopher J. Kidawski
ELIMINATE YOUR HEADACHES WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION, INJECTIONS, OR SURGERY!Do any of these statements sound like you?“My neck is always stiff upon rising.”“I can’t concentrate due to my headaches/migraines.”“I can’t sleep on one side because my shoulder hurts.”“I get car sick, or motion sickness when I travel.”“There’s a constant pain going down my arm.”Today’s world is filled with const... read more
AsapSCIENCE: Answers to the World's Weirdest Questions, Most Persistent Rumors, and Unexplained Phenomena
Mitchell Moffit, Greg Brown
The instant New York Times bestselling book of entertaining, irreverent, and totally accessible illustrated answers to the scientific “questions you had no idea were bugging you all your life” (Fast Company), from the creators of the wildly popular YouTube channel AsapSCIENCE.Why do we get hung over? What would happen if you stopped sleeping? Is binge-watching TV actually bad for you? Why shou... read more
Create and maintain a successful social media strategy for your business Today, a large number of companies still don't have a strategic approach to social media. Others fail to calculate how effective they are at social media, one of the critical components of implementing any social media strategy. When companies start spending time and money on their social media efforts, they need to creat... read more
From Doing to Leading: Your Guide for Inspiring People on the Frontlines
John M Stuef, Amy D Bradshaw PhD
Are you making the jump from doing to leading?? John Stuef has been there, he was a successful doer who made the transition to leading. The thing about leadership is that it forces you to grow personally and to appreciate that inspiring people to do a job well requires a whole different skill set than doing that job yourself.nbsp; In “From Doing To Leading,” authors John Stuef and Amy Bradshaw... read more
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over & over and expecting different results. We have fallen into a pattern where we repeat the mistakes others made in the past, but have we asked ourselves, why are we making the same mistakes? The answer is lack of leadership development. Much like a strong foundation is critical to the stability of any physical structure, organizations must... read more
Get into creative hosting with Airbnb and make some real additional income. Forget driving other people around for peanuts or getting that minimum wage “gig”. I gained significant additional income on Airbnb and attained Superhost status in 3 months. I also list my small space for higher fees and get higher occupancy rates than listings in my area through my design and hosting focus. I want to... read more
"A modern-day 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' that will help you sell the right way." - Ryan Zimmer"Finally a sales book for medical sales!!"-Aaron Wozniak "It's 170 pages of all the best ideas wrapped up in 'story' with messages for life and business!!- Nick Fasulo Ever notice how no one likes to be sold, but most of us enjoy buying stuff? Where is the disconnect? In a business worl... read more
Imagine having a good friend with years of experience in the music industry and being able to pick his brain about all that he knows. Imagine walking away from that conversation with a better understanding of topics like Contracts Digital Marketing Record Labels Distributors CopyrightsWorking With Your Artist TeamWell now you have that friend and he’s sick of artists like you getting screwed o... read more
Has your career stalled?Are you struggling to get your abilities recognised? Do you feel under-valued and unfulfilled at work? Are you concerned about job stability in a rapidly transforming digital century?For over a century, workers were set up for their employer's success, not their own.The Michelangelo Project provides a frank assessment of our faulty employer/employee relationship dynamic... read more
Gregory has 18 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Unlike any other editor!
Greg has the ability to read and edit your work through YOUR VOICE. His suggestions and edits compliment your work and it is all done so through open and easy communication.
Thank you, Greg!!! :-)
TheLegendOf MarenHollow, October 2021
I was looking for an editor who would not only provide professional editing services but also offer his feedback as a potential reader of my book. Greg was the perfect match for my project. He gave me great suggestions on how to improve my book in his editorial assessment and then edited the book to make it flow better. I highly recommend his services.
Martin S, April 2020
Greg worked collaboratively with me, going above and beyond to accomplish the goal of delivering a quality product that was on time and on budget. Greg's expertise took my manuscript to another level.
Steve Rangoussis, April 2020
Greg was prompt, responded quickly, answered all questions, and completed the work very efficiently. Communication was also excellent during the process.
Scott Minnig, May 2019
Ok! This is going to be a long review, but worth to read…
I have had an excellent experience with Reedsy’s editor Greg Brown.
I’m a new author, I just completed editing my very first book. Being a writer and a new author is tough. You always have the impression that every section, every chapter, and every story you have completed writing is perfect and shiny. However, when it comes to editing...
Read more
Sofian Ouali, May 2019
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Carol Reed
Two decades as a top U.S. copy and line editor on technology, business and travel at HarperCollins, Intellectual Ventures and more.
New York City, NY, USA
Jeff Shreve
I'm an experienced publishing consultant and editor specializing in science, technology, business, memoir, and health/self-improvement.
New York, United States
