Juliana Brandt

Juliana Brandt – Editor

A freelance editor with over a decade of experience who specializes in query submissions, plot consultations, and manuscript assessments.

Overview

If you’re here looking for developmental editing, a writing coach, or someone to help hone your writing craft, you’ve ended up in the right place! I am passionate about sharing with others the skills I’ve developed over the past fifteen years of studying writing craft. I work hard to communicate clearly, kindly, and with candor, helping the writers I work with to improve and deepen their understanding of writing and novel construction. I’m a teacher by trade, and I strongly believe that the work I do with authors should always be applicable to future writing—I focus on teaching skills, rather than only trying to “fix” a current project.


I’m open to working with you on your specific needs.


I specialize in two areas for manuscripts:

-sentence level feedback and helping writers become stronger at the sentence level

-global feedback, specifically in the areas of theme, character arc, and plot


I also work closely with submission packages for agents:

-queries

-synopsis

-opening chapters


Testimonials:


“Juliana is a brilliant writer and editor. I’m a literary agent, and she still teaches me things about craft every time we talk.”

— Lauren Spieller, Author and Literary Agent


“Juliana’s editorial insights are fantastic; she never fails to leave my manuscripts stronger than when I started.”

— Jessica Vitalis, author of The Wolf’s Curse


“Juliana’s editing skills were exactly what my book needed to tie it all together. I easily saved hundreds of hours of stumbling about with her help. Critique partners and readers are great, but there’s nothing like the work of a true editor.”

— Konstantinos Kalofonos


“I’ve just had a crash course MFA in creative writing… what a bargain!”

— Anna McCallie

Services
Fiction
Middle Grade Middle Grade Fantasy Young Adult Fantasy
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Lit Reactor

Sep, 2021 — Nov, 2021 (2 months)

This four week class focused on giving authors the skills to prepare material and be successful during the month of NaNoWriMo.

Self-employed

Sep, 2016 — Present

Before becoming published, I worked as a freelance editor with a specialty in honing querying materials: the query letter, the synopsis, and opening chapters.

After becoming published in 2020, I broadened my business to editing novels in the middle grade and young adult category and teaching workshops with a focus on how to plot novels before drafting.

Pitchwars

Sep, 2016 — Dec, 2020 (about 4 years)

Pitch Wars was a mentoring program where published/agented authors, editors, or industry interns coached an unaccented author over the course of three months. During this time, writers would revise manuscripts. A culminating agent showcase would take place, during which agents would read a pitch and request pages.

Throughout my time working in this program, I worked closely with many authors, several of whom went on to be published.

In my last year with Pitch Wars, I shifted from working with individual authors to helping assist the lead team that ran the program.

Portfolio

Developmental Editing
Speak The Ocean

Enzor, Rebecca

Developmental Editing
She's the Worst

Lauren Spieller

“Pitch-perfect…a surefire hit.” —The Children’s Book Review “A sparkling homage to LA and a love letter to the difficult, mercurial, rewarding relationship between sisters.” —Booklist Ferris B... read more
Developmental Editing
A Touch of Ruckus

Ash Van Otterloo

A laugh-out-loud, ghostly Southern mystery that's perfect for fans of Cassie Beasley and Natalie Lloyd.Tennessee Lancaster has a hidden gift. She can pry into folks' memories with just a touch... read more
Developmental Editing
Coyote Queen

Jessica Vitalis

“Winningly intense.” —Kirkus Reviews“A powerful novel of tremendous empathy and optimism.” —Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honor winner and National Book Award finalist“Exquisitely written and painf... read more
Developmental Editing
The Wolf's Curse

Jessica Vitalis

“I am obsessed with this story!”—Erin Entrada Kelly, author of the Newbery Honor Book We Dream of Space “Boldly tells readers to take a closer look at the stories they’re told—not to mention a... read more
Developmental Editing
A dream world turns haunting nightmare in this spellbinding debut novel, perfect for fans of Circus Mirandus and The Night Gardener.After Andrea's brother, Francis, disappeared, everything cha... read more
Developmental Editing

Juliana has 5 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Hannah M.

Hannah M.

Apr, 2024

Juliana helped me nail down an effective query structure when I was feeling lost in my project's complicated (and confusing!) plot. Before I spoke to Juliana I was feeling confident about my manuscript but was nervous about my query and my concept. Juliana went above and beyond to get the necessary context and background information so that she could best give feedback, and helped me dig into...
Read more
Avery S.

Avery S.

Mar, 2024

As a first time author, I was unsure of what I needed/wanted out of an editor. After meeting with Juliana, I felt like I had a clearer vision for my book. She gave amazing feedback and collaborated with me on ways to make my book even better. Her thought process and knowledge is extremely impressive and I am so happy that we were able to work together to help my book become a reality. She h...
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Juliana B.
Avery, you are so very gracious with your review! Working with you was a complete blast, and I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the work we accomplished just as much as I did! I'm so excited to see wher...
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N C.

N C.

Dec, 2023

Juliana's approach to editing is marked by exceptional responsiveness and a genuine dedication to support. Her feedback was timely and insightful, highlighting major issues in my manuscript that I had previously overlooked.
Juliana B.
Thank you for the review, Bryan! It was fantastic working with you on your manuscript! You have great ideas, and I can't wait to see what your story turns into next!
Donald H.

Donald H.

Dec, 2023

Timely and thoughtful response...
Juliana B.
I'm so glad you reached out for help with your query, Donald! You did fantastic work on it!
larry C.

larry C.

Nov, 2023

Great editor with excellent insights and critique. Highly recommend!!
Juliana B.
Thank you, Larry! It was fantastic working with you!

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