Shire Brown

Shire Brown – Editor

A fiction/non-fiction editor with wide-ranging interests, I specialize in refining the elements of good writing: voice, style, and grammar.

Overview

I gained my editorial experience in publishing houses in NYC, including Farrar, Straus and Giroux and New Directions. At FSG I worked in all stages of the editorial process, from manuscript evaluation to line-editing and proofreading. Following my interest in literary fiction, I moved to New Directions, where I proofread literary fiction, including poetry and short stories. As a freelance editor with strong editorial skills I have also been able to provide editorial services through innovative, crowd-sourced publishing platforms. This flexibility allowed me to study Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy in India and I now also work in textual translation.

I am excited to work with authors of both literary fiction and non-fiction. Genres may range from memoir and travel writing to short stories and novels, and subject matter from religion and philosophy to economics and cultural studies. I can help authors improve their writing at any stage, whether in the development of a proposal for agents or line-editing, copy editing or proofreading a completed manuscript. I enjoy working closely with authors throughout the editorial process to help them develop and refine their writing.
Services
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Contemporary Romance Cozy Mysteries Dystopian Epic Fantasy Historical Fiction Psychological Thriller
Non-Fiction
Humanities & Social Sciences
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Inkshares

Jan, 2014 — Jan, 2016 (about 2 years)

Edited fiction and non-fiction titles, providing developmental and copy edits.

Lost Roads Press

Jan, 2014 — Jan, 2015 (about 1 year)

Proofread poetry titles.

New Directions

Aug, 2013 — Dec, 2013 (4 months)

Assisted the marketing director with promotional campaigns and book reviews. Evaluated manuscript proposals and corresponded with authors . Managed and digitized contracts, answered phones and mailed galleys.

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Jun, 2013 — Aug, 2013 (2 months)

Evaluated proposals written in Spanish and English and wrote reader’s reports. Transmitted books, performed line edits and fact-checking. Wrote tip, catalog and jacket copy. Tracked author contracts, foreign rights and licensing agreements. Mailed galleys and corresponded with authors.

Shire has 16 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Julian F.

Julian F.

Mar, 2022

Shire works with the precision of a surgeon. His suggestions are focused and coherent, and his edits frequently undid knots in my sentences and paragraphs. It was a relief to what nettlesome issues disappear under his sure hand. In an increasingly expensive market, he offered a fair wage that suited the work. He was professional and concise in all his communications. I would work with Shire ag...
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Ken H.

Ken H.

Jan, 2022

There cannot be enough said about the careful, thought-provoking work that Shire did with my manuscript. He understood what I was trying to accomplish, detected and removed ambiguity in my phrasing, with options to choose from. He spotted corrections that were not just style-related, but very difficult even for me to notice. He caught everything I had doubts about, made suggestions about some s...
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Dathane T.

Dathane T.

Nov, 2021

Great editor. He takes the time to offer multiple editing suggestions. He assists you in truly polishing your work.
Terri Lynn S.

Terri Lynn S.

Nov, 2021

I have only had the chance to comb through the first 8 chapters of edits as I've been busy, so the "value" and "quality" might not be totally accurate to my last impressions. Overall, I enjoyed meeting with Shire in person and am impressed by his professionalism and ability to improve my manuscript. I need some more clarity on formatting suggestions and hope he will meet me in person one last t...
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Terry Q.

Terry Q.

Aug, 2021

I am grateful for the exceptional work and professionalism from Shire Brown. He has truly brought my book to a level I had only hoped it could reach. I will not hesitate to recommend him to any who comes my way. Thank you, Shire, for walking with me on my journey. I know we will work together again.

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