Sy Brontide – Editor

I believe in the power and worth of our stories. I also believe there is a child out there who needs to read yours.

I specialize in children's and YA literature and have over 15 years' experience in the industry. Manuscripts I’ve edited have been published with houses such as Macmillan, Simon and Schuster, and Sleeping Bear Press.

I believe my role as an editor is to:

1. Clarify your voice. Understand what you as the author want to say and offer suggestions to clarify that message. I do this through offering suggestions on big picture things like voice, overall plot arc, theme, character, etc.

2. Be an articulate reader. Give you feedback as a reader on what I am getting from your work, where I'm confused, where I'm touched, and then articulate this to you, so you can decide if your work is achieving your desired response.

My role is NOT to:

1. Change your voice.

2. Take over your story.

3. Tell you what you should or shouldn't say.

As a fellow author, I know how vulnerable it is to have your work critiqued. My feedback is focused on your goals for your work and not on you personally as a writer; it is direct and specific; and above all respectful of you and your voice.

Some stuff my clients have said:

“Sy doesn’t deal in platitudes or feel-good validation. Their critiques dig deep. Some have sent me through all five stages of grieving, but once I come out the other end, my writing is the better for it.”

~Kurt Cyrus, Author-Illustrator

“Sy has nurtured my writing at every stage—from creation to acquisition. I appreciate their expertise, their honesty and (shh! Don’t tell them) their sly sense of humor.”

~Stephanie Shaw, Author

“Sy has a talent for critiquing and editing. They were a great help to me with Creature Count: A Prehistoric Rhyme. It was published by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. It also won the Barbara Karlin Grant given by SCBWI.”

~Brenda Huante, Author

“Thank you for being honest with me in your critiques. Without that, I would have stopped before the story was done. I would not have kept digging to find the gems in the dirt. I get lost in the music of the words, and you were able to block out the noise and show me where the story was suffering because I was rocking out instead of writing on. With your help, this has become a piece of work I can be proud of. I can’t wait to thank you, loud and proud, in the credits when this is published!”

~Chris Regier Fordyce

Background

I have a degree in children's literature and writing and am an active member in industry organizations. I have held multiple positions in the book industry including editor, proofreader, bookseller, and author.