Editorial Services

Services

For rates and services, it is best to contact me via my editing business, Top Shelf Editing, or on one of the following:

Reedsy

Fiverr

Here’s some quotes from past clients and a list of properties I’ve worked on:

“Bryan is an excellent editor. He worked with me and customized his service to what I needed. He got the job done quickly and thoroughly. I recommend him to any who are interested.” ~ Andy Weir, Author (The Martian, Random House 2014)

“I’ve worked with Bryan Thomas Schmidt on several anthology projects including ALIENS VS PREDATOR, JOE LEDGER: UNSTOPPABLE, and JOE LEDGER: UNBREAKABLE. Bryan brings a hell of a lot of game to the process of editing for structure and salability. Diligent, insightful, and fun to work with. Highly recommended!” —Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestseller & 5-time Bram Stoker Award winning author, comic book writer, and editor of Weird Tales Magazine

“As I’m working through line-by-line to work through a bullet-proof science fiction submission (and strengthening my need for “more robots”) Bryan’s steady diplomacy guides me as I go. I couldn’t figure out what was off about my story after many revisions; he’s made the issues clear as glass. Thank you, Bryan, for helping me on my way as I approach the jungle of publishing commercial sci-fi thriller fiction for a competitive market. ~ Novelist Patricia Hickman, author of Painted Dresses and The Pirate Queen. (Random House Publishing)

“Bryan Thomas Schmidt shows insight both as an editor and as a reader. He understands stories on several levels, from the big picture to the small details, and he helps the author sculpt the best possible book.”~ Kevin J. Anderson, publisher, WordFire Press

”Bryan is insightful. He understands what you’re trying to accomplish, and he helps you see where you can get closer to your goals. He’s also familiar with a wide range of styles and structures, and he can recommend choices for you–but he knows that you have to make the final choice, and he’s just advising. That sets him apart from editors who think they’re coauthors. He’ll help you create your best book.”—Martin L. Shoemaker, author, Today I Am Carey

“Bryan was a joy to work with and I hope to work with him again soon!” ~ New York Times Bestselling Author Todd McCaffrey

“Bryan was the consummate professional, offering an outstanding mix of developmental feedback and insightful commentary. His developmental edit enormously improved my first novel, but more importantly, provided mentorship and a much needed introduction into the publishing world for a novice author. I can directly attribute my burgeoning success to his efforts and I would recommend him to authors at any level and in any phase of writing. Six stars out of five!”~ Brian Gifford, Author of The Dark Bringer

“I’m grateful that I got to work with Bryan—I feel privileged, even. His attention to detail and expertise are simply on another level. I hired Bryan as a developmental editor, but he did so much more than that. With his accurate in-manuscript suggestions, notes and edits, making my novel rise to the next level was as easy as connecting the dots. Not only that, but Bryan is also very accessible and patient, always available to hear what you have to say and clear your doubts. Next time I need an editor, I’ll call him without hesitation. That’s simply a no-brainer.” — John Ilho, Author, Ludik and the Runaway Mountain

“I hired a professional editor because I needed to be taught my weaknesses so I could find them myself.”
~ Holly L’Osieau, author

“Bryan Thomas Schmidt proved to be an invaluable asset in the proofing of my novel Terminal Justice.  He is an insightful and conscientious editor.  His suggestions were spot on and I found myself not only using his advice, but seeking it out.  He will be the ace in the hole a lot of authors need to take that first step into mainstream writing.  Two words…hire him.” ~ Lyle Markowitz, Author (Terminal Justice)

“Bryan Thomas Schmidt kept an important project on target during a very chaotic time for Flying Pen Press. because of his tenacity, capability and focus, a great book emerged. We could not have done it without him. These qualities are imperative in today’s publishing environment, and Bryan has them in abundance, while still retaining a delightful positive attitude.” ~ David Rozansky, Publisher/Owner, Flying Pen Press (Space Battles: Full Throttle Space Tales 6, Edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt)

“In the summer of 2010, I asked Bryan Thomas Schmidt to help me smooth out my latest manuscript in order to prepare it for submission. Immediately, he went to work, attacking my 100K-word document with professional gusto and a real sense of duty. Bryan is an indomitable wordsmith who questioned my every move to ensure I was saying exactly what I meant to say in every scene. I found many of his suggestions invaluable and I am confident that my manuscript is better since he edited and critiqued it for me.” ~ Ellen C. Maze, author Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider

“Bryan’s professional editing helped me trim 2,000 weak and redundant words from an 8,000 word short. His comments were detailed and consistent. I adapted 90% of them into the final version, and found myself cleaning up other stories as a result. His critique also forced me to rethink my lazy solutions, digging deeper into the story to find its core. His services were well worth his extremely reasonable rates.” ~ David Brown, author, Fourth Horseman, Fist Full Of Reefer

Books As Editor:
Rabbit: Legacy by Ellen Maze
Space Battles: Full Throttle Space Tales 6, Flying Pen Press, 2012
Beyond The Sun, Fairwood Press, 2013
Raygun Chronicles, EveryDay, 2013
Shattered Shields, Co-editor with Jennifer Brozek, Baen Books, 2014
The Martian by Andy Weir, Crown, 2014
My Big Fat Demonslayer Wedding by Angie Fox, 2014
Spark Rising by Kate Corcino, 2014
Chemical Burn by Quincy J. Allen, WordFire Press, 2015
Mission: Tomorrow,  Baen Books, 2015
Blood Ties by Quincy J. Allen, WordFire, 2015
Galactic Games, Baen Books, 2016
Oshenerth by Alan Dean Foster, WordFire Press, 2016
City of Angels by Todd McCaffrey, WordFire Press, 2016
Decision Points, WordFire Press, 2016
Blood Curse by Quincy J. Allen, WordFire Press, 2016
Night Terrors by John A. Pitts, WordFire, 2016
The Iron Thane by Jason Henderson, WordFire, 2016
The Spawn of Loki by Jason Henderson, WordFire, 2016
Little Green Men–Attack!, Co-editor Robin Wayne Bailey, Baen Books, 2017
Monster Hunter File, Co-editor Larry Correia, Baen Books, 2017
Infinite Stars, Titan Books, 2017
Predator: If It Bleeds, Titan Books, 2017
Joe Ledger: Unstoppable, Co-editor Jonathan Maberry, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2017
The Jupiter Game by Todd McCaffrey, Wordfire Press, 2017
Into The Fire by Patrick Hester, WordFire Press, 2017
Walking On the Sea Of Clouds by Gray Reinhold, Wordfire Press, 2017
Death Wind by Travis Heerman and Jim Pinto, Wordfire Press, 2017
The Unknown Soldier by Jace Killan, 2018
Infinite Stars: Dark Frontiers, Titan Books, 2019
Surviving Tomorrow, 25 and Y/Boralis Books, 2020
Aliens Vs. Predators: Ultimate Prey, Co-editor Jonathan Maberry, Titan, 2022
Predator: Eyes of The Demon, Titan, 2022
Battle Tides: Pirate Slayer (Unpublished), 2022
The Dark Bringer by Brian Gifford (forthcoming), 2022
Sharia by M.M Gold (forthcoming), 2022
Space Race by Michael Johnston (forthcoming), 2022
Ghosts of Kurosawa by Ali Asghar (unpublished), 2022
The String Conspiracy by Candace Freilich (Self-published), 2022
Dead Gatsby by Patricia Hickman (forthcoming), 2022
The Hitherto Unknown Experiments of Marie Curie, Co-editor Henry L. Herz, Blackstone Publishing, 2023
Robots Through The Ages, Co-editor Robert Silverberg, Blackstone Publishing, 2023
Joe Ledger: Unbreakable, Co-editor Jonathan Maberry, JournalStone, 2023
Earth Forgotten by Mark Wahlbeck (forthcoming), 2023
Dead God Rising by Seiann Dunne, (forthcoming), 2023
Ludik and the Runaway Mountain by John ILho, (forthcoming)