D.J. BRUNO

Copy Editor, Proofreader, Developmental Editor, Manuscript Critiques Fiction and Nonfiction Manuscripts Poetry

D.J. Bruno works closely with authors to develop, liven, and perfect their books and articles. She provides manuscript critiques that offer extensive feedback on every aspect of a narrative, as well as ghostwriting, developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and marketing (proposal, query, and synopsis development and agent contact).

A fiction writer herself, she was an editorial assistant and reader at Ploughshares, had her fiction published in various literary magazines, taught literature and grammar, and edited a range of material from memoir to erotica, biography, short fiction, poetry, travel writing, personal essays, and literary and commercial fiction. She specializes in film and photography, food and wine, nutrition, travel, psychology, memoir, and literary fiction.

Client Feedback

Manuscript Submission Services

Writing and Editing Experience (CV)

Elliot Stone and the Mystery of the Alien Mom by L. P. Chase (Infinity Publishing, November 3, 2004) When Elliot Stone, a nine-year-old boy, overhears a grown-up telephone conversation, he takes the information out of context and lets his young imagination run away with him. During his encounter with several minor disasters, Elliot displays maturity, bravery, and intelligence while maintaining the innocence and sweetness of a little boy. Parents and children alike will enjoy the suspense and comedy that take Elliot and his friends on this unforgettable mission.   About L. P. Chase: L.P. Chase began writing this book for her children who, being avid readers, complained, "There are no more books in the house to read." Just for fun, she created the character Elliot Stone, and the book took on a life of its own. L.P. Chase has been writing for twenty years and is also the author of I Kiss the Moon, a collection of poetry. She is presently working toward her MSW and resides in Smithtown, New York, with her family. About D.J. Bruno's Work: "It was very easy to work with you. Being an amateur, new author, I found that a great quality in you as an editor. You only helped me to grow a little better at writing. For that I say thank you." – L.P. Chase

Historic Cape Cod Lighthouses: Race Point  by James Claflin (Kenrick A. Claflin & Son) Historic Cape Cod Lighthouses: Race Point is the third in a series of booklets that tell the story of historic lighthouses and life-saving stations along the New England Coast. Two lighthouses have stood at Race Point on the tip of Cape Cod since the first was lit in 1816. Author James Claflin combines an extensively researched text with his exquisite collection of vintage photographs, many previously unpublished, to tell the story of this important landmark.

Another Day Falling by Dustin Collins (1st Books Library, December 1, 2003) Cameron Callfield has a unique gift for peering into the depths of his own future while he dreams at night. Orphaned by his parents in a car accident several years earlier, Cameron is forced to come to terms with his life as well as his unique gift for dreaming. But not until he attempts to alter his preordained path does the true nature of his ability surface. Another Day Falling is a suspenseful story that delves into the consequences of fate and the awesome responsibility that comes when someone tries to change it. Reviews: "It flows brilliantly, and I couldn't put it down once I started." (Review from Amazon.com) About Dustin Collins: Dustin Collins hails from the same small hometown as best-selling author Larry McMurtry and draws heavily from his experiences growing up in a small town in North Texas. Dustin is a regular contributor to his local newspaper. Another Day Falling is his first novel.

Never Say Never by David Petersen (iUniverse, November 2004) It's the summer of 1971, and Andy Hanson, a junior high student, lives a quiet, uneventful life in the New York City borough of Staten Island. Now, however, he must confront what was once a simple assumption: who is his friend? A chance encounter with a student, a young man Andy once wrote off as a waste of life, provokes the youngster onto a tumultuous journey.   About David Petersen:  David was born on Staten Island. In the fall of 1985, his twin brother was shot and killed at the doorway to his Great Kills apartment. Vowing to do more with his life, he married, moved to Hazlet, New Jersey, fathered three lovely girls and completed this, his first novel.

Battling the Killer Within and Winning: Hopes, Prayers, and Treatments for a Prostate Cancer Cure by Thomas Farrington (November 3, 2004) Men are in a raging battle with prostate cancer with nearly 200,000 in the U.S. alone diagnosed with this disease each year. Each diagnosis brings a sense of fear and hopelessness that must be overcome in order to select the proper treatment. This book is an insightful account of the experiences of the author and 19 other men in treatment with him as they face prostate cancer. About D.J. Bruno's Work: "D.J. Bruno performed the final editing for this book. Her insight transformed my work into a finished product for which I am thankful." – Thomas Farrington

Copyediting Fiction

A Mere Ache of All by David Frederick

The Ancient One by Ilan Herman

Another Day Falling by Dustin Collins

"Anton" by Mary Ellen Walsh

Never Say Never by David Petersen

Restless by Cynthia Boyd

Sleepwalker by Paul Mahan

The Captain's Song by Alan Rosenus

Tail of the Frog by Pamela Alma Bass

Copyediting General/Nonfiction

Historic Cape Cod Lighthouses: Race Point by James Claflin

History of Congo by Didier Gondola

Policy Passages: Career Choices for Policy Wonks by Howard J. Wiarda

Power Baby by Ryan Lee Parsons

Sinfully Vegan, 140 Decadent Desserts to Satisfy Every Vegan's Sweet Tooth by Lois Dieterly

Manuscript Critiques

Pocalla Road by Deana Coggin

When Love Calls Your Name, There's Nowhere to Hide by Larrick Daniels

"Abandoning the Mission" and "Father Knows Best" Essays by Milton Mankoff

Damn Good Friends by Deborah Neely

Jill by George Spiecker

Proofreading Fiction

Bear, a novel by Marian Engel

Human Parts by Orly Castel-Bloom

A Love Made out of Nothing/Zohara's Journey by Barbara Honingmann

The Worry Week, Anne Lindbergh

Proofreading Poetry

Archipelago by Rich Rose

Developmental Editing

Battling the Killer Within by Thomas Farrington

Manuscript Submission Services:

Marketing your manuscript and contact agents:

Your initial contact with an agent or publisher is your first impression; therefore, it's crucial that you put your best foot forward when drafting a letter.

What I can do . . .

• Read your manuscript and write the materials required for submitting to agents and publishers, including proposals, queries, synopses, and bios.

• Consult with you and edit material you've already written.

• Research agents or publishers that are appropriate for your market, provide resources, and offer guidance.

• Research the legitimacy of agents or contacts you've already made. (Don't ever take for granted that anyone calling themselves an agent actually is one.)

• Prepare your manuscript for submission–i.e., format according to industry-standards.

• Review and critique the manuscript to determine if it's ready for submission.

WRITING AND EDITING EXPERIENCE

Copyeditor, Avalon Books, New York, NY, 7/03
Copyedit cookbook, create style sheet, query author

Manuscript Evaluation Editor , iUniverse, Lincoln, NE, 7/03–present

Provide complete editorial review involving grammar, marketing materials, and story elements for fiction manuscripts submitted to the company

Book Editor, various independent authors, 2/03–present

Provide manuscript critiques and full developmental and structural editing as well as copyediting services to

independent authors of fiction and nonfiction, story collections, poetry, and memoirs

Proofreader, Corey McPherson Nash, Watertown, MA, 9/02–present

Proofread materials for grammar, usage, typos; check design specs

Proofreader, David R. Godine, Publisher, Boston, MA, 8/02–present

Provide proofreading, fact checking, and research for trade books; check design specs

Editor, Project Bread– The Walk for Hunger, Boston, MA 7/02–present

Edit all marketing material and content produced and distributed by the organization, develop and maintain a

house style manual, act as consultant to communications department

Copy Editor, Improper Bostonian, Boston, MA Temporary Contract

Copyedit arts calendar and film, music, and food reviews for weekly arts magazine; clean up copy on Quark

Copy Editor and Proofreader, Argosy Publishing, Waltham, MA, 10/01–present

Proofread and copyedit books on computer science and accounting for consistency, design, and layout;

copyedit books on insurance, banking, and political science

Developmental Editor, Battling the Killer Within, Thomas A. Farrington, 7/01–8/01

Develop and edit manuscript, format pages including index and bibliography, assist with creation of index

Copy Editor, nSight, Burlington, MA, 7/01–1/02

Copyedit materials on subjects including computer software, healthcare, financial services, legal documents,

and college-level textbooks both in print and online

Web Site Editor and Web Production Assistant, nSight, Cambridge, MA, 7/00–present

Proofread and copyedit textbooks converted to Web sites (iTexts), implement changes using HTML in both

Dreamweaver and HomeSite, use various authoring tools to build sites, QA content, manage a team of six

contractors on long-term project for Prentice Hall

Copy Editor, Harvard Business School Bulletin, Cambridge, MA, 7/00–1/01

Proofread and copyedit class notes section of the Bulletin

Proofreader, Dartmouth Publishing, Watertown, MA, 5/00–1/01

Proofread and copyedit textbooks, proofread and evaluate art according to client design specs

Editor, Arthur Godfrey: The Adventures of an American Broadcaster, by Arthur J. Singer, 6/98–9/98

Proofread and copyedit manuscript, create index

Fiction Reader, Ploughshares, Boston, MA, 9/98–5/00

Read and select manuscripts of short fiction submitted to Ploughshares

Editorial Intern, Ploughshares, Boston, MA, 9/97–12/97

Typeset and proofread copy, process and catalog manuscripts, manage database

Freelance News Reporter, Suburban Life, Butler, NJ, 2/96–10/96

Cover community events and weekly board of education meetings

Arts and Entertainment Editor, Montclarion, Upper Montclair, NJ, 1/95–4/95

Select and edit material for publication, design campus entertainment guide, create headlines, captions and art

for weekly columns, write weekly film column, cover campus events, manage all typesetting, layout and design

Editor-in-Chief, Four Walls, Upper Montclair, NJ, 5/93–5/94

Conceptualize and plan production of issues, select submissions for publication, lead staff meetings, create

layout and design, organize poetry readings, advertise and distribute magazine, delegate responsibilities to

staff, control expenditure of $15,000 budget, function as liaison to printers, serve as technical advisor to

executive board the following year

Editorial Intern, Boston Rock, Newton, MA, 5/93–8/93

Copyedit material for publication, design layout, review albums and live shows, interview bands

Fundamentals of Grammar Instructor, Emerson College, Boston, MA, 7/00–1/01

Develop and instruct course taught to graduate students

Curriculum Developer, Emerson College, Boston, MA, 3/00–8/00

Develop grammar curriculum

Journalism Tutor, Emerson College, Boston, MA, 9/99–1/01

Act as liaison to Learning Assistance Center, hire and train tutors, tutor both graduate and undergraduate

students in journalism including writing and grammar

Writing Tutor, Learning Assistance Center, Emerson College, Boston, MA, 1/98–1/00

Assist students with writing, proofreading, and revision of papers, assist with ESL issues, provide support for

students in literature and writing classes, create reading and writing assignments, conduct weekly conversation

classes for international students, direct independent studies, edit departmental manual

Assistant Teacher, FASP, Emerson College, Boston, MA, 9/98–12/99

Held regular office hours to assist students with the writing and additional academic support

High School English Teacher, Bayonne and Montclair, NJ, 10/96–5/97

Taught business writing, history of American drama, poetry, English literature, grammar

Montclair State University, B.A., English literature with minor in journalism, 1996

Emerson College, M.F.A., writing, 2001

Dean's List

Student Government Scholarship Award

Albert Payson Terhune Journalism Award

J. Raymond Paul Journalism Award

Merlyn Gerard Poetry Contest

"Power is My Middle Name" Sassy magazine essay contest, 1994, first prize

Academic scholarship, Emerson College

Beacon Street Review–short fiction

Boston Rock–music reviews and band interviews

Details–letters to the editor about popular culture and film

Four Walls– poetry

Montclarion–several weekly columns, music, book, and film reviews

Suburban Life–community news stories

Wayne Today–coverage of board of education meetings

Hungry? Boston–restaurant review

"Getting Started: What It's Really Like– One Freelancer Spills the Beans"– article

in e-book on freelance success stories

Various articles on anger management for psychology Web site

Regular column on writing and editing for Brady Magazine

Cambridge Academic Editors Network, member since 1997

Indiana University Copyeditors, member since 2002

Literary Market Place, member since 2002

Publishing Industry Freelancers, member since 2001

Chicago Manual of Style, 14th Edition

American Medical Association Manual of Style, 9th Edition

APA Publication Manual, 5th Edition

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th Edition

The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, Revised Edition

Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary , 11th Edition