The best developmental editors for hire in Australia

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Pete 5 star rating

Perth WA, Australia

I'm a professional writer and editor who specialises in speculative fiction (horror, fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal romance) and thrillers.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime, Comics & Graphic Novels, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Science Fiction, Travel, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Sally 5 star rating

Melbourne VIC, Australia

An award-nominated editor of information books for adults and young people. Major areas include environment, animals, science and education.

Genres: Agriculture, Non-Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Nature, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, and Physics & Chemistry.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Victorian State Government, Departments of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources.
  • Department of Planning and Environment, Victoria
  • Department of Education, Victoria

Anjanette 5 star rating

Newcastle NSW, Australia

A passionate publishing professional, I love empowering writers by offering manuscript appraisal and mentoring. Upmarket fiction specialist!

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Rick Raftos Management

Abigail 5 star rating

Sydney NSW, Australia

I'm a genre-fiction specialist, mentor, editor and literary agent with over 20 years' experience helping authors get their stories written.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Romantic Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Technothriller, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Brenda 5 star rating

Melbourne VIC, Australia

I'm a professional children's book editor with 20+ years of experience in working with picture books and junior fiction.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Red Paper Kite Publishing
  • Insider Guides
  • The School Magazine

Sherryl 5 star rating

Melbourne VIC, Australia

Writer, teacher, editor- my job is to help writers create terrific, publishable stories.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Young Adult, Poetry, Short Story, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Victoria University

Katia 5 star rating

Melbourne VIC, Australia

Manuscript nurturer, sentence polisher, eagle-eyed proofreader, wordsmith, preserver of voice and vision; fiction and memoir specialist.

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Themes & Motifs, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Lauren 5 star rating

Central Coast NSW, Australia

Commercial fiction editor, 20+ yrs. I've worked in-house & freelance for many publishers in Australia, US, UK & with lots of indie authors

Genres: Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Bookouture
  • Atlantic Books
  • Allen & Unwin
  • London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
  • Self-employed

Emma 5 star rating

Sydney NSW, Australia

Non-fiction editor with 20+ years’ experience in all kinds of non-fiction texts – from music biographies to memoirs to how-to guides.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Entertainment, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, History, Music, Political Science & Current Affairs, and Parenting & Families.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • NewSouth Publishing

Kirstie 5 star rating

Woodend Victoria, Australia

I work on politics, current affairs, history and memoir. I'm a nonfiction specialist with over 20 years' experience.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, History, Inspirational, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Black Inc.

Karin 5 star rating

Brisbane QLD, Australia

A passionate 'generalist' who lives to learn, I've edited fiction and non-fiction for both indie and trade publisher clients for decades.

Genres: Nature, Non-Fiction, Life Sciences, Math & Science, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Picture Books, Children's, Science Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Teach Starter Publishing
  • Wildlife Australia Magazine
  • Steve Parish Publishing
  • LexisNexis/Elsevier Reed
  • Bookmark Publishing
  • Australian Geographic

Darren 5 star rating

Geelong VIC, Australia

I’m a specialist SF & Fantasy editor with more than 25 years of publishing experience including Gollancz, Orbit and Earthlight.

Genres: Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Post-Apocalyptic, and Steampunk.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Victor Gollancz
  • Orbit

Jess 5 star rating

Melbourne VIC, Australia

Editor and former Associate Publisher specialising in non fiction books including health, business and management, and personal development.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Women's Fiction, Fiction, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Wilkinson Publishing
  • Self-employed

Ed 5 star rating

Newcastle NSW, Australia

Astute, experienced and empathetic, I'm a narrative problem solver and sentence sharpener who works well with big presses and solo authors.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Sports & Outdoors, True Crime, Biographies & Memoirs, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Puncher and Wattmann

Jane 5 star rating

Toowoomba QLD, Australia

I'm a freelance editor, author and librarian with an eye for detail. Kids' books, fiction, non-fiction, history books: I love them all!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Action & Adventure, Contemporary Fiction, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Concordia Lutheran College

Stu 5 star rating

Campbells Creek VIC, Australia

I’m a freelance editor with over 15 years’ experience. I work primarily with academics, poets, and neurodivergent writers.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Fiction, Philosophy, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Vignette Press
  • La Trobe University
  • Deakin University

Daniel 5 star rating

Melbourne VIC, Australia

Accredited non-fiction editor with more than 40 published titles. Specialising in art, spirituality, well-being, history, science & ESL.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, History, Religion & Spirituality, True Crime, Classics, Fiction, and DIY & Crafts.

Work experience:

  • Arcturus Publishing
  • Search Press

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Hire the best developmental editors in Australia

After months, or maybe even years, of hard work and determination, you’ve finally completed your manuscript.

But now, in the midst of celebrating this accomplishment, you might be wondering: “What’s next?”

Well, for your best chances of coming to market with a professional and polished book, your answer should be: “Hire a developmental editor.”

A developmental editor works to ensure that your plot, characters, structure, prose, and all other pieces of your story are fine-tuned and cohesive as possible.

So how do you find a developmental editor in Australia you can trust to really make your story shine? Our marketplace is home to hundreds of experienced editors — many who worked for Big 5 publishers or with bestselling authors like Neil Gaiman. Sign up for a free account to start browsing the profiles of developmental editors in Australia today.

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