The best developmental editors for hire in Australia

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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

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

Stu 5 star rating

Castlemaine 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, Writing & Publishing, Buddhism, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

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

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

Jessica 5 star rating

Sydney, Australia

Edited over 100 fiction and non-fiction titles, including Prime Minister's Prize, The Age and various Premiers' literary award winners.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Home & Garden, Mystery & Crime, Education & Reference, Parenting & Families, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Amnesty International
  • Thomson Reuters
  • Arts Hub Magazine
  • News Ltd

Brendan 5 star rating

Bulli NSW, Australia

Former journalist turned editor/publisher with two decades of experience across all levels of non-fiction book production.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Nature, Travel, and Business & Management.

Work experience:

  • Self Employed
  • Time To Roam
  • National Roads & Motorists Association
  • Driving Around Australia
  • Express Media Group

Kate 5 star rating

Sydney NSW, Australia

Children's fiction editor with over ten years industry experience with Scholastic, Disney and Marvel.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Mystery & Crime, Humor & Comedy, Picture Books, Science Fiction, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Scholastic Australia
  • Allen and Unwin
  • Lexis Nexis

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Garima 5 star rating

Adelaide SA, Australia

An editor with expertise in STEM editing (books, research papers, and theses). Worked for Macmillan, Elsevier, Springer, Cengage, AACR

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Health & Wellbeing, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • MacMillan Publishing Services Ltd. (MPS Ltd.)
  • Aptara, Inc.
  • Thomson Digital

Heather 5 star rating

Aldinga Beach, South Australia

Accredited editor specialising in biography, memoir, self-help, psychology, spirituality, general non-fiction. Former editor at Hardie Grant

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Biographies & Memoirs, New Age, Religion & Spirituality, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Hardie Grant Publishing
  • John Brown Publishing, London

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

Sam 5 star rating

Sydney NSW, Australia

Expert manuscript developer and editor. I specialise in literary fiction and nonfiction, and general / popular fiction and nonfiction.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Thriller & Suspense, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, History, and True Crime.

Work experience:

  • Brow Books
  • Self-employed
  • The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australia, The Saturday Paper
  • University of Melbourne, Deakin University, RMIT University, Victoria University

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

Zena 5 star rating

Sydney NSW, Australia

20yrs+ coaxing brilliant ideas into publishable SFF, thrillers, YA, women's, memoir, and inspirational books. I'm an author who *knows*.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Inspirational, and New Age.

Work experience:

  • CCH Australia
  • Simon & Schuster
  • Rockpool Publishing
  • Big Sky Publishing
  • Northern Beaches Council
  • MidnightSun Publishing, Encircle Publications, Major Street Publishing, Mosman Council
  • Self-employed

Rebecca 5 star rating

Coffs Harbour NSW, Australia

Using structural expertise and market insight, I work with Big 5, smaller publishers and indies to help make writing shine.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Literary Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • New Holland
  • WHSmith
  • Hachette and Curtis Brown

Lauren 5 star rating

Central Coast NSW, Australia

Commercial fiction editor & coach. 25 years in-house & freelance for many publishers & with lots of indie authors in Australia, US, UK.

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

Alex 5 star rating

Sydney NSW, Australia

I am a publisher, editor, ghostwriter and content curator with 25 years' experience in almost every genre.

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Social & Family Issues, Young Adult, Holiday, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Contemporary Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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

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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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