The best copy editors for hire near Chicago

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Vesela 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Decades of experience editing creative and transformational nonfiction—psychology, faith, and the conversation between science and the soul.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Association for Research and Enlightenment
  • Institute of Noetic Sciences
  • Yoga Journal

Angela 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Veteran editor with expertise in K-12 education, especially literature and writing. I am also a professional garden designer and consultant.

Genres: Education & Reference and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • McGraw-Hill Education
  • Self-employed

Don 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

I do developmental editing in social science and the humanities. From first drafts through to publication, I like helping scholars succeed.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, and Political Science & Current Affairs.

Work experience:

  • CEMSE, University of Chicago
  • University of Chicago Press
  • Self

Travis 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

A developmental editor for sports-themed fiction and narrative nonfiction, Travis has been shaping premises into publications for 20+ years.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Beijing Language and Culture University
  • Sports Publishing LLC
  • TrueHoop

Amanda 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Meticulous copyeditor and proofreader with nonfiction trade experience—memoirs, oral histories, cookbooks, and more!

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Agate Publishing
  • Self-employed

Nathan 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Writer and editor with 7+ years of experience. Has worked at the Kenyon Review, Tin House Books and Scholastic, among other publications.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Short Story, History, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Tin House Books
  • MAYDAY Magazine
  • Agate Publishing House
  • The Kenyon Review
  • Scholastic Inc. (Tangerine Press Imprint)

Nicole 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Former Big 5 editor with 10+ years of experience in fantasy, romance, horror, and any combination therein. Let's get cooking!

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Romantic Fantasy, Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • InterVarsity Press
  • Del Ray (Penguin Random House)
  • Self-employed

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Bryn 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Exceptional book editor, former publishing executive, and author. I give detailed, encouraging edits to help you reach your author goals!

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, and Romantic Comedy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Hallmark Publishing at the Hallmark Channel

Richard 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

I am a writer, editor, and researcher with 19 years of experience. I work with all kinds of content, from science to business to marketing.

Genres: Life Sciences, Math & Science, Non-Fiction, Nature, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Education & Reference, Entertainment, Home & Garden, and History.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Mary Beth 5 star rating

Orlando, United States

Sensitive, seasoned copy editor dedicated to strengthening each author's particular voice

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Self-employed

Jenn 5 star rating

Leawood, KS, United States

I am an award-winning author and editor of books for children and young adults. I specialize in humor, fantasy, and scifi.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Picture Books, Children's, Action & Adventure, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Dave 5 star rating

Seattle, United States

Experienced copyeditor, proofreader, and fact checker proficient with Chicago style. I specialize in literary and historical fiction.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Fantasy, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and True Crime.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Avner 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Professional editor, ghostwriter, and author of literary fiction and non-fiction who can help get you and your book across the finish line.

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

Work experience:

  • Texas-based Publishing Services Company
  • Self-employed

Missy 5 star rating

Missoula, MT, United States

MS in Publishing. Proofreader for Bloomsbury (publisher of Harry Potter). Knows Chicago Manual of Style so you don't have to. On your side.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • brass|MEDIA Inc.
  • Trial Guides
  • Ooligan Press
  • The Portland Review
  • Montana Kaimin

Sandra 5 star rating

Omaha, United States

Skilled nonfiction book editor in business/leadership, true crime, selected memoirs. Get from idea to published. I love first-time authors.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Psychology, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and True Crime.

Work experience:

  • Southeast Community College
  • Self-employed
  • Metropolitan Community College

Sarah 5 star rating

Saint Paul, United States

Meticulous copyeditor with 19 years of experience helping independent authors polish their sci-fi manuscripts.

Genres: Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, Science Fiction, Fiction, Writing & Publishing, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

David 5 star rating

Long Beach, CA, United States

Give me your dangling participles, your absent oxford commas, your run-on sentences yearning to be written correctly.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Action & Adventure, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Classics, Plays & Screenplays, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Group, USA; Random House, LLC
  • Pegasus Books and Publishing House
  • Words That Stay, LLC

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Hire the best copy editors in Chicago, Illinois

As you might expect of the home of "The World's Greatest Newspaper," you can find some of the country's finest copy editors in Chicago. And if you're looking for the crème de la crème of Chicago copy editors, there's no better place to start than the Reedsy Marketplace.

With thousands of editors from across the world (including Illinois), Reedsy is home to only the most experienced and talented publishing freelancers. Many of them have worked for major presses and can help you copy edit your novels, memoirs, nonfiction books — or anything else you have that needs editing.

If you need a copy editor that's well-versed in The Chicago Manual of Style, why would you look anywhere else? Sign up for a free Reedsy account and meet them today.

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