The best copy editors for hire near Chicago

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Joe 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

30+ yrs. editing fiction & nonfiction. I polish, strengthen, and bring out the best in your manuscript. Free sample available.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Entertainment, Sex & Relationships, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Solution Tree Press
  • Self-employed

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

Rebecca 5 star rating

Chicago, Illinois, USA

300+ books in print & 15+ years in publishing. I help storytellers turn messy drafts into page-turners that readers can’t put down.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Sourcebooks
  • Integra
  • Macmillan

Perrin 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, United States

Cookbooks are my specialty—books I have edited have won or been finalists for James Beard, IACP, and Gourmand awards.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Home & Garden, Economics, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Agate Publishing
  • Self-employed

Alex 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Children's book editor with experience in editing and content creation, passionate about championing people's stories—and writing her own.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Holiday, LGBTQ Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Sex & Relationships.

Work experience:

  • Independent Publisher
  • Albert Whitman & Company

Bryn 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Thorough and encouraging book editor, meticulous proofreader, former publishing exec, and author. I'll help you reach your author goals!

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Hallmark Publishing at the Hallmark Channel

Lizzie 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Nimble, warm, and energetic literary editor with 10 years' experience shepherding projects from manuscript to award-winning finished book.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Parenting & Families, Non-Fiction, and LGBTQ Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Coffee House Press
  • Transit Books
  • Self-employed

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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

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

Lillian 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

10+ years of editing experience, specializing in sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and romance. Let's take your book to the next level together!

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Romance, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Post-Apocalyptic, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Internet Brands

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

Meticulous copy and developmental editor of nonfiction, equipped with diverse industry experience and a masters in Publishing.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Aja 5 star rating

Austin, United States

Making sure your prose sings, your facts and story are straight, and your unique voice shines through.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Music, Entertainment, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Simon & Schuster
  • on my porch, at a coffee shop, in far-flung places . . .

Maleah 5 star rating

Nashville, United States

Former Thomas Nelson editor with 23 years experience in Christian non-fiction, study products, and Bibles.

Genres: Inspirational, Non-Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins Christian Publishers)
  • Thomas Nelson

Kate 5 star rating

Cleveland, OH, United States

Versatile, collaborative nonfiction editor with a master's degree in creative writing and seven years' experience editing education books.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Parenting & Families.

Work experience:

  • Solution Tree
  • Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
  • Solution Tree Press

Kelly 5 star rating

Phoenix, United States

I have 20 years of editing experience in all genres, with special attention to business and travel.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Travel, Poetry, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Immanence Journal
  • Gently Read Literature (GRL)
  • International Artist Publishing
  • Perseus Books Group
  • Self-employed

Brooke 5 star rating

Denver, United States

Experienced (9 years in-house, 20 years freelance), nonfiction editor specializing in assessments, development editing, and copy editing.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Music, Entertainment, Parenting & Families, Biographies & Memoirs, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Chicago Review Press
  • Perseus Books Group (now Hachette)
  • Westview Press in the Perseus Books Group (now Hachette)
  • Self-employed

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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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