The best horror book copy editing services

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Beth 5 star rating

Maineville, United States

Seasoned editor and proofreader with more than 20 years of experience in multiple genres. I have worked with several best-selling authors!

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, LGBTQ Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Science Fiction, and Dystopian.

Work experience:

  • Self-Employed

Parisa 5 star rating

Brooklyn, NY, United States

Former Simon and Schuster editor with 15+ years of experience, specializing in all fiction genres. I’d love to help get your MS in shape!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self Employed
  • Simon & Schuster

Olivia 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Developmental editor offering thoughtful, creative collaboration. Specializes in thrillers, suspense, and all things speculative.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, LGBTQ Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, and Romantic Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Publishing Company
  • C&R Press
  • Otis Books
  • Freelance
  • Pratt Institute

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

Kerry 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm interested in thoughtful, voice-driven manuscripts. I especially love stories that include queer characters and/or speculative elements.

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Time Travel, Science Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Contemporary Fiction, and Coming of Age.

Work experience:

  • Henry Holt & Company
  • Curtis Brown, Ltd.
  • One Story Magazine
  • JMH Scouting
  • Daniela Schlingmann Literary Scouting

Scott 5 star rating

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Developmental and copy editor specializing in speculative fiction. I love helping writers bring their imaginative worlds to life!

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Space Opera, Short Story, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Outland Entertainment

Angela 5 star rating

Albany, NY, USA

Freelance editor specializing in horror, thrillers & dark fiction. Medical background. Detail-oriented and protective of the author's voice.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Medical Thriller, and Psychological Thriller.

Work experience:

  • CLASH
  • ARCH: University at Albany's Undergraduate Literary Magazine
  • Independent Contractor

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Chris 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

I am an expert in genre fiction, with years of experience evaluating short fiction. I want your wildest stories to find a published home.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Short Story, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Clarkesworld Magazine
  • Geekadelphia

Publishing coach, multi Bram Stoker Awards® Winner+, publisher of Space & Time and Authortunities on Substack.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Poetry, Anthologies, Short Story, Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Space and Time Magazine
  • MCPL North Independence
  • Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Florida
  • Panhandle Focus
  • Bay Beacon Newspapers, Niceville, Florida
  • Militarylifestyle.com, sponsored by Downey Publications

Karen J. 5 star rating

Flagstaff, AZ, USA

Professor of English with over 15 years experience mentoring writers, one book, three edited collections, and 40+ other publications.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Young Adult, Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Northern Arizona University

Elizabeth 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

20+ year proofreader and copyeditor, incl. Disney Publishing and Hallmark Books. Fantasy, sci-fi, mystery/thriller, horror (Adult, MG, YA).

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Epic Fantasy, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Time Travel, Science Fiction, Horror, Young Adult Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Disney Publishing Worldwide
  • Freelance
  • Renaissance Literary & Talent
  • Luna Station Quarterly
  • NBCUniversal, Inc.
  • Dreamspinner Press
  • eLance
  • Alpha Pictures
  • Hallmark Books
  • Self-employed

Michael 5 star rating

St. Louis, MO, United States

Editor of award-winning literature and NYT bestsellers, with 13 years' experience at Penguin Random House, Macmillan, and Hachette.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Action & Adventure, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • The Laryngoscope Journal
  • Self-employed
  • Graphic World, Inc
  • Penguin Random House

Erin 5 star rating

Birmingham, AL, USA

Former literary agent with 15+ years of experience, specializing in developmental & copy edits for MG, YA, horror, mystery, & magic realism

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Howland Literary
  • The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
  • Dotdash Meredith
  • Self-employed

Rachel 5 star rating

Albuquerque, NM, USA

I am a writer, a life-long educator, and an editor who works to help other writers find their voice.

Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Short Story, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Narrative Magazine
  • Antioch Review
  • Antioch College

Matt. 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

Best-selling/award-winning editor specializing in genre fiction (horror, sci-fi, fantasy) and sequential art narrative (yup, comics.)

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Fantasy, Plays & Screenplays, Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Comics Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Stan Lee's POW! Entertainment
  • Heroic Signatures
  • Encyclopocalypse Publications
  • Northampton Community College

Jeff 5 star rating

Clifton Park, NY, USA

Author, editor, consultant. Fifteen years in publishing. Specializing in fantasy, sci-fi, horror, YA, and the genre-defying.

Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, Contemporary Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Action & Adventure, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Mischa 5 star rating

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Fiction editor of 15+ years, trusted by bestselling authors. Highly selective, meticulous in approach, devoted to preserving your voice.

Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Fiction, Time Travel, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery & Crime, Horror, Medical Thriller, Technothriller, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Hire the best horror copy editors

Imagine reading a tense horror story, knowing that a terrifying revelation is on the way, and then on the way encountering a ridiculous typo, or realizing the protagonist’s name is all of a sudden completely different. Takes you out of the experience, doesn’t it?

For your readers not to be distracted by anything and lean wholeheartedly into your spine-chilling story, you’ll need to hire a horror copy editor. Far from simply spotting simple spelling mistakes, copy editors can work with you to even out the tone of your writing, maximize suspense, and reword any sentences that subtract from the horror experience because of poor syntax or vagueness.

The horror copy editors for hire here on Reedsy have all been carefully vetted, so you can trust that they’ve got the necessary skills and experience to help your manuscript truly bare its teeth.

How it works

Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

Step 1

Apply filters

Reedsy is home to thousands of professionals. Select the specific services you need and narrow your search based on your book’s genre and requirements.

Step 2

Browse

Then, browse professional profiles to find out more about their personalities and past projects.

Step 3

Request quotes

Request quotes from up to five freelancers at any time. They’ll look at your sample pages to give you a tailored quote as well as a sense of how they work.

Step 4

Collaborate

Once you agree on terms and a timeline, you’ll start collaborating using the many communication and editing tools available on Reedsy.

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