The best literary fiction book copy editing services

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Home > United States > Copy Editors > Literary Fiction

Julie 5 star rating

New York, United States

Seasoned copyeditor and proofreader, supporting authors of high-quality fiction and nonfiction. (Helping authors look good since 1993).

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Historical Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Open Road Integrated Media
  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Disney Publishing Worldwide
  • HarperCollins Children's Books
  • Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books
  • HarperCollins Publishers, HarperPaperbacks and HarperPrism
  • Self-employed

Paul 5 star rating

Los Angeles, United States

I excel at copy-editing, proofreading, developmental editing, ghostwriting, all kinds of collaborating — fiction, nonfiction, humor, & more.

Genres: Humor & Comedy, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Political Science & Current Affairs, Anthologies, Music, Entertainment, and Literary Fiction.

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

Tracy 5 star rating

Baltimore, MD, United States

Passionate about helping writers realize their visions. I love picture books (especially rhyme!), young adult, fantasy, memoir, and more.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Agent Carrie Pestritto (formerly of Prospect Agency, now with LDLA)
  • Marketing Agency
  • University of Baltimore
  • SCBWI MD/DE/WV
  • Self-employed

Gene 5 star rating

Houston, United States

Creative, experienced editor of novels, children's books, and poetry. Let's prepare your manuscript for publication together.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Poetry, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Uptown Stories
  • Simon & Schuster
  • Scholastic
  • HarperEntertainment
  • Daniel Weiss Associates/17th Street Productions
  • Denver Quarterly
  • San Jacinto College South

Erica 5 star rating

Parrish, United States

Freelance editor offering friendly but thorough editing to independent authors.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Erik 5 star rating

Minneapolis, MN, United States

Editor with years of in-house experience. Founder of a literary agency. Writer. Host of Print Run Podcast.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Career Guides, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Nature, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Sports & Outdoors, Life Sciences, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

  • Red Sofa Literary Agency
  • Self-employed
  • The Overlook Press
  • Oxford University Press
  • Headwater Literary Management

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Cindy 5 star rating

Slippery Rock, PA, United States

I help make dreams come true – developing a plan after your first draft or polishing with personal care. Lower-cost options available.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Cultural & Ethnic, Anthologies, Christian Non-Fiction, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Writing Assessment Services
  • Grove City College
  • Veritas Academy Online
  • Florida State University, Auburn University, Tallahassee Community College, Los Positas College

Susan 5 star rating

Tampa, FL, United States

Professional fiction and non-fiction editor with 30+ years' experience helping writers to hone their craft and tell their stories.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Women's Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Sex & Relationships, Mystery & Crime, Paranormal Romance, Romance, and Architecture.

Work experience:

  • EC for Books (formerly Ellora's Cave Publishing)
  • Weekly Planet/Creative Loafing Newspapers
  • Tampa Tribune Newspaper
  • Psychological Assessment Resources
  • Arts Council of Hillsborough County
  • Self-employed

Jeff 5 star rating

Portland, OR, USA

Dynamic, multi-genre writer/editor providing professional developmental editing, copy editing, manuscript evaluations, and book coaching.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Fonograf Editions
  • various universities
  • Independent Publishing Resource Center
  • Dikembe Press
  • Prairie Schooner

Thea 5 star rating

Austin, TX, USA

Big 5 publishing house editor specializing in fiction, mystery/thriller, cookbooks, self help, design and lifestyle.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Psychological Thriller, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Hachette Book Group
  • SKLA
  • Penguin Random House

Marcia 5 star rating

Plymouth, NH, USA

As an experienced story-focused editor and published author, I help bring out your voice and make your writing the best it can be.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Parenting & Families, and Art.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Plymouth State University

Renee 5 star rating

Buxton, ME, United States

Passionate editor of award-winning indie novels, with a specialty in adult dark fiction, spec. fic., horror, and psychological thrillers.

Genres: Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Middle Grade, Children's, Coming of Age, Poetry, Post-Apocalyptic, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Crystal Lake Publishing
  • Sebago Education Alliance
  • Allhorror.net
  • HorrorMovieReviews.com
  • Self-employed

Bestselling editor who for ~20 years' has worked with authors to polish stories and ideas, reach new audiences, and start conversations

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Texas Book Festival
  • The Acton MBA
  • HarperCollins

Fiona 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

I am a veteran trade book editor of fiction and nonfiction, committed to helping writers find their voice and produce their best work.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Inspirational, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • HarperColllins
  • Reader's Digest Trade Publishing
  • Self Employed

Laird 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Editor with 8+ years of experience (5+ @ Farrar, Straus and Giroux [FSG]), expertise in award-winning and bestselling fiction and nonfiction

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

Work experience:

  • Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Center for an Urban Future

Erin 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

Devoted, thoughtful editor specializing in literary & experimental fiction, cookbooks, and select narrative nonfiction.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Nature, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • GoodTherapy.org
  • YES! magazine

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Hire the best literary fiction copy editors

Literary fiction might have a reputation for being complex, but that doesn’t mean the process of finding a good copy editor should be too. Literary fiction is, of course, literary by definition — so typos and other such inconsistencies are likely to stand out to readers and reviewers of these books more than any other.

If you understand that, you’ll already know how important it is that you hire a literary fiction editor with a plethora of knowledge in the area to guide your masterpiece to greatness. Well, we’ve got your back: on the Reedsy Marketplace, we’re host to the most talented professionals, with working experience at the Big 5 under their belts. You're in the right place, now you just need to find the right literary fiction copy editor for you. Sign up today and request quotes for free.

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