The best poetry book copy editing services

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Erin L. 5 star rating

Seattle, Washington, United States

24+ awards in writing and editing • 30+ books edited • Specialties include nonfiction and poetry • Ph.D. student, lit and creative writing

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Poetry, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Nature, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Cavendish Square, Wiley, & other publishers
  • Open Books: A Poem Emporium
  • Killer Visual Strategies
  • Various magazines
  • The Kentucky Standard
  • Sarabande Books
  • Entre Ríos Books

Michael 5 star rating

Grass Lake, MI, USA

Editor and consultant. Theology, spirituality, philosophy, and literary works (poetry, fiction, sci-fi/fantasy). Worked with Angelico Press.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Anthologies, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Humanities & Social Sciences, and New Age.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Talin 5 star rating

New Haven, CT, USA

Poet and editor specializing in poetry with over 10 years of experience editing for top literary journals

Genres: Poetry and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • The Yale Review
  • The Adroit Journal

Aaron 5 star rating

Buffalo, NY, USA

I am Editor in Chief of a literary publication and former English professor who loves all forms of creative writing—both poetry and prose.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Nature, Religion & Spirituality, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Writing & Publishing, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • SUNY Erie
  • Wild Roof Journal
  • Hawkes Learning
  • Ohlinger Publishing Services
  • The Closed Eye Open

Amanda 5 star rating

Charlottesville, VA, USA

Independent press cofounder, experienced editor, insightful reader. Edits literary and genre fiction at all stages of development.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, LGBTQ Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Coming of Age, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Independent Press
  • C&R Press
  • Virginia Tech
  • Freelance

Mona 5 star rating

Boston, MA, USA

Passionate and meticulous copyeditor specializing in experimental literature and global perspectives. Ten years of lit mag experience.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Anthologies, Literary Fiction, Cultural & Ethnic, Poetry, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Travel.

Work experience:

  • Hummingbird Press
  • Today Newspaper
  • Tin House Books
  • Literary Arts/Tin House Books
  • Chicago Quarterly Review
  • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
  • CareerPro Global, Inc.
  • Catamaran Literary Reader
  • Santa Cruz Sentinel

Kristin 5 star rating

Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

I'm a published poet who wants to make your writing sing. I specialize in copy editing and line editing fiction and poetry.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • New Degree Press
  • Self-employed
  • Quiz & Quill Literary Magazine
  • Wexner Center for the Arts
  • The Comic Book Project
  • Otterbein University
  • Gordon Square Review
  • Literary Cleveland

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Ariel 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Meticulous editor. Experience at Macmillan, Simon and Schuster, Red Hen Press. Poetry, literary fiction/nonfiction, adult/children's books.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, Children's, Coming of Age, Short Story, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Red Hen Press
  • Scripps College Journal
  • The Student Life
  • Coffee Stained Press
  • Self-employed
  • The Adroit Journal

Laura 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Expert developmental and line editor, ghostwriter, and consultant collaborates on all aspects of nonfiction and fiction for adults and kids.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Poetry, Inspirational, Women's Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Jill Grinberg Literary Management
  • Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
  • Pocket Books
  • Simon & Schuster
  • Penguin USA
  • Theater Communications Group

Abi 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

Passionate about bringing your best words to life. Specialities in nonfiction (history, cookbooks), poetry, children's. 10+ yrs experience.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Children’s Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Poetry, Photography, and Travel.

Work experience:

  • Pelican Publishing
  • Self
  • Poetry Northwest Editions

Janice 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

Editor of hundreds of traditionally published books.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Poetry, Comics & Graphic Novels, Paranormal Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Fantagraphics Books

Meg 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

20+ yrs as a collaborative journalist/editor/poet, using candor and kindness to help writers win awards + publish their poetry + nonfiction.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Music, Psychology, Biographies & Memoirs, Writing & Publishing, Nature, Poetry, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Garden Design Magazine
  • Women's Health magazine
  • Rathalla Review
  • Rosemont College

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

developmental & copy editor of fiction & poetry | 20+ years experience published novelist & poet | book production & publishing expertise

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • W. W. Norton
  • Self-employed

Jeff 5 star rating

Portland, OR, USA

Dynamic, best-selling writer in multiple genres providing 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

Amanda 5 star rating

Oakland, CA, USA

Experienced copyeditor + publishing professional with over ten years of multi-genre work. I prioritize partnership, quality, and kindness 📚

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Anthologies, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Michigan Publishing, University of Michigan Library
  • The MIT Press
  • Self-employed
  • California Digital Library
  • Pleaides: Literature in Context

Elizabeth 5 star rating

South Bend, IN, USA

Twenty years as a copy editor and proofreader of Christian fiction, history, and other nonfiction. I look forward to working with you!

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Photography, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, and Poetry.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • University of Notre Dame Press
  • National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
  • Moody's Analytics

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Hire the best poetry copy editors

Poetry is often viewed as being open in form and to interpretation, but you can rest assured that you’ll still need a good copy editor for poetry as much as any other form. In fact, the importance of rhythm and flow to verse means that jarring typos or inconsistencies can be more likely to stand out to readers and reviewers than in prose.

That’s why it’s so important that you hire a poetry copy editor with a surplus of knowledge under their belt who can help you identify typos, mistakes in grammar, and inconsistencies. Once these issues are out of the way, you’re sure to guide your verse to greatness.

And don’t worry, finding an experienced editor doesn’t need to be its own Odyssey: on the Reedsy Marketplace, we host the most talented freelance professionals in the industry. You're in the right place. Now you just need to take the next step — sign up today and request quotes for free.

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Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

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Apply filters

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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.