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

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

Kate 5 star rating

Youngstown, OH, USA

Copyeditor/proofreader 6+ years. Works with first-time authors, professors, and small Catholic presses. Passionate about poetry and drama.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Short Story, Fantasy, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Wiseblood Books
  • Holy Heroes
  • Sophia Institute Press
  • Community Services of America at Good Will Publishers
  • Youngstown State University

Jessica 5 star rating

Madison, WI, USA

Advocate for inclusivity and diversity; #OwnVoices reader for queer/mentally ill characters. I specialize in romance, fantasy, and poetry.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Poetry, Paranormal Romance, Romantic Comedy, Fantasy, LGBTQ Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • The University of Wisconsin Press
  • Sourcebooks
  • 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

Kelly 5 star rating

Phoenix, United States

I am passionate about the written word! 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

Twenty years of experience as a developmental & copy editor of fiction, poetry & academic books (I'm a published novelist and poet, too!).

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

Work experience:

  • W. W. Norton
  • Self-employed

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Publishing coach, multi Bram Stoker Awards® Winner+, publisher of Space and Time and Authortunities, a calendar of author opportunities.

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

Aaron 5 star rating

Buffalo, NY, USA

Editor in Chief of an art & lit website and English educator 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

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

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

Sarah 5 star rating

Fayetteville, AR, USA

I am a writer, editor, crafter and mom who loves to encourage other people to express themselves creatively.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • University of Arkansas Press

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

A fiction/nonfiction copy editor and proofreader with 20+ years’ experience in journalism. I have an eye for detail and a love of deadlines.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Poetry, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Political Science & Current Affairs, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • American Academy of Family Physicians
  • Various

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

John 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Writer/editor with 10 years experience editing scholarly books and journal articles in literary studies, art history, and architecture.

Genres: Architecture, Non-Fiction, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Philosophy, Poetry, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Large museum/cultural institution in Los Angeles
  • large museum/cultural institution in Los Angeles
  • Self-employed

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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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Apply filters

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Step 2

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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.