The best poetry book copy editing services

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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

John 5 star rating

Stockton, CA, USA

I have many years of experience in a wide array of editing and writing duties in a wide variety of genres.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Short Story, Agriculture, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Computers & Internet, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, Geography, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Philosophy.

Work experience:

  • Oxford University Press
  • MTKG, Inc.
  • University of California Press

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

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

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

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

Kary 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

I'm a devoted, hardworking editor with a keen eye for detail and a fascination with language in all its combinations, uses, and forms.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Fiction, Mashups, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Writing & Publishing, and LGBTQ Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Hugo House
  • Poetry Northwest

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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

Lanette 5 star rating

South Hadley, MA, USA

Do you have a story to tell? I have 35+ years of professional editing experience and amazing reviews. (Scroll to the bottom to read them.)

Genres: Parenting & Families, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Sex & Relationships, Poetry, Fiction, Literary Fiction, and Coming of Age.

Dakota 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Experienced editor & published writer ▪ I have a passion for literature & words—especially poetry, essay collections, & children's books.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Biographies & Memoirs, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, and Nature.

Work experience:

  • Atmosphere Press
  • Crazyhorse Magazine
  • The Georgia Review
  • University of Bahrain

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

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

Jillian 5 star rating

Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Random House editor of prize-winning literary fiction, bestselling commercial fiction, and narrative nonfiction. Affordable and friendly!

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

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • The Clegg Agency

Anna 5 star rating

Oakland, CA, USA

Precisely worded, wildly creative: Editor of award-winning books (poetry and prose) offering customized and attentive editorial services

Genres: Poetry and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Kelsey Street Press
  • Self-employed

Ally 5 star rating

St. Louis, MO, USA

Experienced copyeditor and proofreader with a background in independent, literary, and academic publishing.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, Contemporary Fiction, Poetry, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • David R. Godine, Publisher
  • Yale University

Laurel 5 star rating

Portland, ME, USA

I am an experienced editor specializing in K–12 education, memoir, and other nonfiction.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Travel, Humanities & Social Sciences, Poetry, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Solution Tree Press
  • Marzano Resources
  • The Creator Institute

Kristin 5 star rating

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA

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

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