The best poetry book copy editing services

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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

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

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

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

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

Dakota 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Seasoned editor & published writer with a passion for literature & language—in particular: 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

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

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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

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

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

John 5 star rating

Jamestown, NY, USA

I work with poetry, memoir, and literary fiction. I'll help you find your extraordinary point-of-view and the music of your voice.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Mt. San Antonio College
  • Self-employed
  • Various Colleges and Universities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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.