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

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

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

John 5 star rating

Fort Collins, CO, USA

Seasoned, communicative manuscript editor

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Buddhism, Religion & Spirituality, Poetry, Fiction, History, Philosophy, Sociology, and Music.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Raritan: A Quarterly Review, New Brunswick, NJ
  • English Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
  • Undergraduate Writing Center, University of Texas, Austin, TX
  • English Department, Miami University, Oxford, OH
  • Lubbock Meditation, Lubbock, TX
  • Programs for Academic Support Services, Texas Tech University

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

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

Staci 5 star rating

Raleigh, NC, USA

Your story matters. Literary editor with 10+ years in memoir, essays & poetry. I help writers bring honesty and craft to the page.

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

Work experience:

  • The Sun Magazine
  • NC State Magazine
  • NC State University College of Design
  • American Veterinary Medical Association
  • Broadside Literary Arts Magazine
  • Northern Illinois University
  • Sauk Valley Media

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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

Val 5 star rating

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Literary Agent, acquiring editor, & author with 10+ years of experience specializing in character-driven storytelling and romance.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, LGBTQ Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Romance, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Row House Publishing
  • Self-employed
  • Tessera Editorial
  • Poetry International and Fiction International
  • Luminary Publishing
  • D4EO Literary Agency

Abi 5 star rating

New York, NY, 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

Mira 5 star rating

Boston, MA, USA

Proofreader and copyeditor with over six years of wide-ranging experience and a special focus on children's and YA!

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Middle Grade Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Charlesbridge Publishing

developmental & copy editor of fiction & poetry | 20+ years experience | published novelist & poet |

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

Work experience:

  • W. W. Norton
  • Self-employed

Amy 5 star rating

St. Louis, MO, USA

Children's book specialist with over 35 years of experience and 75+ books published. Clients include HarperCollins, Scholastic, and Disney.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins Children's Books
  • Stony Brook University
  • Studio Goodwin Sturges
  • Self-employed

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

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

Jenn 5 star rating

Olathe, KS, USA

Honest and caring editor. Passionate about helping authors succeed, with ten years in the professional literary world.

Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, and Poetry.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • TouchPoint Press

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

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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

Collaborate

Once you agree on terms and a timeline, you’ll start collaborating using the many communication and editing tools available on Reedsy.

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