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

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

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

David 5 star rating

Durham, NC, USA

15+ years editing for an award-winning literary magazine. I help writers shape their work with clarity and care.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Sun magazine

Christina 5 star rating

Portland, OR, USA

Thoughtful, thorough, and insightful Christian theology editor for 17 years. Globally-minded seminary graduate. K–adult educator.

Genres: Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Non-Fiction, Poetry, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Clatsop Community College
  • Fuller Writing Center
  • Tillamook Bay Community College
  • Judson International School

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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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

Poetry line editor and nonfiction copy editor / proofreader uplifting underrepresented academics, activists, and authors publishing research

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Judaism, Religion & Spirituality, Poetry, Fiction, Life Sciences, Math & Science, Humanities & Social Sciences, Comics & Graphic Novels, Calendars, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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

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

Kate 5 star rating

Youngstown, OH, USA

Copyeditor/proofreader 7+ 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

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

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

Mark 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

I'm a professional editor, writer, and poet. Assisting others with their writing and creative endeavors is extremely meaningful to me.

Genres: Poetry and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Schuylkill Valley Journal
  • Cleaver Magazine

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

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

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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 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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