The best short story book copy editing services

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I've been an editor for 28 years now, and I've done everything from line editing, copy editing, and proofreading from academia to fiction.

Genres: Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Anthologies, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Romance, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Bedford/St. Martin's
  • Self-employed

Bruna 5 star rating

St. Louis, MO, USA

Editor of short stories, most recently selected for Best American Short Stories 2017 and PEN America Best Debut Short Stories 2018.

Genres: Cultural & Ethnic, Fiction, Coming of Age, Short Story, Literary Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • And Other Stories

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

Travis 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

A seasoned editor and book coach, Travis has helped acclaimed authors, elite athletes, and emerging voices connect with readers worldwide.

Genres: Sports & Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Inspirational, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Beijing Language and Culture University
  • Sports Publishing LLC
  • TrueHoop

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

Jamie 5 star rating

Wausau, Wisconsin, USA

Writer, editor, tutor, & coach passionate about engaging storytelling & vibrant characters across novels, books, (web)comics, & videogames.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Coming of Age, Literary Fiction, New Adult, Young Adult, Nature, Non-Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Rowman & Littlefield
  • Self-employed
  • SuperPROTEIN Studios Inc.
  • Vilostudios

Ashley 5 star rating

Jersey City, NJ, USA

A supportive and collaborative editorial professional with 10+ years’ experience across print and digital—and a total bookworm.

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Business & Management, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Literary Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Prairie Schooner, University of Nebraska
  • History Press
  • Publishers Weekly
  • CreateSpace, an Amazon.com Company
  • Milkweed Editions
  • Yemassee Journal
  • Self-employed
  • Compose.ly
  • Turner Publishing
  • The Book Incubator

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Sarah 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Eagle-eyed former Bloomsbury editorial + production assistant with 10+ years experience in editing and proofreading fiction and nonfiction.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Historical Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Bloomsbury Publishing

Sara 5 star rating

Nashua, NH, USA

Flexible, fierce, efficient editor with decades of experience in editing everything from horror to science fiction to literary fiction.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction, Time Travel, Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Military Science Fiction, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Ascend Learning
  • Jones & Bartlett Learning
  • Self-employed

Rebecca 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Experienced, meticulous, and collaborative copy editor/proofreader with a YA/middle grade/kid lit focus (and a bad slash habit)

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Middle Grade, Children's, Picture Books, Comics & Graphic Novels, Young Adult, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Holiday House Publishing, Inc.
  • Scholastic Inc.
  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
  • Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
  • TriAd Media Solutions, Inc.

Sean 5 star rating

Hanson, KY, USA

Proofreader/editor for 11+ years, reader for 40+, and as a lifelong fan, horror is my go-to genre.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story, Entertainment, Non-Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Literary Fiction, and Anthologies.

Work experience:

  • JournalStone/Trepidatio
  • Bizarro Pulp Press
  • Raw Dog Screaming Press

Tracy 5 star rating

Baltimore, MD, United States

Passionate about helping writers realize their visions. I love picture books (especially rhyme!), young adult, fantasy, memoir, and more.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Agent Carrie Pestritto (formerly of Prospect Agency, now with LDLA)
  • Marketing Agency
  • University of Baltimore
  • SCBWI MD/DE/WV
  • Self-employed

Edie 5 star rating

Tucson, AZ, USA

Travel editor at Fodor's, Frommer's, and Rough Guides, memoir and food writing aficionado, love to nurture good writing in all genres.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Travel, Writing & Publishing, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Short Story, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Madden Preprint Media

Versatile, collaborative fiction and nonfiction editor with 20 years of experience. Published short story and essay writer.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Education & Reference, Women's Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Rambler Magazine
  • Westchester Publishing

Steven 5 star rating

Vermont, United States

Intuitive, expert editor with 30 yrs experience teaching fiction writing at a major university. Well-published, knowledgeable, honest, kind.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Middle Grade, Children's, Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Miami University, Oxford, OH
  • Colby College, Waterville,ME
  • Self-employed

Scott 5 star rating

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Developmental and copy editor specializing in speculative fiction. I love helping writers bring their imaginative worlds to life!

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Space Opera, Short Story, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Outland Entertainment

David 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Developmental & Copy Editor for Literary, Horror, SF, and Cross-Genre Fiction | 100+ 5★ Reviews

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Espionage, Thriller & Suspense, Horror, Literary Fiction, Space Opera, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Freelance
  • Hearst Business Media
  • Sleeping Giant

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Hire the best short story copy editors

Though short stories are short by their very nature, if you’re planning to publish your work, you’ll definitely need a copy editor. Even the most prolific writers find it hard to see mistakes in their own work after spending so much time on it — particularly if it’s condensed in a smaller space. So, once you’ve finished your story, you’ll need an editor with experience working on short stories who can root out typoes, inconsistencies, and any other errors.

If you’re on the hunt to hire a short story copy editor already, then we can help you make short work of it. We only accept the top 3% of freelancer applications, so you can rest easy knowing you’ll have no trouble finding an editor who’s passionate about your project. Sign up to connect and start requesting quotes for free today.

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