The best short story book copy editing services

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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

Cindy 5 star rating

Slippery Rock, PA, United States

I help make dreams come true – developing a plan after your first draft or polishing with personal care. Lower-cost options available.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Cultural & Ethnic, Anthologies, Christian Non-Fiction, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Writing Assessment Services
  • Grove City College
  • Veritas Academy Online
  • Florida State University, Auburn University, Tallahassee Community College, Los Positas 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

Emily 5 star rating

Boston, MA, USA

An eagle-eyed copyeditor and proofreader specializing in literary fiction with editorial experience at Penguin Random House and McSweeney's.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • McSweeney's
  • Harvard Alumni Association
  • Self-employed

Rachel 5 star rating

San Diego, CA, USA

My favorite stories are mysteries, thrillers, romance, and historical fiction. Give me stories with grit, atmosphere, and a sense of place.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Cozy Mysteries, Romantic Suspense, Short Story, Christian Fiction, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Will Rogers Medallion Awards
  • Wolfpack Publishing
  • Kensington Publishing
  • Roan & Weatherford Publishing, Hat Creek Imprint
  • Imadjinn Awards

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 14+ 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

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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

Molli 5 star rating

Warren, NJ, USA

Critically acclaimed author. I specialize in picture books and YA/Adult romance/fantasy. I love making books shine!

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Short Story, New Adult, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, and Romantic Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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

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

Steve 5 star rating

Brooklyn Park, MN, USA

Award-winning editor of Esmé Wang, Jamel Brinkley, Anna Burns, formerly at Graywolf Press. Specialties: literary fiction, memoir, and essay.

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

Work experience:

  • Graywolf Press
  • Macalester College
  • Self-employed
  • Normandale Community College

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

Nicole 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm a copy editor and proofreader with over eight years of experience for major book publishers, magazines, and digital publications.

Genres: Children's, Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Humor & Comedy, Short Story, Thriller & Suspense, Entertainment, Non-Fiction, Technology, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

  • Adweek
  • Best Lawyer
  • Scholastic

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

John 5 star rating

St. Louis, MO, USA

20+ years as a development editor, copy editor, and proofreader, in both nonfiction and fiction. Former MFA faculty and author of 4 books.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Travel, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • The Common Reader, Washington University in St. Louis
  • McNeese State MFA program
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Katie 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Editor of award-winning literary fiction, crime fiction, and select memoir, formerly of Soho Press. Love working with first-time authors.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Short Story, Women's Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • New York University
  • University of Maryland
  • American University
  • Soho Press

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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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