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

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

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

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

Sarah Lyn 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Developmental editor with 13 years of experience at publishers + lit mags. Here for your stories, essays, novels, memoirs, and hybrid work!

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Soft Skull Press
  • Catapult Books
  • Catapult (magazine)
  • Penguin Random House
  • Publishers Weekly
  • Self-employed
  • The Rumpus
  • The Rumpus

Benjamin 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Developmental editor with 10+ years in publishing, helping authors shape clear, compelling manuscripts from concept to final draft.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Science Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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

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Devon 5 star rating

Destin, FL, USA

Editor with 12 years' experience in academic and general audience nonfiction for all ages, as well as fiction, picture books, and memoirs.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Gibbs Smith
  • University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press
  • Self-employed

JT 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I love a good story. Insightful, congenial NYC-based editor of fiction and nonfiction, in both the literary journal and academic realms.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, Judaism, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Epiphany Magazine
  • River Styx
  • The University of North Carolina Press
  • WW Norton Co.
  • Electric Literature
  • Onion River Press
  • University of Chicago Press
  • Hay House
  • Brazenhead Review
  • 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.

Constance 5 star rating

Charlotte, NC, USA

Professional editor specializing in literary and historical novels, YA, and speculative fiction.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Short Story, Mystery & Crime, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Three Rooms Press
  • Skyhorse Publishing

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

Ashley 5 star rating

Westchester, IL, USA

I work as Content Editor for an independent publisher and also as a freelance editor. I enjoy working with writers of all genres.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Young Adult.

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

Chris 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

I am an expert in genre fiction, with years of experience evaluating short fiction. I want your wildest stories to find a published home.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Short Story, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Clarkesworld Magazine
  • Geekadelphia

Ellen 5 star rating

Estero, FL, USA

I am an editor with decades of experience developing books for the education market. My special interest is editing children's books.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Themes & Motifs, Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Anthologies.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Scott, Foresman and Company

Kathy 5 star rating

Tucson, AZ, USA

Editor with more than a decade of experience helping writers create and finish their best work.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Short Story, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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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.

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