The best developmental editors for hire near Chicago

Sign up for free to meet top developmental editors on Reedsy

Perrin 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, United States

Cookbooks are my specialty—books I have edited have won or been finalists for James Beard, IACP, and Gourmand awards.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Home & Garden, Economics, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Agate Publishing
  • Self-employed

Developmental Editor with 15+ years of experience from every side of publishing and the marketplace knowledge to make your book shine.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Comedy, Time Travel Romance, and Paranormal Romance.

Work experience:

  • Sourcebooks, Inc.
  • Self-employed
  • Fresh Fiction
  • Anderson's Bookshop

Connor 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Hello! I'm Connor, an editor with 10+ years of editing experience, including award-winning nonfiction titles. Let’s make your book excel!

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

Work experience:

  • Moody Publishers

Madison 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Honest, constructive, and compassionate feedback from a full-time editor and published author. I edit kid lit, from picture books to YA.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Albert Whitman & Company
  • Albert Whitman & Compaby
  • C&T Publishing

MJ 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Fiction editor at top trade publisher with over 9 years of experience editing debuts and bestsellers across genres - collaborative and kind!

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Sourcebooks

Avner 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Professional editor, ghostwriter, and author of literary fiction and non-fiction who can help get you and your book across the finish line.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Contemporary Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, and Humor & Comedy.

Work experience:

  • Texas-based Publishing Services Company
  • Self-employed

Mohamad 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Ph.D level expertise with over 12 years of developmental, editing, and proofreading consulting experience.

Genres: Philosophy, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies, Political Science & Current Affairs, Law, Writing & Publishing, Biographies & Memoirs, Christian Non-Fiction, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Florida Gulf Coast University
  • International Network for Hate Studies

📞 Chat with our team

Need a hand finding the perfect professional? Our team is here to help. Get in touch for recommendations.

Lillian 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Experienced full-service editor specializing in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and romance. Let's take your book to the next level!

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Romance, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Post-Apocalyptic, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Internet Brands

Don 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

I do developmental editing in social science and the humanities. From first drafts through to publication, I like helping scholars succeed.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, and Political Science & Current Affairs.

Work experience:

  • CEMSE, University of Chicago
  • University of Chicago Press
  • Self

Susan 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Trad and indie fiction editor of SF/F, horror, and romance. Lover of all things nerdy, steamy, and everything in between.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Epic Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Andrea 5 star rating

Birmingham, United States

Editor and food writer with over 10 years of experience creating cookbooks on a wide range of cooking subjects.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Time Inc Books

Editor with 21+ years of experience in biography, memoir, history, and fiction for adults and children at various publishing companies.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, True Crime, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Children’s Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Historical Mysteries, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Heinemann-Raintree
  • Quarasan
  • McGraw-Hill
  • Publications International, Ltd.
  • Capstone Publishers
  • Self-employed

Ray 5 star rating

Northampton, United States

Developmental editing and copy editing for the nonfiction world: health, nutrition, fitness, tech, and entrepreneurship.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Sports & Outdoors, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Business & Management, Computers & Internet, and Technology.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Winning Edits
  • Rocket Code
  • Amazon Services (Amazon.com)
  • Smart Passive Income
  • Buy Box Experts
  • The Storied Future

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

Beth 5 star rating

Maineville, United States

Seasoned editor and proofreader with more than 20 years of experience in multiple genres. I have worked with several best-selling authors!

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, LGBTQ Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Science Fiction, and Dystopian.

Work experience:

  • Self-Employed

Sandra 5 star rating

Omaha, United States

Skilled nonfiction book editor and book coach in business, true crime, self-help. Get from idea to published. I love first-time authors.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Psychology, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and True Crime.

Work experience:

  • Southeast Community College
  • Self-employed
  • Metropolitan Community College

Elayne 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Fantasy author, former Tor Books editor, and speculative fiction specialist with 10+ years' experience editing SFF across age categories.

Genres: Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Tor Teen, Macmillan Publishers
  • Tor Books, Macmillan Publishers
  • Alyssa Matesic Editing

Browse 2,000+ additional profiles

Create your free Reedsy account and begin requesting free quotes.

Hire the best developmental editors in Chicago, Illinois

The unsung sibling of the trio of edits, a developmental edit might actually be the most important type of editing that you need. Whereas a copy edit and a proofread only examines your book on a sentence level, a developmental edit focuses on the addressing "big picture" problems in your manuscript first — such as pacing, weak character development, and the strength of your themes. In short, they improve the parts of your book that could make the difference between an average book and a future bestseller.

If a developmental editor is what you're seeking, we've got you covered. Here at Reedsy, we've got the top developmental editors in the business. They've worked with such authors as George R.R. Martin, Stephen King, and Joyce Carol Oates to create their bestselling works — and now they're ready to work with you. Simply sign up to Reedsy to meet the best developmental editors in Chicago for you.

How it works

Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

Step 1

Apply filters

Reedsy is home to thousands of professionals. Select the specific services you need and narrow your search based on your book’s genre and requirements.

Step 2

Browse

Then, browse professional profiles to find out more about their personalities and past projects.

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.