The best developmental editors for hire near Kansas City

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Maria 5 star rating

Kansas City, MO, United States

Insightful, inspiring Developmental Editor of 25+ years specializing in Historical fiction, Self-Help, Spec fiction. Tailored-to-you edits.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Post-Apocalyptic, Philosophy, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Psychology.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Jen 5 star rating

Kansas City, MO, USA

Thorough and encouraging editor of fantasy, romance, and mystery. 10+ years editing for indie authors. 3+ years at Hallmark Publishing.

Genres: Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, and Romantic Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Hallmark Publishing
  • Self-employed

Shannon 5 star rating

Kansas City, MO, USA

Book coach and editor with 10+ years of experience. My clients include award-winning authors and publishers. Fantasy, romance, thrillers.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Mid-Continent Public Library
  • Self-employed
  • Pitch Wars
  • Writers House
  • Penguin Random House

Jon 5 star rating

Kansas City, MO, USA

Professional book editor and writer with a soft spot for non-fiction. I'm also a frequent traveler and (occasional) travel writer.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Travel, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, History, Geography, and DIY & Crafts.

Work experience:

  • Freelance
  • Skyhorse Publishing

Howard 5 star rating

Traverse City, MI, USA

I specialize in editing fiction and nonfiction with Jewish themes, helping authors find their unique voices in these challenging times.

Genres: Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Writing & Publishing, Life Sciences, Math & Science, Business & Management, Judaism, Religion & Spirituality, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Alliance of Independent Authors
  • Self-employed
  • Foreword Reviews
  • Vine Leaves Press

Holly 5 star rating

Springfield, United States

Experienced fiction editor, formerly with Samhain Publishing. I specialize in romance and other genre fiction.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, New Adult, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Samhain Publishing, Ltd
  • Self-employed
  • Mundania Press
  • Lyrical Press

Peter 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

Ex-UK journalist (Fleet St, BBC Radio), living in New York. Former NYC book editor now lit agent, book coach, author of fiction+nonfiction.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Fantasy, Children's, Thriller & Suspense, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Writing & Publishing, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Business & Management.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Frances 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

I specialize in authors with complex ideas who write for the general public, polishing your words until they are uniquely irresistible.

Genres: Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Sociology, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Art, Health & Wellbeing, Sex & Relationships, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Tamson 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

I have twenty years of experience in editing, writing, and publishing for children of all ages at major publishing houses.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Disney Hyperion
  • Self-employed
  • HarperCollins Children’s Books
  • Harcourt Children’s Books

Stephen 5 star rating

Maplewood, United States

Top editor for 30+ years, novelist, sf/f story writer, poet. Specializes in NF and SF/F. I'll help you write a book you're proud of. No AI.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Sports & Outdoors, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Avon Books
  • Wiley
  • Amacom
  • Thomas Dunne Books

Melissa Ann 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

Former Senior Editor at Tor/Forge, edits award-winning & bestselling genre fiction for adult readers: sf/f, horror, mystery, thriller, etc.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Mystery & Crime, and Medical Thriller.

Work experience:

  • Tor Books
  • Berkley Publishing Group

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

Georgette 5 star rating

Carmel, IN, United States

I'm a freelance editor and proofreader who's committed to helping authors produce the best work possible for their audiences.

Genres: Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Picture Books, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Scholastic Reading Counts!

Kate 5 star rating

Baltimore, United States

Former S&S editor w/20 years of experience editing NYT bestselling & award-winning authors such as Nova Ren Suma & Kekla Magoon.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Simon & Schuster Children's Books

Mozelle 5 star rating

Grove City, PA, USA

Passionate and skilled editor of 150+ titles, specializing in Creative Non-Fiction and Fiction pieces, with a background in self-publishing.

Genres: Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Fantasy, Children's, Young Adult, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Claire 5 star rating

Kansas City, MO, USA

17+ years building USA Today/NYT/Bestselling/Award-Winning careers in sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. I'm thorough and kind, with short waits.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Romantic Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Wordfire Press
  • The Wild Rose Press
  • Entangled Publishing

Adam 5 star rating

Asheville, United States

Nonfiction book editor with 17+ years of experience in digital and print publishing. Reader advocate and prose polisher.

Genres: Humor & Comedy, Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Sports & Outdoors, Biographies & Memoirs, Business & Management, Entertainment, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Soomo Learning
  • Oxford University Press
  • HarperCollins Publishers

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Hire the best developmental editors in Kansas City, Missouri

Every manuscript has to be edited before publication. The developmental edit is the first part of this process, and the one that most drastically changes a manuscript, as it involves extensively evaluating plot development, character arcs, pacing, and story structure. From changing the order of events to rewriting entire scenes or condensing action for a faster pace, a manuscript emerges on the other side of developmental editing as a much sharper version of itself.

A developmental editor in Kansas City will be able to use their inside understanding of publishing trends and genre tropes to advise you on the specific areas that need improvement in your own project. This is a collaborative process, where you and your editor work consider solutions to problems together, and arrive at a tighter, more controlled manuscript.

Hire a developmental editor in Kansas City today to give your book its best chance of success. Reedsy has a large selection of talented and experienced editors, all individually vetted, so why not sign up and request a free quote today?

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