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

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

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, Romantic Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Hallmark Publishing
  • Self-employed

Lisha 5 star rating

Kansas City, MO, USA

I am a fiction, nonfiction, and technical editor and proofreader. I am also a traditionally published author of children's books.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Olsson
  • Self-employed

Elisabeth 5 star rating

Iowa City, IA, United States

Award-winning and New York Times bestselling editor of nonfiction and memoir.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Nature, Travel, Entertainment, Sex & Relationships, Sports & Outdoors, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • University of Iowa Press
  • University of Nebraska Press
  • Self-employed

Ann Leslie 5 star rating

New York City, NY, United States

Over 25 years' editorial experience at a Big 5 publisher and a literary agency, specializing in commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction.

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

Work experience:

  • Harlequin Books
  • Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

Jennifer 5 star rating

Kansas City, MO, USA

Join 400+ happy authors! A memoir and body/mind/spirit book coach, editor, and publishing guide serving bestsellers and indie authors alike.

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, New Age, Religion & Spirituality, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Sex & Relationships, Biographies & Memoirs, and Business & Management.

Work experience:

  • New Harbinger Publications
  • Sounds True
  • Amacom Books
  • Dupree/Miller and Associates

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Bev 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

NYT bestselling developmental editor specializing in platform driven narrative nonfiction, business, leadership, memoir, self help.

Genres: Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Business & Management, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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

Meticulous copy and developmental editor of nonfiction, equipped with diverse industry experience and a masters in Publishing.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Trace 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

Editor specializing in spirituality, religion, and self-help with 25 years of experience at Penguin Random House and Paulist Press.

Genres: Inspirational, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Religion & Spirituality, Biographies & Memoirs, Health & Wellbeing, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Paulist Press
  • Penguin Random House

RuthAnne 5 star rating

Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Editor specializing in romance and YA, with additional copyediting and proofreading experience. Published author with Sky Pony Press.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Coming of Age, Young Adult, and Romantic Comedy.

Work experience:

  • Deseret Book/Shadow Mountain Publishing
  • University of Utah
  • Blue Ocean Brain
  • Salt Lake City Weekly
  • Policy Institute for Children
  • Pitch Wars

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

Adam 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

Experienced acquisitions & developmental editor of children's literature, picture books through middle grade. Writing instructor.

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

Work experience:

  • Cardinal Rule Press
  • The Little Press
  • Self-employed
  • 826NYC
  • Housing Works Bookstore Cafe

Robert 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

Editor and publishing consultant based in NYC. Owned and operated a literary agency and an Indie publisher. Hardwired for storytelling.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Action & Adventure, Medical Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Young Adult, Mystery & Crime, Biographies & Memoirs, and Business & Management.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Astor + Blue Editions
  • Robert A. and Associates Literary

Sam 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

Former literary agent specializing in genre fiction - especially fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Here to help you find your voice!

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Space Opera, Science Fiction, and Time Travel.

Work experience:

  • Various Literary Agencies

Shoshana 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

10 years experience copy editing and proofreading SF/F for major publishers and copy editing and indexing nonfiction in the humanities

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Entertainment, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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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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