The best developmental editors for hire near Philadelphia

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Chris 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

19+ yrs experience in nonfiction substantive book editing. Topics include leadership, sustainability, health and wellness, and more!

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Economics, Humanities & Social Sciences, Psychology, Finance & Accounting, Math & Science, Technology, and Sociology.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Soundview Executive Book Summaries
  • SMG France
  • Ideas for Leaders, Ltd.

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

Jesse 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Prose stylist and rhetorician bridging the gap between "that book was...interesting" and "that was a good read."

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Sociology, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • aha! Process, Inc.
  • Northern Illinois University

Mark 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

I'm a professional editor, writer, and poet. Assisting others with their writing and creative endeavors is extremely meaningful to me.

Genres: Poetry and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Schuylkill Valley Journal
  • Cleaver Magazine

Christine 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Copy editor and proofreader for books on fitness and health, from training to memoir. I want to help your book be the best it can be.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Sports & Outdoors.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society

Eric 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Traditionally published middle grade author with experience in editing, mentoring, teaching, coaching, and brainstorming.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Highlights Foundation

Shannon 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Book editor with 30 years' experience transforming important ideas and stories into award-winning, bestselling books

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

Work experience:

  • Wharton School Press
  • Self-employed

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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.

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

Christopher 5 star rating

Gallatin, United States

Accomplished editor specializing in general and Christian non-fiction. Editor of 60 published books. Here to help you tell your story!

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Political Science & Current Affairs, Philosophy, Education & Reference, Inspirational, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • B&H Academic
  • Moody Publishers
  • Lexham Press and Kirkdale Press
  • Self-employed

Ann 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Former NYTimes bestselling Penguin Random House Senior Editor specializing in Memoir, Self-Help, and Health/Lifestyle.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Travel.

Work experience:

  • The Doubleday Publishing Group/Penguin Random House LLC
  • Broadway Books/Random House, Inc.
  • Self-Employed

Jessica 5 star rating

Jacksonville, United States

Award-winning freelance editor Jessica provides practical, marketable revision advice to clients on all six habitable continents.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Historical Fiction, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Women's Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Writers House
  • St. Martin's Press
  • Fox Literary LLC
  • Self-employed

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

Matt 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

A meticulous, versatile editor with expertise distilling complex, transformative ideas from a range of subjects into engrossing narratives.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Philosophy, Political Science & Current Affairs, Sports & Outdoors, Health & Wellbeing, Life Sciences, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

  • Viking Penguin
  • Penguin Books

Lisa 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Developmental editor of narrative nonfiction (and book proposals) with 35+ years' experience at major trade publishers in NYC.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Political Science & Current Affairs, Psychology, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • PublicAffairs
  • Self-employed
  • Carol Publishing Group
  • Viking Penguin
  • Random House
  • University of Texas
  • The Writers Studio

Brittany 5 star rating

Rye, United States

Experienced cookbook editor and proofreader with a background in nonfiction publishing.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Nature, and Education & Reference.

Work experience:

  • Cider Mill Press Book Publishers
  • Book Passage Bookstore
  • Saint Mary's College of California
  • MARY: A Journal of New Writing
  • The Music Hall

Joanna 5 star rating

Oak Park, IL, United States

Seasoned publishing industry professional with agency experience and a keen eye for detail who embraces all aspects of the editorial process

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Thriller & Suspense, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Browne & Miller Literary Associates
  • The Parlor
  • Literary Agency

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Hire the best developmental editors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Once you’re done with your manuscript, you’ll probably be looking for ways to fine-tune it. You want a partner who will help you strengthen your book’s structure and content — and that is why you need to hire a developmental editor.

A developmental editor will look through your manuscript and identify its greatest strengths and weaknesses. They will then create a blueprint on how to fix up your manuscript, starting from the ground up. This may include ideas on how to improve your plot, characters, conflict, and more. Basically, a developmental editor knows how to make your book reader-worthy, and will ensure that your book flows well from beginning to end.

This is a highly specialized skill, as these professionals will give you specific, detailed instruction on how to enhance your work. Therefore, you will need to hire only the most skilled developmental editors. Luckily, we have the best developmental editors in Philadelphia at your fingertips at Reedsy. Sign up today and be on your way to creating a masterpiece.

How it works

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Step 2

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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.