The best developmental editors for hire near San Diego

Sign up for free to meet top developmental editors on Reedsy

Brooke 5 star rating

San Diego, CA, USA

I have 6 years of experience editing at HarperCollins, specializing in Christian nonfiction and memoir, including multiple NYT bestsellers.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Inspirational, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins
  • Lifeway

Andrew 5 star rating

San Diego, CA, United States

Former New York trade editor of thrillers, mysteries, science fiction and fantasy, horror, and narrative and military nonfiction/history.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Entertainment.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Company Name Redacted. Please contact through Reedsy for editorial service.
  • Berkley Publishing Group, Donald I Fine, Inc, Dell, Avon and Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
  • Scovil Chichak Galen Literary Agency, Inc.
  • The Berkley Publishing Group

Jennifer 5 star rating

San Diego, CA, USA

I have 10 years of experience working in publishing in development, editorial, royalties, and literary agenting.

Genres: Literary Fiction and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency

Martin Roy 5 star rating

San Diego, CA, USA

Professional editor and national award-winning author with a wide range of experience in fiction and nonfiction publishing.

Genres: Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Action & Adventure, Historical Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Cozy Mysteries, Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Naval Health Research Center
  • San Diego Business Journal
  • San Diego Magazine
  • The Log Newspapers
  • Palm Springs Desert Sun

Carey 5 star rating

San Rafael, CA, United States

I am an editor who loves helping authors revise and refine their work so it is clear, precise, and ready for publication.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Health & Wellbeing, Travel, Sports & Outdoors, Parenting & Families, and Design.

Work experience:

  • Chronicle Books
  • Self-employed

Karrin 5 star rating

San Francisco Bay Area, CA, United States

Editorial professional for 12+ years, specializing in educational content and personal nonfiction. You write. I polish. You shine.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Weber Shandwick
  • Bedford/St. Martin's
  • AuntMinnie.com

Nicole 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

I am an editor and project manager specializing in contemporary visual and performing arts, as well as art history.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, and Photography.

Work experience:

  • Institute for Studies on Latin American Art (ISLAA)
  • Self-employed
  • Prompt

📞 Chat with our team

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

Rachel 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

A seasoned writer and award-winning editor of bestselling books and proposals that command high advances with a focus on science and health

Genres: Health & Wellbeing and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Ted Books
  • Ornish Lifestyle Medicine
  • Self-employed

Marisa 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

Marisa is a book editor specializing in women's wellness, self-improvement, and the motherhood journey.

Genres: Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Parenting & Families, Health & Wellbeing, and Sex & Relationships.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Rebecca 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

Fiction editor. Previously HarperCollins, David Higham Books, Amazon Studios. Offering editorial assessments, developmental edits, and more.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Literary Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Amazon Studios
  • John Cabot University and British School Group
  • David Higham Associates
  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Self-employed

Chris 5 star rating

San Diego, CA, USA

Hi, I'm a longtime comic-book/graphic novel editor and editorial director, with 15+ years experience in helping others build their worlds.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Comics Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Bridget 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

Passionate, collaborative editor with 20+ years experience at Chronicle Books: nonfiction, art, design, creativity, illustrated, photography

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Photography, Inspirational, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Architecture, Entertainment, Nature, and Design.

Work experience:

  • Chronicle Books

Sabine 5 star rating

San Diego, CA, USA

After more than 20 years as a newspaper writer/editor, I can make your book on food, drink, travel, and interior design come to life.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Cox Enterprises
  • McClatchy
  • Self-employed

Fran 5 star rating

New York, United States

Results driven editor, formerWriters House Bridgerton agent, edited major award winners, working from slush pile to success in publishing.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Thriller & Suspense, Historical Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Writers House
  • youbloom music festival

Shelly 5 star rating

San Jose, CA, USA

Copyeditor/developmental editor specializing in women’s fiction/historical fiction with clients from Big 5 publishing to indie authors.

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, and Historical Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Biotech and high-tech firms in Silicon Valley

Kelly 5 star rating

Phoenix, United States

I am passionate about the written word! I have 20 years of editing experience in all genres, with special attention to business and travel.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Travel, Poetry, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Immanence Journal
  • Gently Read Literature (GRL)
  • International Artist Publishing
  • Perseus Books Group
  • Self-employed

Susan 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

Writer/Editor, wrote 35+ published nonfiction books for publishers, edited 40+ nonfiction & fiction books for publishers & clients.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Health & Wellbeing, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • GRAND Magazine
  • California Woman Magazine
  • Self-employed

Browse 2,000+ additional profiles

Create your free Reedsy account and begin requesting free quotes.

Hire the best developmental editors in San Diego, California

You may be asking, what’s a developmental editor and why should I hire one? While most editors are known for correcting grammar and punctuation, these editors will work with you to fix up everything from the structure of your story to plot holes and characterization — all while keeping you positive and motivated. They may suggest re-writes or recommend which “darlings” to kill off, as William Faulkner once so famously put it.

Finding the right developmental editor is hard because it depends on trust. It’s not a teacher-student relationship, but more like a co-working situation in which you improvise and feed off each other’s chemistry and excitement for the work. At Reedsy, you can submit offers to up to 5 developmental editors at once and interview them all to be sure you’ve found the right fit. To get started, sign up for a free account today.

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.