The best developmental editors for hire near Washington

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Erin L. 5 star rating

Seattle, Washington, United States

24+ awards in writing and editing • 30+ books edited • Specialties include nonfiction and poetry • Ph.D. student, lit and creative writing

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Poetry, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Nature, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Cavendish Square, Wiley, & other publishers
  • Open Books: A Poem Emporium
  • Killer Visual Strategies
  • Various magazines
  • The Kentucky Standard
  • Sarabande Books
  • Entre Ríos Books

Holly 5 star rating

Washington D.C., DC, USA

I help people make great ideas into exciting products. Editor with 10+ years of non-fiction editing and project-managing at Macmillan.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, ELT, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Biographies & Memoirs, Children’s Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Picture Books, Children's, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Macmillan Education

Harrison 5 star rating

Washington D.C., DC, USA

The world's most thorough content editor. Expert in fiction and memoir. More than 80 books and 60 authors guided toward publication.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Humor & Comedy, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Short Story, Middle Grade, Children's, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Freelance Editorial Boutique
  • Really Good Editing
  • Bancroft Press

Marah 5 star rating

Washington, DC, United States

Incisive editor and collaborative, results-oriented project manager of health, food, and lifestyle books

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Simon & Schuster Trade Paperbacks
  • Scribner

Emily 5 star rating

Washington D.C., DC, USA

Experienced editor of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, historical romance, women's fiction. 18 years at HarperCollins / Harlequin.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery & Crime, Literary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Christian Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Harlequin Books

Kathryn 5 star rating

Washington D.C., DC, USA

I'm an experienced editor specializing in children's nonfiction, from picture books to super-stuffed fact books and everything in between.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Nature.

Work experience:

  • National Geographic Children's Books
  • National Geographic Kids
  • Self-employed

Julie 5 star rating

Washington D.C., DC, USA

Former senior editor at Little, Brown with 19+ years' experience editing acclaimed and bestselling books for children and young adults

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Picture Books, New Adult, Young Adult, Social & Family Issues, and Young Adult Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers

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Maxwell P. 5 star rating

Washington D.C., DC, USA

Nonfiction lit agent spanning food, science, history, memoir, social issues, and more. Former Oxford UP editor. 3x James Beard Award winner.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Technology, Travel, True Crime, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, History, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Oxford University Press

Barbara 5 star rating

Washington, DC, United States

After working as a nonfiction book editor for years at NatGeo, I know the ins and outs of publishing from ideation to final proofing.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Architecture, History, Nature, Writing & Publishing, Travel, and Sports & Outdoors.

Work experience:

  • National Geographic Society
  • Self-employed

Marissa 5 star rating

Washington D.C., DC, USA

Children’s book editor who will guide you in crafting the story you want to tell with a tailor-made revision plan. 11+ years experience.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction, Coming of Age, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Editorial
  • Greenhouse Literary Agency
  • Self-employed

Kevin 5 star rating

Olympia, Washington, USA

Pacific Northwest editor. Fan of literary fiction, CNF deep dives, and crime thrillers. Eager to work in service of your manuscript!

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Thriller & Suspense, Short Story, and Sports & Outdoors.

Work experience:

  • Latah Books
  • Willow Springs Books
  • Dev Spotlight
  • New England Review
  • Eastern Washington University Writers' Center

Eliza 5 star rating

Maplewood, NJ, United States

I'm a detail-oriented editor, specializing in children's nonfiction, with 10 years of experience at publishing houses and literary agencies

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Education & Reference.

Work experience:

  • Diversion Books
  • Self-employed
  • Leigh Feldman Literary
  • The Bent Agency
  • Callisto Media
  • Rebel Girls

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

Erin 5 star rating

Vancouver, Washington, USA

Experienced editor of memoir, self-help, alternative spirituality & holistic wellness. Book coach for soul-centered entrepreneurs. NO AI.

Genres: Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, New Age, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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

Glenn 5 star rating

Colorado Springs, CO, United States

Experienced editor for university presses (MIT, Harvard, etc.) and scholars (Princeton, U of Toronto, etc.); published award-winning books.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Economics, Humanities & Social Sciences, Biographies & Memoirs, Political Science & Current Affairs, Sociology, History, Law, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Frederick News-Post
  • Capital News Service (Washington, D.C.)
  • American Journalism Review

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

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