The best developmental editors for hire near Washington

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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

Laura 5 star rating

Washington, DC, USA

Former St. Martin's Press Editor. Developmental and Line Editor. Proofreader. Chocoholic.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Cultural & Ethnic, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • St. Martin's Press
  • 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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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

Erin 5 star rating

Vancouver, Washington, USA

Experienced editor & book coach for memoir, self-help, alternative spirituality, holistic wellness & education authors. NO AI.

Genres: Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, New Age, Health & Wellbeing, Education & Reference, Biographies & Memoirs, Parenting & Families, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Rachel 5 star rating

New York, United States

Literary agent turned editor of fiction & select memoir where narratives and protagonists have distinct, identifiable voices.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Humor & Comedy, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
  • Self-employed

Nell 5 star rating

Jacksonville, FL, United States

From bestselling business titles and cookbooks to academic manuscripts, I've helped authors polish their prose for more than 15 years.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • Callisto Media
  • The American University in Cairo Press
  • Millionacres and The Motley Fool
  • Bankrate

Sean 5 star rating

Denton, TX, United States

Editor of bestselling, award-winning middle grade, YA, and adult books, specializing in fantasy and sci-fi. Let's make your book stand out!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Romantic Fantasy, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Andrea Hurst and Associates, LLC
  • Andrea Hurst and Associates
  • Self-employed
  • Relay Publishing, LLC
  • The Editorial Department

Lindsey 5 star rating

New York, United States

Experienced editor from a Big Five publisher specializing in mystery, suspense, and thrillers.

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

Work experience:

  • Grand Central Publishing
  • Crooked Lane 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

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

Erin 5 star rating

Los Angeles, United States

Experienced writer, editor and agent with an MFA in Creative Writing. I have edited NYT bestsellers, including The Maze Runner. 15+ years

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • The Industry
  • tNY Press
  • Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC
  • Self-employed

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