The best children's book developmental editing services

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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

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

Julia 5 star rating

Charleston, SC, United States

Line and copy editor, with content capabilities. I have the most experience in nonfiction, but my favorite edits are middle grade and YA.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • The History Press
  • Newgen KnowledgeWorks
  • Amnet

Erik 5 star rating

Minneapolis, MN, United States

Editor with years of in-house experience. Founder of a literary agency. Writer. Host of Print Run Podcast.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Career Guides, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Nature, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Sports & Outdoors, Life Sciences, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

  • Red Sofa Literary Agency
  • Self-employed
  • The Overlook Press
  • Oxford University Press
  • Headwater Literary Management

Georgette 5 star rating

Carmel, IN, United States

I'm a freelance editor and proofreader who's committed to helping authors produce the best work possible for their audiences.

Genres: Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Picture Books, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Scholastic Reading Counts!

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

Laura 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Expert developmental and line editor, ghostwriter, and consultant collaborates on all aspects of nonfiction and fiction for adults and kids.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Poetry, Inspirational, Women's Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Jill Grinberg Literary Management
  • Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
  • Pocket Books
  • Simon & Schuster
  • Penguin USA
  • Theater Communications Group

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Kate 5 star rating

Baltimore, United States

Former S&S editor w/20 years of experience editing NYT bestselling & award-winning authors such as Nova Ren Suma & Kekla Magoon.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Children's, Women's Fiction, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Simon & Schuster Children's Books

Adina 5 star rating

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Mining Your Message for Gold: Developmental and Line Editing for Memoir and Fiction

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Judaism, Religion & Spirituality, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Inspirational, Biographies & Memoirs, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Baltimore Review

Monica 5 star rating

Montclair, NJ, USA

Big-picture, market-aware editorial guidance and publishing advice from a literary agent with 15+ years experience.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Comics Non-Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, Contemporary Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Cultural & Ethnic, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Montclair State University

Ann Howard 5 star rating

Knoxville, TN, USA

Award-winning editor (17 years). Dev. Edits & Critiques for Sci-Fi/Fantasy & Hist. Fiction. Expert in trad publishing in today's market.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Post-Apocalyptic, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • self-employed

Jessica 5 star rating

Pacifica, CA, USA

Award-winning author of 9 books. 22 years of experience as publisher, editor, and publicist. I edit books across all genres and ages.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Children's, Mystery & Crime, Women's Fiction, Literary Fiction, and Coming of Age.

Work experience:

  • Cinco Puntos Press
  • Self-employed
  • Skyline College
  • University of Texas at El Paso

Laura 5 star rating

Denver, CO, USA

Editor and published author (Penguin Random House, Simon and Schuster) with over a decade of experience. Expert in novel and query edits.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Romance, Middle Grade, Children's, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Workman, Sourcebooks

Jenn 5 star rating

Leawood, KS, United States

I am an award-winning author and editor of books for children and young adults. I specialize in humor, fantasy, and scifi.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Picture Books, Children's, Action & Adventure, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Specializing in nonfiction books for both children and adults, I am a friendly and easygoing editor excited to work with you!

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Parenting & Families, Writing & Publishing, Children’s Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Ballard & Tighe, Publishers
  • Entrepreneur Press

Lauren 5 star rating

Houston, TX, USA

10+ years of editorial experience in graphic novels & prose. Formerly at Valiant Entertainment, Mad Cave Studios, & more. MS in publishing.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Humor & Comedy, Romance, Entertainment, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Sunday Riley
  • Valiant Entertainment
  • Mad Cave Studios
  • Self-employed
  • Rehab Media Network
  • Screenrant

Ann 5 star rating

Duluth, MN, USA

Book editor and award-winning writer who works on fiction and nonfiction, with special expertise on books in translation.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Middle Grade, Children's, and Business & Management.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Hire the best children's book developmental editors

Congratulations! You’ve finished writing your children’s book, and wrapped it up by typing “THE END”! Now the real challenge starts: editing everything that you’ve written.

The editing process always begins with the developmental edit, which is a thorough review of your story’s “big picture,” from its structure to its characters to its pace. This is arguably the most important stage of editing — which is why you may want to consider hiring a children’s book developmental editor. These developmental editors have the experience and knowledge to make sure that your story is structurally sound and wonderfully readable by the time it hits the shelves.

Looking for the best children’s book developmental editors? You’re in the right place. Simply sign up for a free account on Reedsy today, and start browsing the portfolios of hundreds of developmental editors for children’s books around the world in a matter of seconds.

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.