The best cookbook book developmental editing services

Sign up for free to meet top developmental editors on Reedsy

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

Ray 5 star rating

Northampton, United States

Developmental editing and copy editing for the nonfiction world: health, nutrition, fitness, tech, and entrepreneurship.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Sports & Outdoors, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Business & Management, Computers & Internet, and Technology.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Winning Edits
  • Rocket Code
  • Amazon Services (Amazon.com)
  • Smart Passive Income
  • Buy Box Experts
  • The Storied Future

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

Katie 5 star rating

New Haven, United States

I'm a versatile, seasoned editor who can edit in a variety of genres, from outdoor adventure to family-friendly topics and nature to DIY.

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

Work experience:

  • Globe Pequot Press (FalconGuides)
  • Globe Pequot
  • Taunton Press

Lisa 5 star rating

Oakland, CA, USA

Editor/indexer (20y+) of award-winning nonfiction for major, indie, academic, and nonprofit publishers (e.g., Getty, NPS, Chronicle, PRH).

Genres: Children's, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, History, Nature, Political Science & Current Affairs, and Music.

Work experience:

  • Heyday
  • Self-employed

Chris 5 star rating

Richmond, Indiana, USA

I'm an editor and proofreader who can help make your book just what you hoped it would be. I'm also a published author and fantastic uncle.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Education & Reference, Sports & Outdoors, DIY & Crafts, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, Writing & Publishing, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • DK Publishing
  • Self-employed
  • John Wiley & Sons
  • Harcourt Assessment

Katie 5 star rating

Wrightsville, PA, USA

Proofreader and copy editor that specializes in knit/crochet, quilting/sewing, lettering, pyrography, and DIY crafts.

Genres: DIY & Crafts, Non-Fiction, Home & Garden, Fashion & Textiles, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • Fox Chapel Publishing
  • Self-employed
  • Palmetto GBA

📞 Chat with our team

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

Thea 5 star rating

Austin, TX, USA

Big 5 publishing house editor specializing in fiction, mystery/thriller, cookbooks, self help, design and lifestyle.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Psychological Thriller, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Hachette Book Group
  • SKLA
  • Penguin Random House

Adaobi 5 star rating

Bronx, NY, United States

I offer services in proofreading and copyediting for all genres, developmental editing of nonfiction, and project management.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Computers & Internet, Technology, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Manuscript Coordinator
  • Self-employed
  • Hachette Book Group
  • McGraw-Hill Education
  • Apress
  • Project Lead The Way

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

Lisa 5 star rating

Berkley, MI, United States

Every sentence matters! My passion is helping your words shine, whether you're at the beginning of your project or you need a final polish.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Travel, Home & Garden, Career Guides, Fantasy, Fiction, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Katie 5 star rating

Maplewood, NJ, USA

Published novelist, magazine editor and journalist, experienced ghostwriter--and encouraging, nurturing mentor.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Parents Magazine
  • O, The Oprah Magazine

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

Carol 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

Three decades as a top US nonfiction copy/line editor on business, management, leadership, tech, and design at HarperCollins and more.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Design, Technology, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Architecture.

Salwa 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I am an executive-level editor with 20+ years of experience in narrative non-fiction specializing in how-to books.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Home & Garden, Parenting & Families, Travel, Agriculture, Health & Wellbeing, and Fashion & Textiles.

Work experience:

  • Callisto Media
  • Fodor's Travel

Jo Ann 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Copy editor, proofreader, recipe editor, and managing editor with more than 30 years of experience in magazines, books, and digital content.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, DIY & Crafts, and Home & Garden.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Modern Farmer Media
  • Hearst Magazines
  • Hearst Specials
  • Cosmopolitan Magazine
  • Good Housekeeping Magazine

Nancy 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

Specializing in memoir, cookbooks, and female-led fiction, I am a developmental editor and coach of 25 years working with authors.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, DIY & Crafts, and Home & Garden.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Compendium
  • Becker & Mayer
  • University of Washington Press
  • Sasquatch Books
  • Becker & Mayer / SmartLab Toys

Browse 2,000+ additional profiles

Create your free Reedsy account and begin requesting free quotes.

Hire the best cookbook developmental editors

Just finishing up your cookbook and wondering about hiring a developmental editor? By now, you’ll have probably spent a long time perfecting recipes — so you’ll know the importance of ensuring every ingredient is combined in the right order, at the right speed, and in the right amount. It’s just the same with books but, like with a recipe you’ve loved since childhood, it’s hard to be objective about big picture issues when you’ve spent time with it.

A cookbook developmental editor is like your supportive sous-chef and your biggest critic all in one, analyzing the wider picture and suggesting fixes for your structure, layout, and your recipe introductions.

That said, you’ll need an expert with a strong portfolio to back up their criticisms: here at Reedsy, we only accept the top 3% of professionals, so you can trust your editor’s skills. Sign up for free to connect 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.