The best cookbook book developmental editing services

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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

Perrin 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, United States

Cookbooks are my specialty—books I have edited have won or been finalists for James Beard, IACP, and Gourmand awards.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Home & Garden, Economics, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Agate Publishing
  • Self-employed

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

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

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

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

Melanie 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Development editor, writer, and proofreader specializing in general nonfiction, cookbooks, lifestyle, wellness, crafts, and education.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Home & Garden, Education & Reference, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Health & Wellbeing, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Callisto Media
  • Macmillan Learning
  • Page Street Publishing Company

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Sam 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Professional fresh pair of eyes who has edited 15+ prescriptive non-fiction books; big fan of the semicolon.

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Sex & Relationships, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Callisto Media
  • UrbanDaddy

Pamela 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

Editing text to strengthen impact is my skill. Creating engaging cohesive culture, history, science, and food narratives are my specialties.

Genres: Architecture, Non-Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Design, Fashion & Textiles, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  • Sterling Publishing Company
  • Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc.

Loren 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Copy editor, development editor, dramaturg, and sometime writer. 20+ years in adult trade publishing, currently at Penguin Random House.

Genres: Anthologies, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Plays & Screenplays, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, Writing & Publishing, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • Self

Bailey 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Developmental editor of narrative nonfiction and literary fiction with experience at Hachette, Melville House, and SAGE.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Women's Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Jeremy 5 star rating

Lancaster, PA, USA

Editor of how-tos, eco gardening, & reference books. Proofreader of books by Penguin Random House.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Non-Fiction, Children's, Agriculture, Biographies & Memoirs, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Home & Garden, and Nature.

Work experience:

  • North Market Street Graphics
  • Fox Chapel Publishing
  • Carl Bloom Associates
  • Cider Mill Press

Mari 5 star rating

Good Thunder, MN, USA

Writer and editor with 15 years of experience in ed pub, with specializations in recipe/project books and graphic novels.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Comics Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, DIY & Crafts, Historical Fiction, Entertainment, Picture Books, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Capstone Publishing
  • Book Buddy Media

Dinah 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Former Hachette editor with 20+ years experience developing and editing bestselling nonfiction for children and adults

Genres: Entertainment, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Nature, Sports & Outdoors, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • Black Dog & Leventhal/Hachette Book Group
  • Downtown Bookworks
  • Byron Preiss Visual Publications, Inc.

Lara 5 star rating

Branford, CT, USA

25+ years experience in memoir, health, self-help/psychology, spirituality, and more. I believe books can empower people and change lives.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Parenting & Families, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Religion & Spirituality, and Sex & Relationships.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Globe Pequot Press
  • Spier New York Advertising Agency
  • St. Martin's Press
  • Golden Books Family Entertainment

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

Jenni 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I am a long time literary agent, currently at Aevitas, and a non-practicing published writer of fiction and essays, with an MFA in Fiction.

Genres: Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Aevitas
  • Union Literary

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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.

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