The best cookbook book developmental editing services

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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

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

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

Abigail 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Nonfiction editor for 20-plus years, transforming raw concepts into polished books on lifestyle, cooking, health, how-to, and more.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Fashion & Textiles, and Photography.

Work experience:

  • (Independent)
  • Watson-Guptill Publications, an Imprint of the Crown Publishing Group
  • Brioni
  • Universe Publishing, a Division of Rizzoli International Publications

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!

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

Geoffrey 5 star rating

D.C., DC, United States

20 years experience editing nonfiction books for publishers (Thomas Nelson and Running Press). I love helping authors tell their story.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Running Press
  • Self-employed
  • Thomas Nelson Publishers

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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

Judith 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

A longtime professional editor of non-fiction, I can help you to deliver your message and make your book even better than you already are.

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

Work experience:

  • Doubleday
  • Self-employed
  • Atheneum Publishers

Mira 5 star rating

River Edge, NJ, USA

Editor for NYT bestselling cookbooks, romance, and devotionals | Specializing in polished, publishable prose—including AI-assisted drafts

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Radish Fiction
  • Avalon Books
  • John Wiley & Sons
  • Dorchester Publishing Company
  • Self-employed

Rebecca 5 star rating

Peterborough, NH, USA

Versatile editor and indexer specializing in cookbooks and other prescriptive nonfiction.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Design, DIY & Crafts, Home & Garden, Parenting & Families, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Hollan Publishing
  • Time Warner Book Group
  • Random House
  • HarperCollins Publishers

Allison 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

Seasoned editor and author coach of nonfiction books on personal development, spirituality, memoir, cookbooks, and more.

Genres: Home & Garden, Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Parenting & Families, Biographies & Memoirs, Sex & Relationships, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • PA Press
  • Wonderwell Press
  • Self-employed

Maxine 5 star rating

Austin, TX, USA

Empathetic editor specializing in children's picture books. Industry expertise beyond editorial, formerly in publicity and literary agency.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Picture Books, Children's, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Callisto Media
  • HarperOne

Molly 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

Editor and book coach specializing in memoirs and other nonfiction. I give detailed, encouraging edits and love making sentences sing!

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Edible Communities
  • Various

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

Tim 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I work in the food and drink space, with heavy crossover into self-help and fantasy. I like to think of myself as specializing in escapes.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Inspirational, Gaming & LitRPG, Fantasy, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Media Lab Books

Britny 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Britny (she/they) is a developmental editor with over 8 years of traditional publishing experience in fiction and non-fiction.

Genres: Gaming & LitRPG, Fantasy, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Entertainment, Non-Fiction, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • Running Press
  • Insight Editions

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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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