The best cookbook book developmental editing services

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Maya 5 star rating

Charlotte, NC, United States

From the big picture to the tiniest detail, here to help you polish your craft. I work with publishers and individual authors.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Thriller & Suspense, Dystopian, Science Fiction, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • Self-Employed

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

Bestselling editor with 10+ years experience offering high-end editorial services who aims to amplify and celebrate marginalized voices.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ Fiction, Young Adult, and Cultural & Ethnic.

Work experience:

  • Girl Friday Productions
  • Self-employed

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

Andrea 5 star rating

Birmingham, United States

Editor and food writer with over 10 years of experience creating cookbooks on a wide range of cooking subjects.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Time Inc Books

Madeline 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I've edited books and magazines for 12+ years. Clients include Newsweek, Sanrio, and Hasbro. My favorite genres? Memoir and cookbooks.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, Children’s Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Farm Progress
  • Topix Media Lab/Media Lab Books
  • License Global

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

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Anna 5 star rating

Barrington, RI, USA

Editor of critically acclaimed works of narrative nonfiction, memoir, health and wellness, and more—with 20 years of industry experience

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Agriculture, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Health & Wellbeing, and Parenting & Families.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Experiment
  • Globe Pequot Press
  • HarperCollins
  • Sobel Weber Associates

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

My name is Lauren, and I help writers and authors of all backgrounds take their work to the next level. Let's work together!

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Nature, Home & Garden, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Pineapple Press
  • SAGE Publishing
  • Fox Chapel Publishing
  • Self-employed

Andrew 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

An editorial Swiss Army knife. Nearly twenty years of trade book experience in development editing, copy editing, and proofreading.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, New Age, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Business & Management.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • Self-employed
  • Callisto Media

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

Experienced nonfiction editor and proofreader specializing in cooking/lifestyle books, including several James Beard and IACP Award winners.

Genres: Career Guides, Non-Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Home & Garden, Weddings, Business & Management, and Parenting & Families.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Trevor 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Writer/editor with past clients including Newsweek, WWE, Disney. Left-handed, right-brained, down to do any non-fiction, up for a challenge!

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Entertainment, Health & Wellbeing, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, and Sports & Outdoors.

Work experience:

  • Topix Media Lab
  • Paste Magazine

Carey 5 star rating

San Rafael, CA, United States

I am an editor who loves helping authors revise and refine their work so it is clear, precise, and ready for publication.

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

Work experience:

  • Chronicle Books
  • Self-employed

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

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

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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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