The best cookbook book developmental editing services

Sign up for free to meet top developmental editors on Reedsy

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

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

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

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!

Erin 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

A highly creative project editor of illustrated books—cookbooks, self-help, DIY, pop culture, lifestyle, graphic novels, and more.

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

Work experience:

  • The Quarto Group
  • One Peace Books
  • Quirk Packaging
  • Penguin Random House

Deanne 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

Professional editor with Big Five experience specializing in non-fiction, especially self-help, design, career, parenting, and cookbooks.

Genres: DIY & Crafts, Non-Fiction, Home & Garden, Inspirational, Parenting & Families, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Career Guides, and Nature.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • Chronicle Books
  • Ten Speed Press
  • RPX Corporation

Marisa 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Book coach, developmental editor, and author • 30 years in publishing • Self-help, wellness, psychology • First-time authors • BIPOC

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Parenting & Families, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Children’s Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, and Sex & Relationships.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • BabyCenter.com
  • New Harbinger Publications
  • Weldon Owen
  • Chronicle Books
  • Avalon Travel Publishing (Hatchette Book Group)
  • Seal Press (Hatchette Book Group)

📞 Chat with our team

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

Donna 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm an endlessly curious copy editor who can help make your writing—cookbooks, how-to, fantasy, sci-fi, YA—clean, correct, and compelling.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Sports & Outdoors, Literary Fiction, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Washington Square Press/Pocket Books
  • Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers
  • Bonnier Corp.

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

LGBT+ editor specializing in fiction and nonfiction. 5+ years in developmental editing, sensitivity editing, copyediting, and proofreading.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, DIY & Crafts, Entertainment, and Fashion & Textiles.

Work experience:

  • Page Street Publishing Co.
  • Ploughshares
  • Harvard Education Publishing Group

Kimberly 5 star rating

Montvale, NJ, USA

Full time editorial freelancer (and former managing editor) working as a proofreader, copyeditor, development editor, and project manager.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Sterling Publishing
  • John Wiley and Sons
  • BenBella Books

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

Erin 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

Devoted, thoughtful editor specializing in literary & experimental fiction, cookbooks, and narrative nonfiction about nature.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Nature, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • GoodTherapy.org
  • YES! magazine

Mark 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm an experienced (400+ books, many bestsellers) nonfiction editor with a real passion for sports, fitness, health, self-help, and memoir.

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

Work experience:

  • Rodale Books
  • Sports Publishing
  • Skyhorse Publishing
  • McGraw-Hill Trade
  • Lyons Press
  • Diversion Books
  • Kevin Anderson & Associates

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

Philip 5 star rating

Denver, CO, USA

The How-To Guru. If your book teaches readers how to do something, I can help — with editing, rewriting, images, and technical review.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Ultimate Electronics
  • Creative Publishing International
  • ehow.com

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

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.

Reedsy | Developmental editing — find the gem | 2024-09

Find the gem in your early draft

The best developmental editors in the industry are on Reedsy. Come meet them.