17+ Best Dark Fantasy Developmental Editors for Hire in the United States

Conor

San Francisco, CA, USA

A transplant from Hollywood, I love working w/ writers of all formats to take stories to the next level, particularly in speculative fiction

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, and Humor & Comedy.

Work experience:

Fox Broadcasting Company
Original Film
Eleven11 Productions
Self-employed

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Jim

Tigard, OR, United States

An editor with over twenty years of publishing experience at major houses, who has a sweet spot for genre fiction and comic books.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Comics Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Comics & Graphic Novels, Thriller & Suspense, Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Cozy Mysteries, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Kirkus Media, LLC
Hachette Book Group
Time Warner Book Group/Hachette Book Group
DC Comics

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Jeff

Montpelier, VT 05602, USA

Editor for New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, specializing in sci-fi and fantasy.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction, Space Opera, LGBTQ Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Technothriller, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Harlequin/Carina Press
Relay Publishing

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James

Fort Collins, CO, USA

Developmental editor/writing coach specializing in genre fiction and comics; trad. and self-published author; new writers welcome.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Middle Grade, Children's, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Jeppesen/Boeing

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David

Richmond, VA, USA

Editor of 500+ books (SF/F and thriller/mystery), for bestsellers including Hugh Howey (Silo), AG Riddle, Anne Frasier, Nick Cole & more.

Genres: Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction, Fiction, Technothriller, Thriller & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Contemporary Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Space Opera, and Post-Apocalyptic.

Work experience:

Self-employed
WarGate Books

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Dan

Ramona, CA, USA

30+ years' experience. I focus on developmental editing, ms assessment, and line editing in all fiction genres.

Genres: Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, and Space Opera.

Work experience:

The Brand X Method
Self-employed
Cambridge Scientific Abstracts

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Shannon

Asheville, NC, USA

Fiction editor with 18 years experience helping writers polish and revise their fiction to its fullest potential.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and Time Travel.

Work experience:

Self-employed
several companies

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Fleetwood

Seattle, WA, USA

Experienced developmental editor with expertise in science fiction and fantasy, working with publishers and independent authors.

Genres: Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Space Opera, and Steampunk.

Work experience:

Waxman Leavell Literary Agency
Self-employed
Wizards of the Coast
Random House Publishing Group

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Philip

Seattle, WA, USA

Former managing editor at Wizards of the Coast, working extensively in fantasy, SF, horror, thriller, literary, and narrative non-fiction.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, Space Opera, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

Wizards of the Coast
Self-employed

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Ann Howard

Knoxville, TN, USA

Award-winning editor (17 years). Dev. Edits & Critiques for Sci-Fi/Fantasy & Hist. Fiction. Expert in trad publishing in today's market.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Post-Apocalyptic, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
self-employed

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Brandon

Indianapolis, IN, USA

Copy and Dev Editor working primarily within the Progression Fantasy and LitRPG world, focusing on world building and interpersonal growth.

Genres: Gaming & LitRPG, Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction, Space Opera, and Steampunk.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Portal Books
Aethon Books
Schinhofen Books

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Josiah

Louisville, KY, USA

Epic Fantasy/LitRPG-focused editor with 9 years' experience and 500 novels under my belt. Do you want to grow? Let's talk.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Gaming & LitRPG, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Peter

Valley Center, CA, USA

Seasoned editor / award-winning author / college teacher / pastor. I specialize in making writing flow like water–from sentence to book.

Genres: Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Non-Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Inspirational, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

Self-employed
EA Books Publishing

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Shire

Berkeley, CA, USA

A fiction/non-fiction editor with wide-ranging interests, I specialize in refining the elements of good writing: voice, style, and grammar.

Genres: Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

Inkshares
Lost Roads Press
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
New Directions

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Courtney

Reno, NV, USA

Experienced science fiction and fantasy editor in love with the art and science of editing. I'll help you tell your story, your way.

Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Space Opera, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, and Gaming & LitRPG.

Work experience: