The best fantasy book developmental editing services

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Stephen 5 star rating

Maplewood, United States

Top editor for 30+ years, novelist, sf/f story writer, poet. Specializes in NF and SF/F. I'll help you write a book you're proud of. No AI.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Sports & Outdoors, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Avon Books
  • Wiley
  • Amacom
  • Thomas Dunne Books

Jim 5 star rating

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, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

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

Jenn 5 star rating

Leawood, KS, United States

I am an award-winning author and editor of books for children and young adults. I specialize in humor, fantasy, and scifi.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Picture Books, Children's, Action & Adventure, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Tracy 5 star rating

Baltimore, MD, United States

Passionate about helping writers realize their visions. I love picture books (especially rhyme!), young adult, fantasy, memoir, and more.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Agent Carrie Pestritto (formerly of Prospect Agency, now with LDLA)
  • Marketing Agency
  • University of Baltimore
  • SCBWI MD/DE/WV
  • Self-employed

Parisa 5 star rating

Brooklyn, NY, United States

Former Simon and Schuster editor with 15+ years of experience, specializing in all fiction genres. I’d love to help get your MS in shape!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self Employed
  • Simon & Schuster

Jim 5 star rating

Perry Hall, MD, United States

Crafting a work of fiction is a gloriously arduous process. With over twenty years of experience at one of the big NYC houses, I can help.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Middle Grade Fantasy, Coming of Age, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Random House

Holly 5 star rating

Springfield, United States

Experienced fiction editor, formerly with Samhain Publishing. I specialize in romance and other genre fiction.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, New Adult, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Samhain Publishing, Ltd
  • Self-employed
  • Mundania Press
  • Lyrical Press

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Fran 5 star rating

New York, United States

Results driven editor, formerWriters House Bridgerton agent, edited major award winners, working from slush pile to success in publishing.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Thriller & Suspense, Historical Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Writers House
  • youbloom music festival

Sean 5 star rating

Denton, TX, United States

Editor of bestselling, award-winning middle grade, YA, and adult books, specializing in fantasy and sci-fi. Let's make your book stand out!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Romantic Fantasy, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Andrea Hurst and Associates, LLC
  • Andrea Hurst and Associates
  • Self-employed
  • Relay Publishing, LLC
  • The Editorial Department

Kathy 5 star rating

Baltimore, MD, USA

I work on picture books, children’s nonfiction, and middle grade/young adult fiction. I love helping authors find their story!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Fantasy, Young Adult, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Howard Community College
  • SCBWI MD/DE/WV
  • Self-employed

Robin 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

A New York-based developmental editor, proofreader, and writing coach with over twenty years of experience in fiction for all ages!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins

David 5 star rating

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

Jessica 5 star rating

Sacramento, CA, USA

Experienced editor working with top publishers and bestsellers, including HTTYD and R.L. Stine. Let's make your manuscript even better!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Young Adult, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, and Contemporary Romance.

Work experience:

  • Insight Editions
  • Working Partners Ltd
  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Folio Literary Management
  • Upstart Crow Literary
  • Self-employed

Marla 5 star rating

Portland, OR, USA

Comic book and fiction editor with almost ten years in the comic industry, specializing in horror and action stories.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Action & Adventure, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fantasy, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Mad Cave Studios
  • TKO Studios
  • Image Comics

Shannon 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

Experienced, encouraging developmental + copy editor to help you get one step closer to publishing. I love romance, fantasy, and mystery!

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy, and Romantic Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Various

Rozi 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Too many words? Not enough? A subplot that wandered off like a Roomba? I refine structure & polish prose—esp. fantasy/romantasy. | PRH alum

Genres: Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Time Inc.
  • Penguin Random House
  • The Developmental
  • EFA

Nick 5 star rating

Roselle Park, NJ, USA

Freelance developmental editor, copy editor, and proofreader with expertise in children's and young adult literature.

Genres: Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Picture Books, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, and Computers & Internet.

Work experience:

  • Atticus Books
  • Boss Fight Books
  • Bloomsbury Publishing USA
  • Bloomsbury USA

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Hire the best fantasy developmental editors

There are a lot of moving parts for authors to juggle in the fantasy genre. It’s a genre that requires rich and original imagination, and requires its writers to think carefully about setting, characterization, and wielding the two in parallel to craft an intriguing and satisfying narrative arc.

From identifying redundant scenes to spotting crucial transitions currently lacking, a fantasy developmental editor can help you deal your story’s big picture. Is the plot’s resolution plausible and persuasive? Have you left any loose threads? Does the beginning hook the reader in enough?

Hiring one of our fantasy developmental editors can help you answer all of these questions. The professionals on our marketplace have been carefully vetted, and have extensive experience working with Big 5 publishers and bestselling authors. Sign up to Reedsy today to browse their profiles and talk to them about your project.

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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.

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