The best historical fiction book developmental editing services

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Home > United States > Developmental Editors > Historical Fiction

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

Maria 5 star rating

Kansas City, MO, United States

Insightful, inspiring Developmental Editor of 25+ years specializing in Historical fiction, Self-Help, Spec fiction. Tailored-to-you edits.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Post-Apocalyptic, Philosophy, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Psychology.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Anne 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, United States

I'm a former LGBTQ+ Editor in Chief with a film background and years of success nurturing star writers and beginners. Let's tell your story!

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Historical Fiction, Inspirational, and Entertainment.

Work experience:

  • The Advocate
  • Senior Arts & Entertainment Editor
  • Well Again
  • self
  • Self-employed

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

Amanda 5 star rating

Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

Former NY publishing house editor with 30 years of experience. I help authors create books that are even better than they dreamed.

Genres: Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, LGBTQ Fiction, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • W. W. Norton & Company
  • The Ecco Press (now an imprint of HarperCollins)
  • Self-employed
  • Lynn University
  • SilkWords

Duncan 5 star rating

Raleigh, NC, USA

Developmental editor, NYT bestsellers by Grand Central, Algonquin, Hachette, contributing editor at Harper's, novelist (HarperCollins, 2027)

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Inspirational, Historical Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Algonquin Books
  • CraftBook Editorial
  • Harper's Magazine

Ann Leslie 5 star rating

New York City, NY, United States

Over 25 years' editorial experience at a Big 5 publisher and a literary agency, specializing in commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Romantic Comedy, Psychological Thriller, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Harlequin Books
  • Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

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Faith 5 star rating

Lebanon, NJ, USA

Insightful, collaborative editing from an award-winning NYC editor with over 20 years experience, formerly of Penguin Random House.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, and Historical Mysteries.

Work experience:

  • Berkley Publishing Group - Penguin Group USA
  • Avalon Books
  • Cambridge University Press
  • Severn House
  • Crooked Lane Books
  • Self-employed

MJ 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Fiction editor at top trade publisher with over 9 years of experience editing debuts and bestsellers across genres - collaborative and kind!

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Sourcebooks

Daniel 5 star rating

Santa Fe, NM, USA

I am a freelance developmental editor and manuscript assessor with more than 25 years experience in fiction and narrative nonfiction.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • AE Link Publications, Inc
  • Wordlink, Inc

Lynn 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

Developmental editor and book coach with 11+ years experience, specializing in action/adventure, literary & historical fiction, and memoir.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Nature, Travel, Literary Fiction, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

25 years in publishing, PhD-trained editor and historian helps turn your manuscript into a compelling, professional, and excellent book.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Business & Management, Literary Fiction, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Central Oregon Community College
  • Self-employed
  • Playbill
  • Penguin Putnam

Michael 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

Literary agent with 15 years of industry experience offering developmental editing, editorial assessment, and query workshopping.

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

Work experience:

  • Veritas Literary
  • Self-employed

David 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

Developmental editor of more than 300 novels since 2012, including best-selling mysteries, thrillers, and historical fiction.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Thriller & Suspense, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Rebecca 5 star rating

San Francisco, CA, USA

Fiction editor. Previously HarperCollins, David Higham Books, Amazon Studios. Offering editorial assessments, developmental edits, and more.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Literary Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Amazon Studios
  • John Cabot University and British School Group
  • David Higham Associates
  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Self-employed

Anna 5 star rating

Winston-Salem, NC, USA

An editor for nonfiction and literary fiction, I specialize in memoir, travel, historical fiction, fantasy and thrillers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Travel, Thriller & Suspense, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • John F. Blair, Publisher
  • Lookout Books
  • Self-employed
  • Barefoot Books
  • Dialogist Journal
  • Ecotone Journal
  • The Porch Writers' Collective
  • Tennessee Humanities' Tennessee Young Writers Workshop

Victory 5 star rating

Millerton, NY, USA

Former Random House editor w/ 10+ yrs experience. Fiction & memoir. Direct, kind, honest. I love helping writers create great books.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Cultural & Ethnic, LGBTQ Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • One World/Random House
  • Self-employed
  • Roots & Refuge: An Asian American Buddhist Writers Retreat
  • Little, Brown and Company

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Hire the best historical fiction developmental editors

Historical fiction relies on creativity and a grounding in historical accuracy in equal measure. Want to make sure you’ve nailed both? You’re in the right place, we recommend you hire a developmental editor — and we can help you find one.

Developmental editors are like expert historians, stepping back and analyzing each piece of your manuscript as a whole. They’ll look at the wider picture and identify problems in your structure, characterization, and pacing, prompting rewrites if they spot something awry.

Given that, you’ll want to hire a historical fiction developmental editor whose expertise and knowledge of the historical fiction genre you trust. That’s why we’ve curated the Reedsy Marketplace — a community of thoroughly vetted professionals, with years studying and working for Big 5 publishers under their belts to back up their critiques. Want to connect with them? Join us to start requesting free quotes today.

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