The best historical fiction book developmental editing services

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Aja 5 star rating

Austin, United States

Making sure your prose sings, your facts and story are straight, and your unique voice shines through.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Music, Entertainment, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Simon & Schuster
  • on my porch, at a coffee shop, in far-flung places . . .

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

Laurie 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Editor of National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize finalists and bestselling authors at Penguin, HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster, Macmillan.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Children's, Romance, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • St. Martin’s Press a division of Macmillan, USA
  • Hyperion, a division of ABC/Disney
  • HarperCollins, a division of Newscorp
  • Dutton, a division of Penguin Group USA, Pearson
  • Simon & Schuster, a division of CBS
  • Hyperion, a division of the Walt Disney Comapny
  • Rizzoli Books

Jodi 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, United States

I have an MFA and a lot of energy. I work in memoir, fiction, & humor. You'll have fun & learn craft as we go. No AI "writing," please.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Humor & Comedy, and Women's 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

Julie 5 star rating

New York, United States

I'm an editor with nearly two decades of experience in publishing, most recently at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

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

Work experience:

  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Rachel 5 star rating

New York, United States

Literary agent turned editor of fiction & select memoir where narratives and protagonists have distinct, identifiable voices.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Humor & Comedy, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
  • Self-employed

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Cindy 5 star rating

Slippery Rock, PA, United States

I help make dreams come true – developing a plan after your first draft or polishing with personal care. Lower-cost options available.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Cultural & Ethnic, Anthologies, Christian Non-Fiction, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Writing Assessment Services
  • Grove City College
  • Veritas Academy Online
  • Florida State University, Auburn University, Tallahassee Community College, Los Positas College

JODI 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

Former acquisitions editor specializing in book club fiction, historical fiction, romance, mysteries, and thrillers.

Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery & Crime, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Lake Union Publishing
  • Chronicle Books

Lindsay 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Collaborative and supportive dev. editor with numerous bestsellers in women's fiction & romance at Amazon, Guideposts, and Penguin.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Freelance
  • Amazon
  • Guideposts Books
  • Penguin

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, Young Adult, Dystopian, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

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

Samantha 5 star rating

White Plains, NY, USA

Literary Agent at Thompson Literary with more than a decade of industry experience. I love finding creative solutions to elevate a story!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Thompson Literary Agency
  • Writers House LLC
  • Writers House LLC.

Kate 5 star rating

Danvers, MA, USA

Editor, Manuscript Midwife and Book Therapist works with thought leaders who write to inspire on business, humanities, and self-help topics.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Humanities & Social Sciences, Inspirational, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, and Historical Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Endicott College Tutoring & Writing Center
  • Emerson College
  • Cutter Information Corp.
  • Cambridge Corporation
  • The Donoghue Organization

Sarah 5 star rating

Bainbridge Island, WA, USA

Efficient, thorough, and highly experienced editor with freelance and in-house background in educational publishing.

Genres: Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Career Guides, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Proof Positive/Farrowlyne Associates

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

Erin 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Experienced nonfiction and fiction editor with professional background in publishing

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Writers House Literary Agency
  • Foundry Literary and Media

Jackie 5 star rating

Birmingham, MI, USA

Bringing a history PhD's rigor & an expert editor's eye to women-centered hist fic, fantasy & romance. Let's make your unique story shine!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance, Time Travel Romance, and Contemporary Romance.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Pearson Education
  • various (Emory University, Pitt Community College, Bunker Hill Community College, Park University)

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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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