The best historical fiction book developmental editing services

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Home > United States > Developmental Editors > Historical Fiction

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

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

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

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

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!

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

Peter 5 star rating

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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Jennifer 5 star rating

Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Children's Book Editor of Picture Books, MG and YA, including the Hunger Games! My passion is helping writers create, grow, and inspire.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Middle Grade Fantasy, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Scholastic
  • Self-employed
  • Joseph-Beth Booksellers

Elizabeth 5 star rating

Charlotte, NC, USA

Professional editor with 10+ years experience developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading both fiction and nonfiction

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Romance, Health & Wellbeing, and Historical Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • St. Martin's Press

Abby 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

After 30 years as an acquiring editor for Big 5 publishers, I now edit romance, women's fiction, suspense, memoir, and more.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Historical Romance, Romantic Fantasy, Women's Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Historical Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Entertainment.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster
  • HQN, Harlequin Books
  • Bantam Dell, PRH

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

David 5 star rating

New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Editorial Director with 14+ years of publishing experience in trade nonfiction and fiction.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction, Women's Fiction, Historical Fiction, Children's, Humor & Comedy, Mystery & Crime, Sports & Outdoors, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • FalconGuides
  • Self-employed

Lynne 5 star rating

Boston, MA, USA

Editor, novelist, family counselor. Whether it's fiction or nonfiction, I love to help writers find the emotional heart of their stories.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Parenting & Families, Mystery & Crime, Historical Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Psychology, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Grub Street Writers
  • GrubStreet Writers
  • Wheelock College

Ellen 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Literary agent with a passion for editing, a nurturing approach, and a decade of experience turning words into NYT best-selling books!

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Coming of Age.

Work experience:

  • The Gernert Company

Michael 5 star rating

Houston, TX, USA

Versatile editor of award-winning fiction and nonfiction with 20+ years' industry experience.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, Political Science & Current Affairs, Writing & Publishing, and Historical Fiction.

Lynn 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

Certified Story Coach/Developmental Editor with 12 years experience, specializing in action/adventure, lit & 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

Jennifer 5 star rating

Yucaipa, California, USA

Developmental editor with over 19 years of experience specializing in Christian fiction, nonfiction, and sweet romance. Edited at Zondervan.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction, Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Zondervan/HarperCollins

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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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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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