The best history book developmental editing services

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Sandra 5 star rating

Omaha, United States

Skilled nonfiction book editor and book coach in business, true crime, self-help. Get from idea to published. I love first-time authors.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Psychology, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and True Crime.

Work experience:

  • Southeast Community College
  • Self-employed
  • Metropolitan Community College

Julia 5 star rating

Berkeley, CA, United States

NYT-bestselling author, book reviewer, and editor. I've helped dozens of clients get published in small and large presses. I love what I do.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Political Science & Current Affairs, Education & Reference, Literary Fiction, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Los Angeles Times
  • El Financiero de Mexico
  • Wired News
  • The New York Times
  • Stanford University

Erik 5 star rating

Minneapolis, MN, United States

Editor with years of in-house experience. Founder of a literary agency. Writer. Host of Print Run Podcast.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Career Guides, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Nature, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Sports & Outdoors, Life Sciences, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

  • Red Sofa Literary Agency
  • Self-employed
  • The Overlook Press
  • Oxford University Press
  • Headwater Literary Management

Katie 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Nonfiction editor with an intuitive knack for storytelling & published author who has seen the industry from every possible angle

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Amazon Publishing
  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Book of the Month
  • William & Park
  • Audible
  • Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House

Andrew 5 star rating

San Diego, CA, United States

Experienced NYC editor. Expert in thrillers, mysteries, science fiction and fantasy, horror, and narrative and military nonfiction/history.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Entertainment.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Company Name Redacted. Please contact through Reedsy for editorial service.
  • Berkley Publishing Group, Donald I Fine, Inc, Dell, Avon and Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
  • Scovil Chichak Galen Literary Agency, Inc.
  • The Berkley Publishing Group

Erin L. 5 star rating

Seattle, Washington, United States

24+ awards in writing and editing • 30+ books edited • Specialties include nonfiction and poetry • Ph.D. student, lit and creative writing

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Poetry, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Nature, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Cavendish Square, Wiley, & other publishers
  • Open Books: A Poem Emporium
  • Killer Visual Strategies
  • Various magazines
  • The Kentucky Standard
  • Sarabande Books
  • Entre Ríos Books

Stephanie 5 star rating

Schwenksville, PA, United States

Editor, proofreader, reader. Wrangler of run-away trains of thought and foxhound puppies.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Education & Reference, and Parenting & Families.

Work experience:

  • Temple University Press
  • Penn State Press
  • ASTM International
  • Self-employed

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Lisa 5 star rating

Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Twenty-five years of freelance editing experience serving clients including Baker Academic, Lexham/Faithlife, Eerdmans, and Zondervan.

Genres: Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Christian Fiction, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Ben 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

Book coach and developmental editor for budding and award-winning historians, biographers, and journalists. Book proposals are my passion.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Law, Political Science & Current Affairs, and Sociology.

Work experience:

  • Watkinson Library
  • Self-employed

Carolyn 5 star rating

Ashland, Oregon, USA

Nonfiction developmental editor for 25 years, specializing in self-help, psychology, business, and history. A memoir element is fine.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Psychology, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Michael 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Experienced, empathetic, knowledgeable. MS in Publishing. A decade at major houses Penguin Random House, W. W. Norton, Simon and Schuster.

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Nature, Sports & Outdoors, Home & Garden, Inspirational, DIY & Crafts, History, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • W. W. Norton & Company
  • Pace University

Michaela 5 star rating

Alexandria, VA, USA

I edit content about science, history, nature, fun reference, and children's non-fiction with a National Geographic background.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Nature, History, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • National Geographic Partners
  • University Press of New England
  • Brill Publishers
  • Appalachian Mountain Club

Erik 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

From the minutiae of copy editing to the development of craft and style, I will help take your writing to the next level.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Short Story, Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, Literary Fiction, History, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Karen 5 star rating

Columbus, Ohio, USA

Former editor with Writer's Digest books and magazine, now of Future Perfect Editing. Bring me your fantasy novels, MG/YA fiction, and more!

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Writing & Publishing, History, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Writer's Digest
  • Etruscan Press
  • Disney Publishing

I specialize in non-fiction children's books and education/reference texts, so I know how and why we read: for learning or just plain fun!

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, Life Sciences, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Career Guides, Holiday, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • World Book, Inc.
  • Norwood House Press
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
  • Self-employed

Amy 5 star rating

Salt Lake City, UT, USA

I am an editor, literary agent, writing coach and copywriter. I've been working with authors to hone their manuscripts for 20+ years.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Picture Books, Young Adult, Women's Fiction, Business & Management, Non-Fiction, History, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Janklow & Nesbit Associates
  • Self-employed

Literary agent/editor with 10+ yrs experience, looking to help authors bring out the best in their manuscripts, proposals, query letters.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • GO Literary
  • Laura Gross Literary Agency
  • Lesley University
  • Brandeis University
  • Tauber Institute, Brandeis University

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Hire the best history developmental editors

It takes time and patience to put together the research and understanding that writing a history book requires. That’s why it’s important to invest in an editor, or a team of editors, before you send it to the press — so your hard work isn’t overshadowed by avoidable issues.

We recommend hiring a developmental editor who specializes in history books. Just like a historian analyzing old journals to piece together events of the past, a developmental editor will step back and view your book as a whole. They’ll identify problems in your structure and argument and suggest changes to polish your work.

Before you hire a history developmental editor you’ll want to trust their expertise. That’s why we’ve curated a community of the top editors in the industry. They have years working with the Big 5 under their belts, and strong portfolios developed through a passion for their work. You could work with them next — join us to connect for free.

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Step 2

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Then, browse professional profiles to find out more about their personalities and past projects.

Step 3

Request quotes

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.

Step 4

Collaborate

Once you agree on terms and a timeline, you’ll start collaborating using the many communication and editing tools available on Reedsy.