The best history book developmental editing services

Sign up for free to meet top developmental editors on Reedsy

Glenn 5 star rating

Colorado Springs, CO, United States

Experienced editor for university presses (MIT, Harvard, etc.) and scholars (Princeton, U of Toronto, etc.); published award-winning books.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Frederick News-Post
  • Capital News Service (Washington, D.C.)
  • American Journalism Review

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

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

Gail Naron 5 star rating

New Orleans, United States

Editing of academic works, reports, and dissertations, with a focus on the social sciences, Jewish studies, humanities, and law

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Law, Political Science & Current Affairs, Religion & Spirituality, Psychology, and Economics.

Work experience:

  • Aptara, Westchester Publishing Services
  • Jewish Communal Service Association

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

Elisabeth 5 star rating

Iowa City, IA, United States

Award-winning and New York Times bestselling editor of nonfiction and memoir.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Nature, Travel, Entertainment, Sex & Relationships, Sports & Outdoors, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • University of Iowa Press
  • University of Nebraska Press
  • Self-employed

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

📞 Chat with our team

Need a hand finding the perfect professional? Our team is here to help. Get in touch for recommendations.

PhD in English with over 15 years of editorial experience helping writers with both trade titles and academic monographs.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, History, Sociology, Biographies & Memoirs, Literary Fiction, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Belt Publishing

Barbara 5 star rating

Washington, DC, United States

After working as a nonfiction book editor for years at NatGeo, I know the ins and outs of publishing from ideation to final proofing.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Architecture, History, Nature, Writing & Publishing, Travel, and Sports & Outdoors.

Work experience:

  • National Geographic Society
  • Self-employed

Jaya 5 star rating

Cheshire, CT, USA

Yale University Press editor with seventeen years of experience publishing award-winning non-fiction

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Political Science & Current Affairs, Travel, Geography, Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies, Music, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • W.W. Norton & Company
  • Yale University Press

Jesse 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Editor with a decade's experience working with best-selling and award-winning authors at Farrar, Straus & Giroux and Europa Editions.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, African American Fiction, Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Art, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Fiction, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Self-employed
  • NationBuilder
  • NY Book Editors
  • Europa Editions

Paul 5 star rating

Vancouver, WA, USA

I have a PhD in philosophy and two decades' experience in editing nonfiction manuscripts for university presses and independent authors!

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Matthew 5 star rating

South Orange, NJ, USA

Seasoned non-fiction editor, experience working on trade and academic books. Historian and journalist by training, book lover by choice!

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, Writing & Publishing, True Crime, History, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Vanity Fair
  • Seton Hall University

Lisa 5 star rating

Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Over thirty 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

Stephanie 5 star rating

Bellingham, WA, USA

Thoughtful, detail-oriented editor with more than 15 years of experience in the publishing industry, specializing in nonfiction.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Calendars, Children’s Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, History, Biographies & Memoirs, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Quarto Group
  • Plural Publishing, Inc.

David 5 star rating

Harpers Ferry, WV, USA

An award-winning editor for leading publishing houses, I help authors refine manuscripts and produce their best works

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, and Travel.

Work experience:

  • HistoryNet
  • National Geographic, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, et al.
  • Lonely Planet
  • History.com, Fort Caspar Museum Association, et al.

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

Browse 2,000+ additional profiles

Create your free Reedsy account and begin requesting free quotes.

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.

How it works

Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

Step 1

Apply filters

Reedsy is home to thousands of professionals. Select the specific services you need and narrow your search based on your book’s genre and requirements.

Step 2

Browse

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.

Work with the best editors in the industry

Sign up to request quotes from editors who shape bestsellers.