The best history book developmental editing services

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Emily 5 star rating

New York, United States

Bestselling nonfiction book editor. Formerly at Penguin Random House, Macmillan, and Callisto Media.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, True Crime, Political Science & Current Affairs, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, and Sports & Outdoors.

Work experience:

  • Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, Macmillan
  • Portfolio/Sentinel/Current, Penguin Random House

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Brooke 5 star rating

Denver, United States

Experienced (9 years in-house, 20 years freelance), nonfiction editor specializing in assessments, development editing, and copy editing.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Music, Entertainment, Parenting & Families, Biographies & Memoirs, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Chicago Review Press
  • Perseus Books Group (now Hachette)
  • Westview Press in the Perseus Books Group (now Hachette)
  • Self-employed

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

Andrew 5 star rating

San Diego, CA, United States

Former New York trade editor of 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

Michael 5 star rating

Portland, OR, USA

History professor who loves to engage with good ideas.

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

Work experience:

  • Pacific Northwest College of Art
  • The European Physical Journal
  • Cambridge University
  • King's Review Magazine

Molly 5 star rating

Columbus, OH, USA

I am an arts and humanities editor with over seventeen years of experience helping clients bring their texts to life!

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Music, Art, Law, Political Science & Current Affairs, Writing & Publishing, and ELT.

Work experience:

  • The Ohio State University
  • Self-employed
  • Wexner Center for the Arts

Karen 5 star rating

Akron, 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
  • Penn State Harrisburg Russell E. Horn Sr. Learning Center
  • Miami University Howe Writing Center
  • Cincinnati Opera

Holly 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

I specialize in history and topics in the humanities. I have a PhD in History. Worked at Wiley and Enslow Publishers, Inc.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Education & Reference, Historical Fiction, Fiction, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Chestnut Hill College
  • University of Delaware
  • Susquehanna University

Hunter 5 star rating

New Orleans, LA, USA

Graduate-trained editor in religion, philosophy, history, politics—rigorous editing that sharpens your argument and preserves your voice.

Genres: Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Philosophy, and Political Science & Current Affairs.

Work experience:

  • First Things
  • Sophia Institute Press
  • Liturgical Press
  • St. Augustine's Press
  • American Philosophical Association
  • Classical Academic Press
  • Self-employed

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

Darryl 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Experienced editor with an excellent editorial eye for plot, pacing, dialogue, and character development.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, African American Fiction, Romance, Mystery & Crime, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Biographies & Memoirs, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • Kimball Publishing
  • La Salle High School
  • Orange Media Network
  • MasterClass
  • The Muse
  • Getty Publications (J. Paul Getty Museum)

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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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Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

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Apply filters

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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.

Reedsy | Developmental editing — find the gem | 2024-09

Find the gem in your early draft

The best developmental editors in the industry are on Reedsy. Come meet them.