The best history book developmental editing services

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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

Meticulous copy and developmental editor of nonfiction, equipped with diverse industry experience and a masters in Publishing.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

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

Jon 5 star rating

Kansas City, MO, USA

Professional book editor and writer with a soft spot for non-fiction. I'm also a frequent traveler and (occasional) travel writer.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Travel, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, History, Geography, and DIY & Crafts.

Work experience:

  • Freelance
  • Skyhorse Publishing

Allan 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Expert editor and publishing consultant across the sciences and humanities, with over 30 years experience -- numerous award winning titles.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, History, Geography, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, and Photography.

Work experience:

  • Oxford University Press
  • American Geophysical Union
  • Springer Publishing
  • Kensington Publishing
  • National League for Nursing
  • Award Winning Editor
  • Dover

David 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

An industry professional who has edited a wide-ranging list of bestselling and critically acclaimed non-fiction and fiction titles

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, History, and Travel.

Work experience:

  • Abrams Books
  • Penguin Books
  • 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

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Doug 5 star rating

Londonderry, Vermont, USA

I'm a developmental editor and copy editor with almost 30 years in the trenches, ready to pore over and polish your words

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

Work experience:

  • Tuttle Publishing
  • New York Times Book Review
  • Oxford University Press

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

Will 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

An editorial strategist with more than a decade of experience editing fiction and nonfiction at Big Five publishers.

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

Work experience:

  • Crown Publishing Group
  • Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Stephanie 5 star rating

Bellingham, WA, USA

Experienced nonfiction editor with 20 years experience, providing thoughtful editing that strengthens your work while preserving your voice.

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.

Laird 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Editor with 8+ years of experience (5+ @ Farrar, Straus and Giroux [FSG]), expertise in award-winning and bestselling fiction and nonfiction

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Computers & Internet, Philosophy, Humanities & Social Sciences, History, and Psychology.

Work experience:

  • Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Center for an Urban Future

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

Jennifer 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Big dreams + ideas, those are the books for me! I specialize in historical, romance, fantasy, and contemporary novels + nonfiction history.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction, Romantic Comedy, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • NYC Board of Education

Gregory 5 star rating

San Antonio, TX, USA

I am an experienced nonfiction editor specializing in art publications, academic titles, educational materials, and self-help/trade books.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Photography, History, Education & Reference, Architecture, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

James 5 star rating

Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA

Copy editor with experience at multiple publishing agencies. Specializing in national security, foreign affairs, history and travel.

Genres: Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, History, Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies, Travel, Action & Adventure, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime, and Geography.

Work experience:

  • Cognella Academic Publishing, 2013
  • Georgetown University
  • George Mason University, George Washington University
  • Rutledge, Taylor and Francis Publishing
  • Lynne Rienner Publishing
  • Oxford Publishing
  • Jones and Bartlett Publishing
  • Reedsy

Dan 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

An experienced editor of memoirs, history, and other nonfiction with a stellar list of books for Penguin Random, Macmillan, and many others.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Travel, Entertainment, Education & Reference, Children’s Non-Fiction, Art, Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Rizzoli International Publications

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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.

How it works

Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

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Apply filters

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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.

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.