The best horror book developmental editing services

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Parisa 5 star rating

Brooklyn, NY, United States

Former Simon and Schuster editor with 15+ years of experience, specializing in all genres of fiction. I’d love to help get your MS in shape!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self Employed
  • Simon & Schuster

Ross 5 star rating

Baltimore, MD, United States

Editor w/20+ yrs exp committed to nurturing authors' voices, refining narrative vision and elevating storytelling with empathy and precision

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Coming of Age, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Horror, and Legal Thriller.

Work experience:

  • University of Maryland, College Park
  • Towson Univeristy
  • Gotham Writing Workshop, New York City
  • Self-employed
  • University of Maryland College Park

Kerry 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm interested in thoughtful, voice-driven manuscripts. I especially love stories that include queer characters and/or speculative elements.

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Time Travel, Science Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Contemporary Fiction, and Coming of Age.

Work experience:

  • Henry Holt & Company
  • Curtis Brown, Ltd.
  • One Story Magazine
  • JMH Scouting

Scott 5 star rating

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Developmental and copy editor specializing in speculative fiction. I love helping writers bring their imaginative worlds to life!

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Space Opera, Short Story, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Outland Entertainment

Benjamin 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Experienced publisher and developmental editor specializing in horror, thriller, SF, and more. I help aspiring authors become professionals.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Science Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Rachel 5 star rating

Albuquerque, NM, USA

I am a writer, a life-long educator, and an editor who works to help other writers find their voice.

Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Short Story, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Nature.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Narrative Magazine
  • Antioch Review
  • Antioch College

Lindsay 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Freelance editor specializing in YA, SFF, and query packages. Former literary agent with over 15 years of experience in NYC publishing.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, LGBTQ Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Middle Grade, Children's, Science Fiction, Young Adult, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

  • Sanford J. Greenburger Associates

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Literary Agent and Freelance Editor with over a decade of experience in traditional publishing, specializing in manuscript development.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Maria Carvainis Agency
  • Self-employed

Autumn 5 star rating

Trinity, FL, USA

Development editor specializing in horror, speculative fantasy, poetry, memoir, and (oddly) business books.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, DIY & Crafts, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Urban Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Random House
  • Inkwell
  • Tomasino Agency

Holly 5 star rating

Springfield, United States

Experienced fiction editor, formerly with Samhain Publishing. I specialize in romance and other genre fiction.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, New Adult, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Samhain Publishing, Ltd
  • Self-employed
  • Mundania Press
  • Lyrical Press

Jasmine 5 star rating

Beaverton, OR, USA

As a fantasy author with a Master of Arts in Book Publishing, Jasmine knows the editorial process from every angle.

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Literary Fiction, Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Ooligan Press

Anja 5 star rating

Long Beach, NY, USA

25 years' experience editing nonfiction—including food/drink, memoirs, history, wellness—and fiction. Efficient, timely, and professional.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, DIY & Crafts, Health & Wellbeing, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Tiller Press/Simon & Schuster
  • Time Inc. Books/Oxmoor House
  • Kyle Books/Quarto Books
  • DK Publishing Inc./Penguin Random House
  • Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins
  • Self-employed

Kevin 5 star rating

Idaho Falls, ID, USA

Fiction writer and editor with over fifteen years in the industry. I love weird writing and anything pushing boundaries.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Eraserhead Press

Hugo-nominated and 12 time #1 bestselling author and editor of 21 anthologies, and over 200 novels—let’s make a great story together!

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Technothriller, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • 25 and Y
  • Wordfire Press

Olivia 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Developmental editor offering thoughtful, creative collaboration. Specializes in thrillers, suspense, and all things speculative.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, LGBTQ Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, and Romantic Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Publishing Company
  • C&R Press
  • Otis Books
  • Freelance

Lauren 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Specializing in genre and literary fiction since 2015, with publishers and imprints including Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Tor.

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Hamilton College

Oren 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm an editor for a wide range of books across many genres, including NYT and WSJ bestsellers, sci-fi/fantasy/horror novels, and more.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Mystery & Crime, Young Adult, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

  • Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
  • Self-employed

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Hire the best horror developmental editors

Do you know what’ll send a shiver down your spine more than any horror book? Avoidable mistakes tainting readers’ views of your work and distracting from the story you want to tell. If you felt the hairs on the back of your neck rise at the thought, don’t worry. There’s a way to save yourself: hire a horror book developmental editor.

They’ll analyze your horror book to identify (and fix) issues with your pacing, structure, and character building. While changing large aspects of something you’ve spent hours working on might haunt you at first at first, these large-scale rewrites are a literary life saver.

You’ll want to hire a developmental editor with specialism in horror books, who won’t be spooked by genre nuances — and we’ve got your back. The Reedsy Marketplace is home to the top editors in the industry, who’ve worked with bestselling horror authors like Stephen King, so you can always trust their expertise. What are you afraid of? Join us and connect with them today.

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