The best horror book developmental editing services

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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

Angela 5 star rating

Los Angeles, United States

Editor of more than 1,000 books. I specialize in sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural, horror, mystery, thriller, YA, and dystopian fiction.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, LGBTQ Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Alyson Books
  • Self-employed
  • New York Book Editors

Matt 5 star rating

Evanston, IL, USA

NYC-trained editor (Doubleday) specializing in manuscript assessments and developmental editing for crime/mystery, and daring genre fiction.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fiction, True Crime, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Horror, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Doubleday & Co.
  • The Carol Mann Agency

Paul 5 star rating

Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

Editor with twenty years' experience at Tor Books and Donald Maass Literary Agency. I specialize in science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Donald Maass Literary Agency
  • Tor Books

Jeff 5 star rating

Clifton Park, NY, USA

Author, editor, consultant. Fifteen years in publishing. Specializing in fantasy, sci-fi, horror, YA, and the genre-defying.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Ashley 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

An editor with over ten years experience in prose and video games. When not reading or writing, she's skating or hunting for a good mead.

Genres: Gaming & LitRPG, Fantasy, Fiction, Anthologies, Short Story, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Electronic Arts
  • Self-employed

Emily 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm a kids book editor at Chronicle Books with more than six years of experience who specializes in middle-grade and YA fiction.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Coming of Age, Young Adult, LGBTQ Fiction, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • The Manuscript Academy
  • Abrams Books
  • Magic Cat Publishing
  • NBC Universal
  • Chronicle Books

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Karen J. 5 star rating

Flagstaff, AZ, USA

Professor of English with over 15 years experience mentoring writers, one book, three edited collections, and 40+ other publications.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Young Adult, Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Northern Arizona University

Nicole 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Former Big 5 editor with 10+ years of experience in fantasy, romance, horror, and any combination therein. Let's get cooking!

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Romantic Fantasy, Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • InterVarsity Press
  • Del Ray (Penguin Random House)
  • Self-employed

Lisha 5 star rating

Kansas City, MO, USA

I am a fiction, nonfiction, and technical editor and proofreader. I am also a traditionally published author of children's books.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Olsson
  • Self-employed

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
  • Pratt Institute

Lyndsey 5 star rating

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, USA

Professional editor of horror/fantasy with over five years' experience helping authors and traditional publishers elevate their novels.

Genres: Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Historical Romance, Romance, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Eerie River Publishing (Indie Publishing House)
  • Turner Publishing (Established Traditional Publishing House)

Mischa 5 star rating

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Fiction editor of 15+ years, trusted by bestselling authors. Highly selective, meticulous in approach, devoted to preserving your voice.

Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Fiction, Time Travel, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery & Crime, Horror, Medical Thriller, Technothriller, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Ken 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Experienced ms. editor who has worked with NYT bestselling authors of thrillers and romance. I'm also a published author and ghostwriter.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Technothriller, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Legal Thriller, and Horror.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Lillian 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Experienced full-service editor specializing in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and romance. Let's take your book to the next level!

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Romance, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Post-Apocalyptic, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Internet Brands

Kirsten 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I am an award-winning novelist who teaches at Yale Writers' Workshop, with 25 years experience as a writing coach and developmental editor.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Steampunk, Science Fiction, Short Story, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, and Mashups.

Work experience:

  • Yale Writers' Workshop
  • Self-employed
  • Self employed

Wes 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Mystery/thriller/horror enthusiast and accomplished Executive Editor with 15 years' experience in the book industry. Keep me turning pages!

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Espionage, Literary Fiction, Sports & Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Grand Central Publishing
  • Little, Brown/Mulholland Books
  • Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency

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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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