The best romance book developmental editing services

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Laurie 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Editor of National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize finalists and bestselling authors at Penguin, HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster, Macmillan.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Children's, Romance, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • St. Martin’s Press a division of Macmillan, USA
  • Hyperion, a division of ABC/Disney
  • HarperCollins, a division of Newscorp
  • Dutton, a division of Penguin Group USA, Pearson
  • Simon & Schuster, a division of CBS
  • Hyperion, a division of the Walt Disney Comapny
  • Rizzoli Books

Rachel 5 star rating

New York, United States

Literary agent turned editor of fiction & select memoir where narratives and protagonists have distinct, identifiable voices.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Humor & Comedy, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
  • Self-employed

Megan 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

A 20 year veteran of the publishing industry, Megan spent a decade at Simon & Schuster and has acquired and edited many bestsellers.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Thriller & Suspense, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance.

Work experience:

  • Simon & Schuster
  • Freelance

Katherine 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Seasoned novel editor with a passion for powerful storytelling. I'll help polish your plot, deepen your characters, and elevate every page.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Miriam 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Literary agent with 20+ years of experience in NY helping authors hone their work, resulting in numerous NYT bestsellers for debut writers.

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

Work experience:

  • Irene Goodman Literary Agency
  • Codex Literary

I have over 25 years of experience editing Romance, Women's Fiction and Suspense. I offer developmental edits, line edits and assessments.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Women's Fiction, Romance, Historical Mysteries, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, USA
  • Avon Books
  • Self-employed
  • Soul Mate Publishing

Susan 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Trad and indie fiction editor of SF/F, horror, and romance. Lover of all things nerdy, steamy, and everything in between.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Epic Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Carrie 5 star rating

Orlando, FL, USA

I work on inspirational (mind/body/spirit), as well as fiction and non-fiction for kids. Worked at Hallmark and Ripley's Believe It or Not!.

Genres: Inspirational, Non-Fiction, Children's, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Contemporary Romance, Romance, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Ripley's Believe It or Not!
  • Hallmark Cards, Inc.
  • Self-employed

Briana 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

A developmental and copy editor with a decade of editorial experience. I have a keen eye for what makes a good fiction story flow well.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Cedar Fort Publishing and Media
  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Employee Solutions Group

Samantha 5 star rating

White Plains, NY, USA

Literary Agent at Thompson Literary with more than a decade of industry experience. I love finding creative solutions to elevate a story!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Thompson Literary Agency
  • Writers House LLC
  • Writers House LLC.

Chersti 5 star rating

Provo, United States

20 yrs editing with NYT/international/indie bestsellers such as Brandon Sanderson and Demi Winters. Adult Fantasy/SF/Suspense + all YA.

Genres: Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Gaming & LitRPG, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Space Opera, and Post-Apocalyptic.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Cedar Fort
  • Leading Edge

Susan 5 star rating

Tampa, FL, United States

Professional fiction and non-fiction editor with 30+ years' experience helping writers to hone their craft and tell their stories.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Women's Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Sex & Relationships, Mystery & Crime, Paranormal Romance, Romance, and Architecture.

Work experience:

  • EC for Books (formerly Ellora's Cave Publishing)
  • Weekly Planet/Creative Loafing Newspapers
  • Tampa Tribune Newspaper
  • Psychological Assessment Resources
  • Arts Council of Hillsborough County
  • Self-employed

Sam 5 star rating

Vancouver, WA, USA

English + Spanish editor for over eleven years. Focus on Personal Growth Nonfiction + Romantic Historical Fiction. Your book, your voice.

Genres: Sex & Relationships, Non-Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance, Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Tyndale House Publishers
  • BCV

Marcia 5 star rating

Plymouth, NH, USA

As an experienced story-focused editor and published author, I help bring out your voice and make your writing the best it can be.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Parenting & Families, and Art.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Plymouth State University

Sara 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm a commercial fiction editor with seven years of experience working with NYT bestsellers. I love helping make authors' stories shine!

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Folio Literary Management
  • Simon & Schuster
  • Self-employed

Miranda 5 star rating

Saugerties, NY, USA

Editor with ten-plus years of experience in projects published by Avon, Berkley, Oxford University Press, Quirk Books, and others.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Renaissance Quarterly
  • Modernism/modernity
  • Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
  • Self-employed

Kami 5 star rating

Provo, UT, USA

I specialize in clean historical and contemporary romance, suspense, and Christian nonfiction for Latter-day Saints.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Historical Romance, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Non-Fiction, and Christian Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Covenant Communications
  • Brief Media
  • Eschler Editing
  • Self-employed

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Hire the best romance developmental editors

So you’ve outlined your characters, written a couple of drafts, and finally have a manuscript, complete with a happy ending? To make sure that everything is jiving in your newest romance title, hire a romance developmental editor who can help you sort out your narrative structure, fill any plot holes, and make sure there’s chemistry between your characters.

The editors at Reedsy have years of experience working with indie authors and in traditional publishing alike. With a finger on the pulse, they keep up with current trends and demands of the market. Sign up for a free account today to browse and shortlist editors — some of whom have worked with popular romance authors like Jill Mansell and Cecilia Ahern, to name just a couple.

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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.

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Work with the developmental editor behind Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry

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