17+ Best Science Fiction Developmental Editors for Hire in the United States

Kathy

San Diego, United States

Freelance copyeditor and proofreader offering 25 years of experience in scientific and educational publishing

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, Math & Science, Nature, Action & Adventure, Classics, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Education & Reference, Science Fiction, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

Academic Press (Elsevier Science/Harcourt)
Academic Press
Brian F. Smith and Associates (Archaeologist)
Converse Consultants West
Cajon Valley, Mountain Empire, and Palm Middle Schools
Self-employed

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Marcy

Montclair, NJ, United States

I am a published novelist. I want you to become one, too. I specialize in literary fiction, YA, women's fiction, thrillers and memoir.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Knopf
Dow Jones
About.com

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Angela

Los Angeles, United States

Editor of more than 800 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

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Jim

Tigard, OR, United States

An editor with over twenty years of publishing experience at major houses, who has a sweet spot for genre fiction and comic books.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Comics Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Comics & Graphic Novels, Thriller & Suspense, Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Cozy Mysteries, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Kirkus Media, LLC
Hachette Book Group
Time Warner Book Group/Hachette Book Group
DC Comics

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Beth

Maineville, United States

Seasoned editor and proofreader with more than 20 years of experience in multiple genres. I have worked with several best-selling authors!

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, LGBTQ Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Science Fiction, and Dystopian.

Work experience:

Self-Employed

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Lisa

Berkley, MI, United States

Every sentence matters! My passion is helping your words shine, whether you're at the beginning of your project or you need a final polish.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Travel, Home & Garden, Career Guides, Fantasy, Fiction, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Ben

Seattle, WA, USA

Literary agent of bestselling and award-winning books such as the 2025 Printz Award-winner BROWNSTONE. Available for dev edits and coaching.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Middle Grade Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

JABberwocky Literary Agency
L. Perkins Agency
Amazon Books | KDP
Amazon Books | Amazon Book Review
Self-employed

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Andrew

San Diego, CA, United States

Experienced NYC editor. Expert in 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

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Jeff

Montpelier, VT 05602, USA

Editor for New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, specializing in sci-fi and fantasy.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction, Space Opera, LGBTQ Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Technothriller, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Harlequin/Carina Press
Relay Publishing

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Jennifer

Harrisburg, PA, USA

First and foremost, I am a bibliophile. My professional and personal goals are the same: To live my life surrounded by good books.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Sunbury Press

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Matthew

Austin, TX, USA

Bestselling editor who for ~20 years' has worked with authors to polish stories and ideas, reach new audiences, and start conversations

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Texas Book Festival
The Acton MBA
HarperCollins

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Tera

South Bend, United States

Editor with 10+ years of experience specializing in developmental edits and copy editing, with a focus on romance and all romance subgenres.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, LGBTQ Fiction, Women's Fiction, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

Entangled Publishing
Samhain Publishing
Kensington Lyrical
Self-employed

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Gene

Houston, United States

Creative, experienced editor of novels, children's books, and poetry. Let's prepare your manuscript for publication together.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Poetry, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Uptown Stories
Simon & Schuster
Scholastic
HarperEntertainment
Daniel Weiss Associates/17th Street Productions
Denver Quarterly
San Jacinto College South

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David

Richmond, VA, USA

Editor of 500+ books (SF/F and thriller/mystery), for bestsellers including Hugh Howey (Silo), AG Riddle, Anne Frasier, Nick Cole & more.

Genres: Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction, Fiction, Technothriller, Thriller & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Contemporary Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Space Opera, and Post-Apocalyptic.

Work experience:

Self-employed
WarGate Books

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Jerry

Vero Beach, FL, United States

An editor with more than 20 years of experience in books, covering a variety of genres in fiction and nonfiction.

Genres: Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience: