The best self help book developmental editing services

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Ray 5 star rating

Northampton, United States

Developmental editing and copy editing for the nonfiction world: health, nutrition, fitness, tech, and entrepreneurship.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Sports & Outdoors, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Business & Management, Computers & Internet, and Technology.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Winning Edits
  • Rocket Code
  • Amazon Services (Amazon.com)
  • Smart Passive Income
  • Buy Box Experts
  • The Storied Future

Lila 5 star rating

New York, United States

I specialize in editing nonfiction and academic books, and I'll work with you based on your specific writing style, voice, needs, and goals.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Law, Political Science & Current Affairs, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Sociology, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Marah 5 star rating

Washington, DC, United States

Incisive editor and collaborative, results-oriented project manager of health, food, and lifestyle books

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Simon & Schuster Trade Paperbacks
  • Scribner

Matthew 5 star rating

New York, United States

Editor and writing coach specializing in literary fiction, thrillers, memoir and other narrative nonfiction, business books, and self-help.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Short Story, Mystery & Crime, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Science Fiction, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Graduate Writing Program, Columbia University
  • Self-employed

Arnie 5 star rating

Kihei, HI, United States

I edit books on psychology, spirituality, social justice, and wellness. I've worked with Thich Nhat Hanh, Joanna Macy, and Jack Kornfield.

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Buddhism, Religion & Spirituality, Biographies & Memoirs, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and New Age.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Koa Books
  • Parallax Press
  • Whole Earth Bookstore

Beth 5 star rating

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

Patrick 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Hands-on, thoughtful editor specializing in memoir, self-help, thriller, mystery, suspense, and YA fiction. Formerly of Simon and Schuster.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Entertainment, Sex & Relationships, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Thriller & Suspense, Cozy Mysteries, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Self-Employed
  • Simon & Schuster / Simon Pulse
  • Simon & Schuster / Simon Spotlight Entertainment (SSE) and Gallery Books
  • International Creative Management (ICM)
  • Matt DeCoursey Enterprises / Realist Books

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Sandra 5 star rating

Omaha, United States

Skilled nonfiction book editor and book coach in business, true crime, self-help. Get from idea to published. I love first-time authors.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Psychology, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and True Crime.

Work experience:

  • Southeast Community College
  • Self-employed
  • Metropolitan Community College

Adaobi 5 star rating

Bronx, NY, United States

I offer services in proofreading and copyediting for all genres, developmental editing of nonfiction, and project management.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Computers & Internet, Technology, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Manuscript Coordinator
  • Self-employed
  • Hachette Book Group
  • McGraw-Hill Education
  • Apress
  • Project Lead The Way

Jesse 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

I'm a New York City-based editorial consultant with expertise in memoir, fiction, humor, narrative nonfiction, and prescriptive nonfiction.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Music, New Age, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Penguin Random House
  • Callisto Media
  • Freelance/Self-Employed

Melanie 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Development editor, writer, and proofreader specializing in general nonfiction, cookbooks, lifestyle, wellness, crafts, and education.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Home & Garden, Education & Reference, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Health & Wellbeing, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Callisto Media
  • Macmillan Learning
  • Page Street Publishing Company

Megan 5 star rating

Raleigh, NC, USA

Lifelong word magician/former literary agent with a passion for working with authors to make their memoir, self-help & business books shine!

Genres: Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Inspirational, Photography, Biographies & Memoirs, and Business & Management.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Keller Media, Inc.
  • The Script Medic

Chloe 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

A versatile book editor with over 10 years of experience, specializing in literary fiction, sci fi/fantasy, and mental health nonfiction.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Science Fiction, Literary Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Education & Reference.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Council on Foreign Relations
  • Lynn Franklin & Associates
  • Callisto Media
  • Wiley
  • Self-employed
  • Flashpoint

Sam 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Professional fresh pair of eyes who has edited 15+ prescriptive non-fiction books; big fan of the semicolon.

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Sex & Relationships, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Callisto Media
  • UrbanDaddy

Kevin C. 5 star rating

Fort Worth, TX, USA

I work in non-fiction and fiction, but I specialize in broad-minded Christian non-fiction, particularly engaging the arts and pop culture.

Genres: Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Entertainment, Business & Management, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • OnFire Books
  • Dallas Baptist University
  • BaptistLIFE
  • New Identity Magazine
  • Imaginatio et Ratio: A Journal of Theology and the Arts
  • GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT
  • Farotech
  • Seshat Press (formerly Capucia Publishing)

Evan 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Character and structure-focused developmental editor with years of experience working on award-winning literary fiction and nonfiction.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Humor & Comedy, Nature, Sports & Outdoors, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Algonquin Books
  • Little, Brown and Company
  • Graywolf Press
  • Self-employed

Kari 5 star rating

Pensacola, FL, USA

I'm a former journalist and unapologetic grammar nerd, and I love working on education, general self-help, and lifestyle-related content.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Computers & Internet, Education & Reference, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Hire the best self-help developmental editors

Writing a self-help book is a topical endeavour for an author: you get to share some of the most important lessons you learned, and potentially improve thousands (or millions) of other people's lives with it. But writing a self-help book you can get lost in the the details of balancing scientific research, personal experience, and practical advice — losing sight of the bigger picture. That's why you may want to hire a self-help developmental editor to help you. An editor will help you to make sure that the main idea of your book comes across clearly, and that you only include the necessary bits of research and advice essential for the success of your book.

You can find professional self-help developmental editors at Reedsy, people with decades of experience and who have worked with publishers in the likes of Simon & Schuster and Random House, as well as smaller publishing companies. Pick your favourite editor and request a quote today.

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Step 2

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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.