The best self help book developmental editing services

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Emily 5 star rating

New York, United States

Bestselling nonfiction book editor. Formerly at Penguin Random House, Macmillan, and Callisto Media.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, True Crime, Political Science & Current Affairs, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, and Sports & Outdoors.

Work experience:

  • Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, Macmillan
  • Portfolio/Sentinel/Current, Penguin Random House

Laura 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Expert developmental and line editor, ghostwriter, and consultant collaborates on all aspects of nonfiction and fiction for adults and kids.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Poetry, Inspirational, Women's Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Jill Grinberg Literary Management
  • Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
  • Pocket Books
  • Simon & Schuster
  • Penguin USA
  • Theater Communications Group

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

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

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

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

Cheryl 5 star rating

Brattleboro, VT, USA

Experienced editor and former pastry chef who knows what makes recipes work. Expertise includes cooking, nutrition, wellness, and DIY books.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Natural Health magazine

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Justin 5 star rating

Detroit, MI, USA

Experienced literary agent / independent editor specializing in memoir, literary fiction, and nonfiction of all kinds. Let's work together!

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Parenting & Families, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Sex & Relationships, Sports & Outdoors, and Travel.

Work experience:

  • Aevitas Creative Management

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

Thea 5 star rating

Austin, TX, USA

Big 5 publishing house editor specializing in fiction, mystery/thriller, cookbooks, self help, design and lifestyle.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Psychological Thriller, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Hachette Book Group
  • SKLA
  • Penguin Random House

Hannah 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

I'm a developmental editor with 15+ years' experience in book publishing at PRH imprints focusing on memoir, narrative NF and LGBTQ+ fic.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Parenting & Families, Nature, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Home & Garden, and Travel.

Work experience:

  • Sasquatch Books, Penguin Random House
  • Self-employed
  • Ballantine Books, Penguin Random House
  • Elyse Cheney Literary

Gregory 5 star rating

San Antonio, TX, USA

I am an experienced nonfiction editor specializing in art publications, academic titles, educational materials, and self-help/trade books.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Photography, History, Education & Reference, Architecture, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Lia 5 star rating

New York City, NY, USA

NYC-based nonfiction editor with over a decade of experience. I specialize in business and management, self-help, spirituality, and memoir.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, True Crime, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, New Age, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Religion & Spirituality, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Callisto Media
  • Diversion Books
  • John Wiley and Sons
  • Self-employed

Sally 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Thoughtful and compassionate book editor with more than a decade of experience in publishing. Specialties include self-help and health.

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

Work experience:

  • Hay House

Stephanie 5 star rating

Elizabethtown, PA, USA

Trauma-informed editor at Lake Drive Books specializing in religious deconstruction memoir, poetry, self-help, & noblebright fantasy romance

Genres: Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Non-Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Inspirational, Biographies & Memoirs, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • The Potter's School
  • Self
  • Lake Drive Books

Carlo 5 star rating

Lyndhurst, NJ, USA

I specialize in fiction (focusing on romance, thriller, and fantasy/sci-fi), narrative non-fiction, and how-to books on writing.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Thriller & Suspense, Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Bauer Publishing
  • Northstar Travel Media
  • Dakini Magazine

Jodi 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, United States

Editor with an MFA and a lot of energy. I love to work in memoir, fiction, and humor. My forte: lean prose that moves.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Humor & Comedy, and Women's Fiction.

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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Apply filters

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Step 2

Browse

Then, browse professional profiles to find out more about their personalities and past projects.

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.