The best short story book developmental editing services

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Stephen 5 star rating

Maplewood, United States

Top editor for 30+ years, novelist, sf/f story writer, poet. Specializes in NF and SF/F. I'll help you write a book you're proud of.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Fantasy, Sports & Outdoors, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Avon Books
  • Wiley
  • Amacom
  • Thomas Dunne Books

Tracy 5 star rating

Baltimore, MD, United States

Passionate about helping writers realize their visions. I love picture books (especially rhyme!), young adult, fantasy, memoir, and more.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Agent Carrie Pestritto (formerly of Prospect Agency, now with LDLA)
  • Marketing Agency
  • University of Baltimore
  • SCBWI MD/DE/WV
  • Self-employed

Steven 5 star rating

Vermont, United States

Intuitive, expert editor with 30 yrs experience teaching fiction writing at a major university. Well-published, knowledgeable, honest, kind.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Middle Grade, Children's, Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Miami University, Oxford, OH
  • Colby College, Waterville,ME
  • Self-employed

Nicole 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

I'm a literary agent with a passion for collaboration and a love of storytelling. Always thoughtful, engaged, and optimistic.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Women's Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Sex & Relationships, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • The Book Group
  • The Reading Room
  • ICM Partners

Erin L. 5 star rating

Seattle, Washington, United States

24+ awards in writing and editing • 30+ books edited • Specialties include nonfiction and poetry • Ph.D. student, lit and creative writing

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Poetry, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Nature, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Cavendish Square, Wiley, & other publishers
  • Open Books: A Poem Emporium
  • Killer Visual Strategies
  • Various magazines
  • The Kentucky Standard
  • Sarabande Books
  • Entre Ríos Books

Scott 5 star rating

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Developmental and copy editor specializing in speculative fiction. I love helping writers bring their imaginative worlds to life!

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Space Opera, Short Story, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Outland Entertainment

Ann 5 star rating

Duluth, MN, USA

Book editor and award-winning writer who works on fiction and nonfiction, with special expertise on books in translation.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Middle Grade, Children's, and Business & Management.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Nicole 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm a copy editor and proofreader with over eight years of experience for major book publishers, magazines, and digital publications.

Genres: Children's, Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Humor & Comedy, Short Story, Thriller & Suspense, Entertainment, Non-Fiction, Technology, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

  • Adweek
  • Best Lawyer
  • Scholastic

Sarah Lyn 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Developmental editor with 13 years of experience at publishers + lit mags. Here for your stories, essays, novels, memoirs, and hybrid work!

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Soft Skull Press
  • Catapult Books
  • Catapult (magazine)
  • Penguin Random House
  • Publishers Weekly
  • Self-employed
  • The Rumpus
  • The Rumpus

Jamie 5 star rating

Yonkers, NY, USA

I am an experienced Senior Editor/Proofreader specializing in comic books, graphic novels, young adult literature, and children's fiction.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Children's, Short Story, Anthologies, Coming of Age, Humor & Comedy, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Archie Comic Publications, Inc.

Constance 5 star rating

Charlotte, NC, USA

Professional editor specializing in literary and historical novels, YA, and speculative fiction.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Short Story, Mystery & Crime, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Three Rooms Press
  • Skyhorse Publishing

Rachel 5 star rating

Albuquerque, NM, USA

I am a writer, a life-long educator, and an editor who works to help other writers find their voice.

Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Short Story, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Narrative Magazine
  • Antioch Review
  • Antioch College

David 5 star rating

Durham, NC, USA

15+ years editing for an award-winning literary magazine. I help writers shape their work with clarity and care.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Parenting & Families.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Sun magazine

David 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Developmental & Copy Editor for Literary, Horror, SF, and Cross-Genre Fiction | 100+ 5★ Reviews

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Espionage, Thriller & Suspense, Horror, Literary Fiction, Space Opera, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Freelance
  • Hearst Business Media
  • Sleeping Giant

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

Erik 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

From the minutiae of copy editing to the development of craft and style, I will help take your writing to the next level.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Short Story, Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, Literary Fiction, History, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Harrison 5 star rating

Washington D.C., DC, USA

The world's most thorough content editor. Expert in fiction and memoir. More than 80 books and 60 authors guided toward publication.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Humor & Comedy, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Short Story, Middle Grade, Children's, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Freelance Editorial Boutique
  • Really Good Editing
  • Bancroft Press

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Hire the best short story developmental editors

Writing and publishing a short story might seem easier than writing a novel, but in truth they can still be very hard to put together. A short novel means you've got to play your cards (or better say, words) right. That's why you should consider to hire a short-story developmental editor to revise your structure, form, plot, and character development.

At Reedsy, you can find thoughtful, experienced professional short story developmental editors who have worked with publishing companies and published short stories themselves. If you want your short-story to meet the industry standards and expectations, sign up to and request a quote today.

How it works

Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

Step 1

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.