The best short story book developmental editing services

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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

Kaitlin 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

A seasoned television executive bringing story development skills to a new space.

Genres: Plays & Screenplays, Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Short Story, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Medical Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, and Humor & Comedy.

Work experience:

  • WV Entertainment
  • Blondie Girl Productions
  • CBS

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

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

John 5 star rating

St. Louis, MO, USA

20+ years as a development editor, copy editor, and proofreader, in both nonfiction and fiction. Former MFA faculty and author of 4 books.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Travel, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • The Common Reader, Washington University in St. Louis
  • McNeese State MFA program
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Alicia 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I'm an editor and writer based in NYC. I've edited a variety of genres and material for Disney, DreamWorks, Newsweek and other clients.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, History, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Topix Media Lab
  • Paste Magazine
  • Modern Luxury
  • Apartment Therapy Media

John 5 star rating

Stockton, CA, USA

I have many years of experience in a wide array of editing and writing duties in a wide variety of genres.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Short Story, Agriculture, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Computers & Internet, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, Geography, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Philosophy.

Work experience:

  • Oxford University Press
  • MTKG, Inc.
  • University of California Press

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Chris 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

I am an expert in genre fiction, with years of experience evaluating short fiction. I want your wildest stories to find a published home.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Short Story, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Clarkesworld Magazine
  • Geekadelphia

Willie 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Editor with an MFA from the Michener Center specializing in literary fiction, commercial fiction and short stories.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Humor & Comedy, LGBTQ Fiction, and Plays & Screenplays.

Work experience:

  • American Short Fiction
  • Michener Center for Writers
  • Heidi Pitlor Editorial

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

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

Douglas 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Dedicated to clarifying and amplifying the creative voices of emerging and established authors.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Writing & Publishing, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, Finance & Accounting, Math & Science, and Computers & Internet.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Rowman & Littlefield
  • TPR Press

Mayada 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Editor of prize-winning literary fiction. Formerly at Bloomsbury Publishing. Arabic-to-English translator.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Anthologies, Contemporary Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, and Sociology.

Work experience:

  • Bloomsbury Publishing Qatar Foundation (BQFP)
  • Self-employed

Jaimee 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Editor with an agency background and nearly two decades' experience developing award-winning books, specializing in literary fiction and YA.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Short Story, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Literary Group International

JT 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

I love a good story. Insightful, congenial NYC-based editor of fiction and nonfiction, in both the literary journal and academic realms.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, Judaism, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Epiphany Magazine
  • River Styx
  • The University of North Carolina Press
  • WW Norton Co.
  • Electric Literature
  • Onion River Press
  • University of Chicago Press
  • Hay House
  • Brazenhead Review
  • Self-employed

Anne 5 star rating

New York, United States

Experienced freelance book editor with a particular interest in literary fiction and memoir.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Women's Fiction, Fiction, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Short Story, Coming of Age, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Counterpoint/Soft Skull Press
  • Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agency
  • Library Journal
  • Freelance

Avner 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Professional editor, ghostwriter, and author of literary fiction and non-fiction who can help get you and your book across the finish line.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Contemporary Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, and Humor & Comedy.

Work experience:

  • Texas-based Publishing Services Company
  • Self-employed

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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.

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