The best short story book developmental editing services

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Lindsay 5 star rating

New Jersey, United States

I'm an enthusiastic freelance editor with experience across the industry--bookselling, marketing, publicity, agency, editorial, and writing.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Picture Books, Children's, Christian Fiction, Women's Fiction, Short Story, Middle Grade, Dystopian, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency
  • Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Margaret K. McElderry Books at Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing Division
  • Abrams Books for Young Readers/Amulet Books
  • Candlewick Press
  • Borders Books and Music
  • Verily Magazine

Margay 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Developmental editor working in nonfiction.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Short Story, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Book Industry Guild of New York (BIGNY)
  • Oxford University Press
  • Clayton Christensen Institute

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

Joshua 5 star rating

Strong, ME, USA

Editor/Writer WIP: 5-book series on the most-common issues I see writers struggling with as a full-time editor with over a decade of XP.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Ezra 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

A deeply collaborative editor with 5+ years of experience working at HarperCollins Publishers.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Literary Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Agate Publishing

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

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

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Meg 5 star rating

Portland, OR, USA

Developmental editor, copy editor, and proofreader with over twenty years of experience working on literary fiction.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Tin House Books
  • Tin House magazine
  • Literature and Medicine

Bess 5 star rating

Denver, CO, USA

I'm an experienced writer/editor who has worked in book publishing. I specialize in editing anthologies, memoirs, and business books.

Genres: Anthologies, Fiction, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book
  • Orison Books
  • American Animal Hospital Association
  • Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
  • Fairchild Fashion Media

Anne 5 star rating

Croton-on-Hudson, NY, USA

Visionary editor with a focus on literary fiction and expertise in literary magazines and independent publishing.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • A Public Space
  • Words Without Borders
  • Associate Editor / Assistant Editor
  • Irene Skolnick Literary Agency

Warren 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

PhD with 15+years as editor and proofreader for nonfiction and plays. Author of three successful books and four plays.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, History, Religion & Spirituality, Cultural & Ethnic, Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Entertainment, Plays & Screenplays, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Philadelphia Theatre Company
  • The Gershman Y
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
  • Association for Jewish Studies

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

Ashley 5 star rating

Westchester, IL, USA

I work as Content Editor for an independent publisher and also as a freelance editor. I enjoy working with writers of all genres.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Young Adult.

Jill 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Crime, LGBTQ, memoir, self-help, new age editor. Author: BANG THE KEYS (Penguin), for writers. Here to nail your vision & voice with verve!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Short Story, Thriller & Suspense, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • New York University
  • The New York City Department of Education

Molli 5 star rating

Warren, NJ, USA

Critically acclaimed author. I specialize in picture books and YA/Adult romance/fantasy. I love making books shine!

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Short Story, New Adult, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, and Romantic Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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

I've been a freelance editor for 25 years, working with clients on novels and memoirs later published by Dutton, W.W. Norton, Scribner, etc.

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

Work experience:

  • 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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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.

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