The best short story book developmental editing services

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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

Lee 5 star rating

Portland, Oregon, USA

A sharp, sensitive editor of fiction and creative nonfiction with twenty-five years of experience in publishing.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Anthologies, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, Math & Science, Writing & Publishing, Coming of Age, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Tin House Books
  • Tin House magazine
  • SheBooks
  • The Santa Monica Review
  • Dove Books
  • The Iowa Review

Cindy 5 star rating

Slippery Rock, PA, United States

I help make dreams come true – developing a plan after your first draft or polishing with personal care. Lower-cost options available.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Cultural & Ethnic, Anthologies, Christian Non-Fiction, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Writing Assessment Services
  • Grove City College
  • Veritas Academy Online
  • Florida State University, Auburn University, Tallahassee Community College, Los Positas College

Jamie 5 star rating

Yonkers, NY, USA

I am a Senior Editor/Proofreader with 15 years of experience 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.

Daniel 5 star rating

Provincetown, MA, USA

Former New Yorker editorial staff, interested in literary fiction and nonfiction. Bylines in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, GQ, and NYT.

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

Work experience:

  • The New Yorker
  • Columbia University
  • Parsons School of Design
  • University of Cambridge

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

Ashley 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

A detail-oriented literary agent (10+ years in publishing) who has worked on NYT bestsellers and brings a love of language to everything.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Women's Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • WLA Books
  • Pigeon Pages Literary Journal
  • Waxman Leavell Literary Agency
  • Massie McQuilkin & Altman Literary Agents

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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

Travis 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

A veteran developmental editor, Travis specializes in cultivating and refining sports-themed works of contemporary fiction and nonfiction.

Genres: Sports & Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Inspirational, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Beijing Language and Culture University
  • Sports Publishing LLC
  • TrueHoop

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

Julia 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

7+ years experience teaching writing and editing client manuscripts. I'm also the author of the YA novel THE LAST TRUE POETS OF THE SEA.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Author Accelerator
  • Blue Stoop

Pamela 5 star rating

Woodstock, IL, USA

Developmental editor, writing coach; 25+ years helping fiction and memoir writers deepen and shape their work, and strengthen their voices.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Fantasy, Health & Wellbeing, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Literary Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • DePaul University, Loyola University
  • Multiple Chicago-Area Publishers
  • Self-employed

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

Katie 5 star rating

Maplewood, NJ, USA

Published novelist, magazine editor and journalist, experienced ghostwriter--and encouraging, nurturing mentor.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • Parents Magazine
  • O, The Oprah Magazine

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

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

Selena 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Developmental Editor | Romance, Women’s Fiction & Book Club Fiction

Genres: African American Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Short Story, Romance, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Kensington Publishing Corp.
  • Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books
  • Amazon Publishing
  • 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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