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

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

Meredith 5 star rating

Bothell, WA, United States

Writer, collaborative editor, and writing coach specializing in helping clients tell their best stories.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Nature, Women's Fiction, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Short Story, and Education & Reference.

Work experience:

  • UW Medicine
  • Talaria, Inc.
  • Ashford University
  • Enclara Health
  • North Seattle Community College
  • Antioch University Seattle
  • Self-employed

Matthew 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Developmental editor, writing coach, and publishing consultant. First drafts through publication. 15+ years, 200+ manuscripts. New York.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Coming of Age, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Buddhism, Religion & Spirituality, Short Story, Computers & Internet, Political Science & Current Affairs, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Julie 5 star rating

New York, United States

I'm an editor with nearly two decades of experience in publishing, most recently at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Middle Grade, Children's, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, and Dystopian.

Work experience:

  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Adrian 5 star rating

New Orleans, LA, USA

Author of five books of fiction, Columbia MFA, 10+ years editing literary & genre fiction. Every book, lovingly, on its own terms.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • University of New Orleans' Creative Writing MFA
  • Tulane University
  • St. Martin's Episcopal High School
  • Boston College
  • Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School
  • Black Lawrence Press
  • Grub Street Center for Creative Writing
  • Columbia University

Emma 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Dedicated, creative editor with an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and years of experience at a top New York City literary agency.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Political Science & Current Affairs, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • McCormick Literary
  • The Iowa Writers' Workshop
  • Atheneum (a division of Simon & Schuster)

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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

Mike 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

A publishing veteran working on fiction, nonfiction, and memoir, I have sharp storytelling instincts and an ear for the perfect word.

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

Work experience:

  • Northwestern University Press
  • Self-employed

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

Rachel 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Experienced developmental editor of award-winning fiction and nonfiction with seven years of big five publishing experience.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins
  • Adroit Journal

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

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

Devon 5 star rating

Destin, FL, USA

Editor with 12 years' experience in academic and general audience nonfiction for all ages, as well as fiction, picture books, and memoirs.

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

Work experience:

  • Gibbs Smith
  • University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press
  • Self-employed

David 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Developmental & Copy Editor for Literary, Horror, SF, and Cross-Genre Fiction | > 125+ 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

Steve 5 star rating

Brooklyn Park, MN, USA

Award-winning editor of Esmé Wang, Jamel Brinkley, Anna Burns, formerly at Graywolf Press. Specialties: literary fiction, memoir, and essay.

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

Work experience:

  • Graywolf Press
  • Macalester College
  • Self-employed
  • Normandale Community College

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

Reedsy is home to thousands of professionals. Select the specific services you need and narrow your search based on your book’s genre and requirements.

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.

Reedsy | Developmental editing — find the gem | 2024-09

Find the gem in your early draft

The best developmental editors in the industry are on Reedsy. Come meet them.