The best manuscript editors for hire near Philadelphia

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Benjamin 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Passionate editor with 10+ years of experience in publishing, focused on guiding authors through every stage of manuscript development.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Ann 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Former NYTimes bestselling Penguin Random House Senior Editor specializing in Memoir, Self-Help, and Health/Lifestyle.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Travel.

Work experience:

  • The Doubleday Publishing Group/Penguin Random House LLC
  • Broadway Books/Random House, Inc.
  • Self-Employed

Larissa 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Queer Latine book editor, literary agent, and authenticity reader w/ a decade of experience helping make literary and genre fiction shine.

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Cultural & Ethnic, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Coming of Age, Women's Fiction, and Historical Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Dottir Press
  • Self-employed
  • Tessera Editorial
  • Hub City Press
  • Jill Grinberg Literary Management
  • Azantian Literary Agency

Susan 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

I'm a highly experienced editor and writer specializing in books for children and teens.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Short Story, Young Adult, Women's Fiction, and Parenting & Families.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Little Fox, Inc
  • Editorial Services boutique
  • Bantam Doubleday Dell
  • Simon & Schuster
  • New American Library

Christine 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Copy editor and proofreader for books on fitness and health, from training to memoir. I want to help your book be the best it can be.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Sports & Outdoors.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society

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

Eric 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Eric is a literary agent and Young Adult author who has worked on award-winning and New York Times bestselling books.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Literary Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Young Adult, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • P.S. Literary
  • Arcadia University
  • Neighborhood Literary

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Caitlyn 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Former Big 5 children's/YA editor with experiencing working with NYT bestselling authors such as James Patterson and Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Middle Grade Fantasy, Young Adult, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Hachette Book Group (JIMMY Patterson Books)
  • Hachette Book Group (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers/JIMMY Patterson Books)
  • Self-employed
  • Hachette Book Group (Running Press)

Shannon 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Book editor with 30 years' experience transforming important ideas and stories into award-winning, bestselling books

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Health & Wellbeing, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Wharton School Press

Eric 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Traditionally published middle grade author with experience in editing, mentoring, teaching, coaching, and brainstorming.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Highlights Foundation

Matt 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

A meticulous, versatile editor with expertise distilling complex, transformative ideas from a range of subjects into engrossing narratives.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Philosophy, Political Science & Current Affairs, Sports & Outdoors, Health & Wellbeing, Life Sciences, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

  • Viking Penguin
  • Penguin Books

Holly 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

I specialize in history and topics in the humanities. I have a PhD in History. Worked at Wiley and Enslow Publishers, Inc.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Education & Reference, Historical Fiction, Fiction, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Chestnut Hill College
  • University of Delaware
  • Susquehanna University

Sandra 5 star rating

Omaha, United States

Skilled nonfiction book editor and book coach in business, true crime, self-help. Get from idea to published. I love first-time authors.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Psychology, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and True Crime.

Work experience:

  • Southeast Community College
  • Self-employed
  • Metropolitan Community College

Ray 5 star rating

Northampton, United States

Developmental editing and copy editing for the nonfiction world: health, nutrition, fitness, tech, and entrepreneurship.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Sports & Outdoors, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Business & Management, Computers & Internet, and Technology.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Winning Edits
  • Rocket Code
  • Amazon Services (Amazon.com)
  • Smart Passive Income
  • Buy Box Experts
  • The Storied Future

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

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

Wayt 5 star rating

Seattle, United States

Award-winning science writer, editor, and publishing consultant for high-profile media. Also produce videos, podcasts, and presentations.

Genres: Computers & Internet, Non-Fiction, Technology, Engineering, Math & Science, Physics & Chemistry, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Engineering & Materials Science, and Life Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Intellectual Ventures
  • Self-employed
  • Scientific American

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Hire the best developmental editors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Once you’re done with your manuscript, you’ll probably be looking for ways to fine-tune it. You want a partner who will help you strengthen your book’s structure and content — and that is why you need to hire a developmental editor.

A developmental editor will look through your manuscript and identify its greatest strengths and weaknesses. They will then create a blueprint on how to fix up your manuscript, starting from the ground up. This may include ideas on how to improve your plot, characters, conflict, and more. Basically, a developmental editor knows how to make your book reader-worthy, and will ensure that your book flows well from beginning to end.

This is a highly specialized skill, as these professionals will give you specific, detailed instruction on how to enhance your work. Therefore, you will need to hire only the most skilled developmental editors. Luckily, we have the best developmental editors in Philadelphia at your fingertips at Reedsy. Sign up today and be on your way to creating a masterpiece.

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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

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Once you agree on terms and a timeline, you’ll start collaborating using the many communication and editing tools available on Reedsy.