The best manuscript editors for hire near Philadelphia

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Maxwell 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Experienced developmental and copy editor specializing in non-fiction and academic books. Precise, comprehensive edits preserving voice.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Architecture, Nature, Antiques & Collectibles, Design, Humanities & Social Sciences, Travel, and Home & Garden.

Work experience:

  • Schiffer
  • University of Pennsylvania

Jess 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Award-winning, broad-ranging editor of fiction and nonfiction, specializing in helping you turn your weirdest ideas into fully-fledged work.

Genres: Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Nature, and Entertainment.

Work experience:

  • Quirk Books
  • Electric Literature

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)

Chris 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

More than 20 yrs experience in nonfiction book editing. Topics include leadership, sustainability, health and wellness, and more!

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Finance & Accounting, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Soundview Executive Book Summaries
  • SMG France
  • Ideas for Leaders, Ltd.

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

Meg 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

With an MFA in CWR, an MA in publishing, and 3 years experience in a publishing house, I'm excited to use my skills to help craft your WIP!

Genres: True Crime, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Historical Fiction, New Adult, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, and Social & Family Issues.

Work experience:

  • Casemate Group
  • Barnes and Noble
  • Reedsy

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

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Mark 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

I'm a professional editor, writer, and poet. Assisting others with their writing and creative endeavors is extremely meaningful to me.

Genres: Poetry and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Schuylkill Valley Journal
  • Cleaver Magazine

Katherine 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Seasoned novel editor with a passion for powerful storytelling. I'll help polish your plot, deepen your characters, and elevate every page.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Holly 5 star rating

Springfield, United States

Experienced fiction editor, formerly with Samhain Publishing. I specialize in romance and other genre fiction.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, New Adult, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Samhain Publishing, Ltd
  • Self-employed
  • Mundania Press
  • Lyrical Press

Kate 5 star rating

Cleveland, OH, United States

Versatile, collaborative nonfiction editor with a master's degree in creative writing and seven years' experience editing education books.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Parenting & Families.

Work experience:

  • Solution Tree
  • Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
  • Solution Tree Press

Peggy 5 star rating

Philadelphia, United States

Cookbook/nonfiction editor, writer & project manager w/ 20+ yrs in publishing. Also offering recipe development and testing.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self Employed
  • Clarkson Potter/Random House

Rebecca 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

With 10+ years of experience working at NYC publishers, I've edited 100s of books across genres. Thorough, candid, and easy to work with!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Picture Books, Young Adult, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Disney Publishing Worldwide
  • McGraw-Hill Education
  • Penguin Random House
  • Self-employed
  • Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Education

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

Adam 5 star rating

Asheville, United States

Nonfiction book editor with 17+ years of experience in digital and print publishing. Reader advocate and prose polisher.

Genres: Humor & Comedy, Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Sports & Outdoors, Biographies & Memoirs, Business & Management, Entertainment, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Soomo Learning
  • Oxford University Press
  • HarperCollins Publishers

Melissa 5 star rating

Phoenix, AZ, United States

Freelance editor, faculty in an MFA novel writing program, and NYT/internationally bestselling writer.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Romantic Fantasy, Time Travel Romance, and Epic Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Southern New Hampshire University

Geoffrey 5 star rating

D.C., DC, United States

20 years experience editing nonfiction books for publishers (Thomas Nelson and Running Press). I love helping authors tell their story.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Running Press
  • Self-employed
  • Thomas Nelson Publishers

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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.

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.