The best manuscript editors for hire near Philadelphia

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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

Chris 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

19+ yrs experience in nonfiction substantive book editing. Topics include leadership, sustainability, health and wellness, and more!

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Economics, Humanities & Social Sciences, Psychology, Finance & Accounting, Math & Science, Technology, and Sociology.

Work experience:

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

Rose 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Book doctor, editor, researcher. I love romance and historical fiction! (Areas of expertise: Regency, queer, Revolutionary War, Jewish.)

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction, and LGBTQ Fiction.

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

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

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

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

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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

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

Jesse 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Prose stylist and rhetorician bridging the gap between "that book was...interesting" and "that was a good read."

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Sociology, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • aha! Process, Inc.
  • Northern Illinois University

Meg 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

20+ yrs as a collaborative journalist/editor/poet, using candor and kindness to help writers win awards + publish their poetry + nonfiction.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Music, Psychology, Biographies & Memoirs, Writing & Publishing, Nature, Poetry, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Garden Design Magazine
  • Women's Health magazine
  • Rathalla Review
  • Rosemont College

Kimberly 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Editor and former DC Comics/WB story exec. 10+ years shaping standout, character-driven books and scripts with heart, structure, and payoff.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Romance, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • DC - Warner Bros. Discovery
  • The CW Television Network

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

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

Stephen 5 star rating

Maplewood, United States

Top editor for 30+ years, novelist, sf/f story writer, poet. Specializes in NF and SF/F. I'll help you write a book you're proud of. No AI.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Sports & Outdoors, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Avon Books
  • Wiley
  • Amacom
  • Thomas Dunne Books

Fran 5 star rating

New York, United States

Results driven editor, formerWriters House Bridgerton agent, edited major award winners, working from slush pile to success in publishing.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Thriller & Suspense, Historical Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Writers House
  • youbloom music festival

Larissa 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Book editor, literary agent, and authenticity reader with a decade of making genre fiction and craft shine. LGBTQ+ & BIPOC-inclusive.

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

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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.