The best manuscript editors for hire in the United States

Aja

Austin, United States

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Making sure your prose sings, your facts and story are straight, and your unique voice shines through.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Music, Entertainment, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

• Simon & Schuster
• on my porch, at a coffee shop, in far-flung places . . .

Peggy

Philadelphia, United States

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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

Melissa

Phoenix, AZ, United States

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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, Epic Fantasy, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

• Self-employed
• Southern New Hampshire University

Ann Leslie

New York City, NY, United States

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Over 25 years' editorial experience at a Big 5 publisher and a literary agency, specializing in commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Romantic Comedy, Psychological Thriller, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

• Harlequin Books
• Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

Julia

Berkeley, CA, United States

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NYT-bestselling author, book reviewer, and editor. I've helped dozens of clients get published in small and large presses. I love what I do!

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Political Science & Current Affairs, Education & Reference, Literary Fiction, and Fiction.

Work experience:

• Self-employed
• The Los Angeles Times
• El Financiero de Mexico
• Wired News
• The New York Times
• Stanford University

Rachel

New York, United States

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Literary agent turned editor of fiction & select memoir where narratives and protagonists have distinct, identifiable voices.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Humor & Comedy, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

• Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
• Self-employed

Brooke

Denver, United States

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Experienced (9 years in-house, 20 years freelance), nonfiction editor specializing in assessments, development editing, and copy editing.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Music, Entertainment, Parenting & Families, Biographies & Memoirs, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

• Chicago Review Press
• Perseus Books Group (now Hachette)
• Westview Press in the Perseus Books Group (now Hachette)
• Self-employed

Julia

Charleston, SC, United States

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Line and copy editor, with content capabilities. I have the most experience in nonfiction, but my favorite edits are middle grade and YA.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

• The History Press
• Newgen KnowledgeWorks
• Amnet

Marah

Washington, DC, United States

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Cookbook ghostwriter and editor who knows both sides of the desk. Food, health, and lifestyle books, from proposal to manuscript.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

• Self-employed
• Simon & Schuster Trade Paperbacks
• Scribner

Anne

Los Angeles, CA, United States

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I'm a former LGBTQ+ Editor in Chief with a film background and years of success nurturing star writers and beginners. Let's tell your story!

Genres: LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Plays & Screenplays, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Historical Fiction, Inspirational, and Entertainment.

Work experience:

• The Advocate
• Senior Arts & Entertainment Editor
• Well Again
• self
• Self-employed

Kelly

Phoenix, United States

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I have 20 years of editing experience in all genres, with special attention to business and travel.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Travel, Poetry, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

• Immanence Journal
• Gently Read Literature (GRL)
• International Artist Publishing
• Perseus Books Group
• Self-employed

Ross

Baltimore, MD, United States

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Helping writers make BAD things happen to imaginary people for 20+ years. Thriller, crime, horror, historical, mystery, sci-fi & fantasy.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Legal Thriller, and Horror.

Work experience:

• University of Maryland, College Park
• Towson Univeristy
• Gotham Writing Workshop, New York City
• Self-employed
• University of Maryland College Park

Lila

New York, United States

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I specialize in editing nonfiction and academic books, and I'll work with you based on your specific writing style, voice, needs, and goals.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Law, Political Science & Current Affairs, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Sociology, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

• Self-employed

Adaobi

Bronx, NY, United States

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I offer services in proofreading and copyediting for all genres, developmental editing of nonfiction, and project management.

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

Work experience:

• John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Manuscript Coordinator
• Self-employed
• Hachette Book Group
• McGraw-Hill Education
• Apress
• Project Lead The Way

Lindsay

New Jersey, United States

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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

Joanna

Oak Park, IL, United States

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Seasoned publishing industry professional with agency experience and a keen eye for detail who embraces all aspects of the editorial process

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Thriller & Suspense, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

• Browne & Miller Literary Associates
• The Parlor
• Literary Agency

Kathy

San Diego, United States

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Freelance copyeditor and proofreader offering 25 years of experience in scientific and educational publishing

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, Math & Science, Nature, Action & Adventure, Classics, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Education & Reference, Science Fiction, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

• Academic Press (Elsevier Science/Harcourt)
• Academic Press
• Brian F. Smith and Associates (Archaeologist)
• Converse Consultants West
• Cajon Valley, Mountain Empire, and Palm Middle Schools
• Self-employed