The best writing coaches for hire near Berkeley

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

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

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

Fran

New York, United States

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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

Lisa

Berkley, MI, United States

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Every sentence matters! My passion is helping your words shine, whether you're at the beginning of your project or you need a final polish.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Travel, Home & Garden, Career Guides, Fantasy, Fiction, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

• Self-employed

Allison

Jersey City, NJ, United States

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Jack-of-all-trades editor specializing in literary fiction and academic work (journal articles, book chapters, dissertations).

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Life Sciences, Math & Science, Writing & Publishing, Sports & Outdoors, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

• Self-employed
• Wiley

Tracy

Baltimore, MD, United States

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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

Nicole

New York, NY, United States

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I'm a literary agent with a passion for collaboration and a love of storytelling. Always thoughtful, engaged, and optimistic.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Women's Fiction, Literary Fiction, Coming of Age, Contemporary Fiction, Humor & Comedy, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

• The Book Group
• Trellis Literary Management

Noelle

Bothell, WA, USA

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Editor. International bestselling author. *New to Reedsy July 2026*

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

• Self-employed
• Self-Employed
• Angry Robot

Lynn

Seattle, WA, USA

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Certified Story Coach/Developmental Editor with 12 years experience, specializing in action/adventure, lit & historical fiction, and memoir.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Nature, Travel, Literary Fiction, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

• Self-employed

Catherine

Bradenton, FL, USA

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Specializing in books that straddle academic and trade audiences, I can help you strike the right tone without losing your authority.

Genres: Sociology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, and Entertainment.

Work experience:

• GravityFree
• Static Media
• ABC-CLIO

Felicia

Gainesville, FL, USA

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I help non-fiction authors tell stories that matter. I bring over 20 years experience in commercial and academic publishing.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

• Self-employed
• Various universities
• Rockwell International, Space Systems Division

Kara

Evanston, IL, USA

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Former executive editor and literary agent with over 15 years experience editing narrative/prescriptive nonfiction, memoir, fiction & more

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Sociology, Humanities & Social Sciences, New Age, Children’s Non-Fiction, Parenting & Families, and True Crime.

Work experience:

• Chicago Review Press
• Macmillan
• Thompson Literary Agency

Lauren

Miami, FL, USA

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My name is Lauren, and I help writers and authors of all backgrounds take their work to the next level. Let's work together!

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Nature, Home & Garden, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, and Fiction.

Work experience:

• Pineapple Press
• SAGE Publishing
• Fox Chapel Publishing
• Self-employed

MaxieJane

Riverside, WA, USA

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MaxieJane is a writer, educator, and editor with an MFA from Bennington Writing Seminars and Ph.D. from the University of Delaware.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Action & Adventure, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

• Southern New Hampshire University
• Self-employed
• United States Air Force Academy
• U.S. Air Force
• U.S. Air Force Academy