Ian Gibbs

Ian Gibbs – Editor

I'm a Brooklyn-based editor with over 1,000 books to my name, including THE NIGHT MANAGER and DUNE.

Overview

***PLEASE NOTE: My current turnaround time is two months, while aiming for sooner.

I do very thorough work and all projects include unlimited consultation via chat.

PLEASE only reach out if you have a completed manuscript, ready to deliver, and please read about the difference between developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading, as I only offer copyediting and proofreading, not developmental editing, though there are plenty of great developmental editors on Reedsy, if you check that box in search: https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/editing

I'm a Brooklyn-based copyeditor and proofreader with over 1,000 books to my name, including numerous New York Times bestsellers for all of the Big Five publishers.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• All edits follow The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster.

• The same high standards trusted by publishers—refined across 1,000+ books.

• Deep familiarity with fiction and nonfiction across genres, styles, and audiences.

• Clear, timely communication from start to finish—no guesswork or delays.

• For two weeks after the edit is complete, I'm available to answer clarifying questions, discuss changes, and address any concerns.

Thanks for your interest. I look forward to learning more about your project.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Career Guides
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Cozy Mysteries Dystopian Epic Fantasy Literary Fiction Psychological Thriller
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

HarperCollins

Apr, 2018 — Nov, 2019 (over 1 year)

Hachette

Nov, 2017 — Present

Macmillan

Dec, 2013 — Present

Rolling Stone

Sep, 2013 — Nov, 2014 (about 1 year)

The New York Times Magazine

Jul, 2013 — Aug, 2013 (about 1 month)

Simon & Schuster

Jul, 2013 — Present

Penguin Random House

May, 2012 — Present

Time Out New York

Jul, 2011 — Nov, 2014 (over 3 years)

Portfolio

The Secret Pilgrim: A Novel

le Carré, John

Ballantine Books

Night Manager

le Carre, John

Penguin Classics

Death of the Black Widow

Patterson, James

Little, Brown and Company

The Palm Beach Murders

Patterson, James

Little, Brown and Company

Dune (Penguin Galaxy)

Herbert, Frank

Penguin Classics

The Hanging Girl: A Department Q Novel

Adler-Olsen, Jussi

Penguin Publishing Group

DONT CALL ME PRINCESS

Orenstein, Peggy

HarperPb

The Amber Crown

Bedford, Jacey

DAW

Lies of Descent (The Fallen Gods' War, 1)

Bucher, Troy Carrol

Daw Books

Brothers of the Wind

Williams, Tad

DAW

Hi Five (An IQ Novel, 4)

Ide, Joe

Mulholland Books

Small Ceremonies: A Novel

Edwards, Kyle

Pantheon

The Bestseller Code

Archer, Jodie

SMP Trade

COMPTON COWBOYS

Thompson-Hernandez, Walter

MorrowPb

Same As It Ever Was: A Novel

Lombardo, Claire

Doubleday

Jamaica Road: A Novel

Smith, Lisa

Knopf

Ian has 16 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

CARLOS P.

CARLOS P.

Feb, 2025

Pinned
Ian is a professional and a gentleman. He has pleasant manner, which makes it easy to work with him. From him I learned things I did not know, and perhaps should have known. His corrections and suggestions are clear and easy to understand. The gentleman is obviously experienced in his craft. Too ...
Read more
Richard D.

Richard D.

Nov, 2024

Pinned
Ian responded at every turn, explaining his process and what I should expect. Mine was a polished manuscript before Ian began, but needed professional editing. He completed the work ahead of schedule, and I now have a ready-for-prime-time novel. His input was worth every penny.
Sharon W.

Sharon W.

Oct, 2024

Pinned
Ian is the best! He is so thorough and so knowledgeable. He went above and beyond to help me with my book. His copy editing is amazing! Hire him!
Ian G.
Thank you, Sharon. That is very kind of you. It was great working with you and I hope to work with you again in the future!
arlyne B.

arlyne B.

Oct, 2026

After doing countless revisions and editing of my own work, I was amazed at the number of errors Ian found on almost every page. From formatting, to italics, to quotation marks, to spelling (my forte, I thought!) to clarity, Ian improved my work and brought it from amateur to professional status....
Read more
Stewart B.

Stewart B.

Sep, 2026

If you're looking for a great editor to fix your grammar then look no further than Ian, a true professional who made my writing even better. Working collaboratively from afar through different time frames with quick responses was a real saver. Thanks Ian.

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Most recent contributions

How do editors generally define literary fiction?

The term "literary fiction" started out as a way to separate the so-called serious novels from the stuff considered lowbrow or commercial. Over time, though, we’ve gotten better at recognizing that genre fiction can be just as thoughtful and well-crafted. Now the line’s blurrier—you’ll hear peopl...
Read more

When is a proofreader necessary after a copy edit, and how does this process differ from the editing phase?

Proofreading doesn’t mean the copyeditor failed—it means the publishing process is working as it should. At the Big Five publishers, where I’ve proofread re-releases of bestselling books that had already undergone professional editing and sold millions of copies, I’ve still found hundreds of err...
Read more

How can an author interpret the phrase 'kill your darlings,' and how can they apply it during revisions?

The phrase “kill your darlings" is often attributed to William Faulkner but was actually originally coined by British writer Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. It means that writers must be willing to cut cherished sentences, paragraphs, or even entire scenes if they do not serve the story. For authors r...
Read more

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