Jonathan Starke

Jonathan Starke – Editor

I've spent 20 years editing debuts and bestsellers across genres, traditional and self-published. Agent/publisher queries. Caring. Diligent.

Overview

I'm an award-winning author with 20 years of editing and publishing experience specializing in COPY EDITING, PROOFREADING, and QUERIES. I've edited hundreds of manuscripts from writers at all different stages (debuts to seasoned authors) and helped them develop successful submission packages. My clients have signed with top-tier agents and publishers (HarperCollins, Penguin, Simon and Schuster, Macmillan), become bestsellers (award-winning novel The Boat Runner), and earned multiple number-one spots on the Amazon charts (Nocturnal Admissions: Behind the Scenes at Legendary Nightclubs).

GENRES:

Literary, Action and Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Biography, Memoir

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• An initial message exchange to build rapport and discuss your project and goals

• Feel free to ask questions throughout the entire process; I'm quick to respond

• I clean, tighten, and proofread your manuscript offering feedback in the margins

• Or edit and bolster your query and synopsis for agents and publishers

• All edits are completed using Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster

• I deliver two copies of the work, one with the edits showing, the other clean

• And off you go with your polished manuscript or submissions materials!

TESTIMONIALS:

• "Hiring Jonathan was the best writing-related decision I ever made. He reads all my work before I send it out, helped me sell my first novel, place dozens of stories in top-tier journals, and guided my writing to new depths." -- Dr. Devin Murphy, bestselling author of The Boat Runner

• "Jonathan helped raise my novel to a prizewinner with his skilled line and copy editing abilities." -- D. E. Lee, author of the prizewinning The Sky After Rain

​BONUS INFO:

I'm a former bodybuilder and boxer who loves traveling, making handcrafted soap, thrifting, recycling, and volunteering.

Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Cozy Mysteries Dystopian Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Thriller
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • Black Heron Press Award for Social Fiction
Certifications
  • MFA in Creative Writing - Fiction
  • MFA in Creative Writing - Nonfiction
  • BA in English and Fiction Writing

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2005 — Present
For 20 years I've offered professional editorial services including copy edits, proofreading, line edits, critiques, and helped authors query agents and publishers. I happily work in a range of genres, though I specialize in literary, thriller, mystery, memoir, and translations; for manuscripts: novels, nonfiction books, and essay and story collections. I've also enjoyed coaching writers to reach the full breadth of their talents through encouraging emails, phone calls, notes, and comments.

Palooka Magazine and Palooka Press

Jan, 2010 — Present
Through Palooka and Palooka Press I've evaluated over 15,000 manuscripts, from fiction to nonfiction to poetry to drama to graphic narratives. I founded this literary magazine and press 15 years ago to create a space for writers and artists to have a truly fair shot at publication and the chance to be seen, read, and recognized without connections or prejudice.

Portfolio

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review
Freeing Nicole: A twisty whodunit

Maughan, D.J.

Hulyeseg Inc

Copy Editing Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Proofreading Book Coaching
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Lose Yourself

Wetzel, Vince

OT Press

Copy Editing Proofreading
Friends in Low Places

Wetzel, Vince

Vincent Wetzel

Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading Query Letter Review
Copy Editing Proofreading Query Letter Review
The Penny Thief

Paul, Christophe

Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Copy Editing Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review
Mother of Invention

Wolfson Widger, Caeli

Copy Editing Proofreading Query Letter Review
Copy Editing Proofreading
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Editorial Assessment Proofreading Query Letter Review
Copy Editing Proofreading

Jonathan has 94 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Mohamed A.

Mohamed A.

Mar, 2026

Great work—everything was completed promptly. I appreciated the efficiency and attention Jonathan gave to my work.
Jonathan S.
Thanks for your review, Mohamed!
Nicholas H.

Nicholas H.

Mar, 2026

I had a great experience with Jonathan. I was in a bit of a jam because the editor I picked originally had a death in the family, and the project fell behind schedule. But Jon subbed in, got it done very quick and did a great job! Also he was very responsive during the whole process. My novel...
Read more
Jonathan S.
Thanks for your kind review, Nicholas! I look forward to working with you on your forthcoming novels.
Seth S.

Seth S.

Mar, 2026

Jonathan was very professional and prompt in both preparation for the project as well as the project itself. His edits were well-executed and placed many thoughtful notes throughout the edits. Some were noting bad habits (Oxford commons and hyphens) that were consistent in my manuscript and other...
Read more
Jonathan S.
Thanks for your kind review, Seth! I look forward to working with you again.
S. S.

S. S.

Feb, 2026

It’s the third time I’ve worked with Jonathan, and once again he has brought my manuscript into the best possible shape. His attention to detail, professionalism, and deep understanding of the craft truly stand out. He not only improved the overall quality of the book but also delivered the work ...
Read more
Jonathan S.
Thanks so much for your kind review, Sebastian! I'm looking forward to helping with your next excellent novel.
Dany T.

Dany T.

Feb, 2026

I had an amazing experience working with Jonathan. He went far beyond what I expected, not only delivering a thorough, high‑quality proofread, but also offering insightful notes throughout my entire manuscript. His feedback was thoughtful, clear, and genuinely helpful. He was incredibly responsiv...
Read more
Jonathan S.
Thanks so much for your very kind words, Dany! Looking forward to helping with your next one too.

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Jonathan and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Jonathan

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Gary Budden

Gary B.

Experienced fiction editor, available for developmental editing, book coaching, and copyediting. Founder of the award-winning Influx Press.

Brisbane QLD, Australia

100% reply rate

View profile
Pedro Martin

Pedro M.

Hi! I'm an experienced bilingual (English and Spanish) copyeditor and proofreader with years of in-house and freelance experience.

Oslo, Norway

100% reply rate

View profile
Kate Kennedy

Kate K.

A dedicated editor of novels and memoirs, I've spent 20+ years helping writers—established and emerging—shape and refine their stories.

Victoria, BC, Canada

100% reply rate

View profile