Josh Raab - Editor
Experienced, passionate, and versatile non-fiction editor. Clients include Al Gore, Garth Brooks, and Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket).
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Overview
Hello! I'm Josh. I graduated from New York University with a degree in English Literature and a minor in Philosophy. I was put on this planet to edit.
After working at Random House Publishers, I started a literary press called theNewerYork, which ran for five years. As editor-in-chief, I worked with over 800 writers, edited 25 books, and published or workshopped over 1,500 short stories and essays.
As an editor and producer at Melcher Media in New York City, I was responsible for book projects for the likes of Former Vice President Al Gore, country music superstar Garth Brooks, Netflix, Neil Patrick Harris, King Tutankhamun exhibits, and more. My books—which include one New York Times bestseller and several Amazon bestsellers—have over 2 million copies in circulation.
As a freelancer, I have worked for writers, business people, and artists from around the world. I've helped clients create bestselling books in genres such as self-help, entrepreneurship, spirituality, technology, real estate, law enforcement, and politics. You can expect substantial edits with well-reasoned comments and tons of dialogue. I find the more I communicate with my clients, the more I understand their goals and can help steer them in the right direction.
I will weed your work of redundancy, cliché, and verbosity that can weigh writing down. I also have a good eye for organization and can recommend new ordering, titling, and formatting, which will help your book flow more naturally. Fact-checking comes with the job as well; if you quote statistics or studies, I will make sure there are correct citations (thought I don't standardize/format citations). Once I'm done, you will have a clean, modern, engaging manuscript.
It's important to note I am NOT a proofreader. I will make corrections if I see errors, and will often put together a style guide for the proofreader to adhere to, but everyone should hire a proofreader after the book is typeset and right before it goes to print.
While developmental and line editing is my forté, I'm interested and able to take on full-suite publishing jobs to help you design, publish, and market your book, whether that be for self-publishing or through the proposal process with an established publisher.
Looking forward to talking!
After working at Random House Publishers, I started a literary press called theNewerYork, which ran for five years. As editor-in-chief, I worked with over 800 writers, edited 25 books, and published or workshopped over 1,500 short stories and essays.
As an editor and producer at Melcher Media in New York City, I was responsible for book projects for the likes of Former Vice President Al Gore, country music superstar Garth Brooks, Netflix, Neil Patrick Harris, King Tutankhamun exhibits, and more. My books—which include one New York Times bestseller and several Amazon bestsellers—have over 2 million copies in circulation.
As a freelancer, I have worked for writers, business people, and artists from around the world. I've helped clients create bestselling books in genres such as self-help, entrepreneurship, spirituality, technology, real estate, law enforcement, and politics. You can expect substantial edits with well-reasoned comments and tons of dialogue. I find the more I communicate with my clients, the more I understand their goals and can help steer them in the right direction.
I will weed your work of redundancy, cliché, and verbosity that can weigh writing down. I also have a good eye for organization and can recommend new ordering, titling, and formatting, which will help your book flow more naturally. Fact-checking comes with the job as well; if you quote statistics or studies, I will make sure there are correct citations (thought I don't standardize/format citations). Once I'm done, you will have a clean, modern, engaging manuscript.
It's important to note I am NOT a proofreader. I will make corrections if I see errors, and will often put together a style guide for the proofreader to adhere to, but everyone should hire a proofreader after the book is typeset and right before it goes to print.
While developmental and line editing is my forté, I'm interested and able to take on full-suite publishing jobs to help you design, publish, and market your book, whether that be for self-publishing or through the proposal process with an established publisher.
Looking forward to talking!
Languages
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Management
Humanities & Social Sciences
Political Science & Current Affairs
Psychology
Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Sex & Relationships
Technology
Work experience
Editor / Creative Director
Self-employed
October, 2018
–
Present
(about 3 years)
Raab and Co. is a team of editors, designers, writers, and proofreaders who all have a passion for producing high-quality books. Specifically, we are focussed on non-fiction books by young leaders of industry who are ready to impart their wisdom and tell their stories. We can handle every step of the publication process from idea to doorstep.
Editor & Producer
Melcher Media
February, 2017
–
September, 2018
(over 1 year)
Project lead on highly-designed, illustrated books for celebrities and media companies. My accounts include Al Gore, Garth Brooks, Apple, Netflix, and more, and my books have over 2 million copies in print.
Responsibilities include overseeing every step of the publishing process: project management and client liaison; acquisitions and proposals; creative direction and design management; editorial oversight and manuscript creation; team building (freelancer on-boarding); photoshoot production; image rights; production, printing, and fulfillment; and marketing and publicity consultation.
Dramaturg & Print Marketing Manager
The Industry L.A.
February, 2015
–
September, 2016
(over 1 year)
I helped produce Los Angeles' most ambitious opera ever, HOPSCOTCH. A cast of 120+, for 1.5 months, in a fleet of 24 limousines, all being live streamed back to a temporary structure with 24 viewing screens. I found the writing talent and managed the writing process, I oversaw the branding and design (from merchandise to a comprehensive paperback book), managed the social media, printing, publicity, and more.
The show received rave reviews in The New Yorker, Wired, Fast Co.Create, The New York Times, The LA Times, California Sunday, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and more. See less
Editor-in-Chief
Self-employed
August, 2011
–
July, 2016
(almost 5 years)
I started tNY.Press (formerly theNewerYork) to build a stage for modern storytellers. We publish literature in print in a literary magazine and single-author books, and online on. We have published over 1500 stories by 800+ writers. We are also a creative design firm fashioning books and print design for individuals and organizations. Experimental workshops and readings every month. Originally funded on Kickstarter.com.
Enhanced e-Book Producer
Penguin Random House Publishers
January, 2010
–
August, 2011
(over 1 year)
Managed the enhanced ebook edition of How to Life Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu. Gave seminar(s) to editorial and production at Knopf and Vintage on the future of the publishing industry.
Portfolio (21 selected works)
A New York Times bestseller!The follow up to the #1 New York Times bestselling An Inconvenient Truth and companion to Vice President Al Gore’s new documentary, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, this new book is a daring call to action. It exposes the reality of how humankind has aided in the destruction of our planet and delivers hope through groundbreaking information on what you can do... read more
This mysterious illustrated tie-in to Netflix's award-winning A Series of Unfortunate Events--featuring an introduction by Count Olaf's legal representative, Neil Patrick Harris--shares insider secrets about the Baudelaire family and the making of the show. In every library there is a single book that can answer the question that burns like a fire in the mind...In this collector's companion yo... read more
Alpha Couples: Build a Powerful Marriage Like a Boss
Solano, Robert, Raab, Joshua, Solano, Zaira, Alejandra, Alejandra
The Psychedelic CEO
W. Murray Rodgers, Josh Raab
Cheaper Easier Direct: How to Disrupt the Marketplace and Create Your Own E-Commerce Empire
Chad Rubin, Frank Turner
In the last few years, direct-to-consumer e-commerce companies have invaded the marketplace and our daily lives. Dinner? Blue Apron. Plans tonight? Netflix. Need new glasses? Warby Parker. Five o'clock shadow? Dollar Shave Club. It's never been a better time to start your own direct-to-consumer enterprise and there are innumerable tired industries waiting for you to disrupt them. In Cheaper Ea... read more
theNewerYork Book III (theNewerYork)
Josh Raab, Shane Jesse Christmass, Bryce A. Christopherson, Alex Cocotas, Jeremy Blachman, Steve Vermillion, Christine Gosnay, Heiko Julien, Charles Holdefer, Jane Huffman
This is a collection of experimental short-fiction. The stories are beautifully designed and paired with art. The contributors come from all over the world. Artists throughout the ages, from Dali to Proust, have taken their talents to exposing time; here is theNewerYork's attempt. The stories in this collection in one way or another, deal with loss, youth, death, joy, tradition, technology, an... read more
Studies in Hybrid Morphology
Matt Tompkins
A man with lobster claws for hands. A woman who grows a blanket of feathers. A talking cow. A baby born from an egg. A hu-manatee. Modeled after a scientific journal, complete with abstracts and endnotes, Studies in Hybrid Morphology includes more than a dozen surreal stories exploring the intersections of human and animal, head and heart, science and fiction.The strange characters who populat... read more
Small Creatures / Wide Field
John Mortara
This is an exciting and beautiful interactive story. Twitter length stories leave you with two options to continue. Jump around this colorful story. One story called "Invade" runs throughout the book, but you'll also find yourself on rickety bridges, in abusive relationships, analyzing literature with dragons, and printing some pages to fold into paper airplanes. This is a very American book. ... read more
The Inevitable June
Bob Schofield
Is it June yet? Somewhere between prose and poetry and a graphic-novel, The Inevitable June is the story of your mind: a room with no doors, where the lights are always on. It is a surreal flash-fiction for every day in June. It is your imagination with teeth. A vicious moonshine of unforgettable words and illustrations. There's a black octopus in the sky, you're on a horse made of light bulbs... read more
What drove Americans to vote for Donald Trump – a racist and misogynist crook? And why are authoritarians like Trump, Putin, and Erdogan on the rise worldwide? Economic discontent, created by automation and globalization, has created a new underclass fearful of its future. But exactly what makes voters act so violently and unpredictably? Why don’t politicians have the answers, and economists a... read more
PTA - Tales of a Physical Therapist Assistant
Wade Ballance
What do My Cousin Vinny, The Goat Man and voodoo ceremonies in the deep south have in common? They represent only a few of the interesting people and adventures had by Wade Ballance in his Physical Therapy career. From large city hospitals, to a ten bed hospital in a small town, to a massive catholic monastery, Wade has treated a colorful mix of patients throughout the south. Memorable patient... read more
Where the Money Lies: A Non-Partisan Guide to Trump Economics by Max AndersonMaking an informed decision before casting a vote has never been harder. Complicated issues are oversimplified and delivered as tweets and sound bites. News is more fragmented and more partisan, sources of information are more opaque (sometimes even turning out to be our foreign adversaries), and networks increasingly... read more
The Anthology, Part III: Live
Garth Brooks
Go inside the electric world of Garth Brooks LIVE. From the first on-stage appearance in college to headlining his own record breaking tours and worldwide stardom. Includes behind the scene stories, insider secrets, interviews with band and crew. Five CDs with 52 Live Recordings including Triple Live, the soundtrack of the record breaking world tour. 100 behind-the-scenes and performance photo... read more
Stalker Poison: A Safety Guide for Women Experiencing Domestic Violence and Stalking
Shaun Edward Sundahl
IF YOU ARE TIRED OF BEING STALKED OR PHYSICALLY ABUSED BY YOUR PARTNER OR EX-PARTNER, HERE ARE 7 REASONS YOU SHOULD READ STALKER POISON IMMEDIATELY!#1 - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS EDITED THIS BOOK - We actively sought and recruited several editors who had firsthand experience with intimate partner violence (IPV) or indirectly through family members as they grew up, all of whom were Subject Ma... read more
A Commission Apart
Brian Garbutt, Joshua Raab
Dad's Little Book of Wisdom: Earn More, Achieve More, and Live a Good Life
Fennell, Mark, Raab, Josh, Kerina, Grace
The Grind: How to Start, Grow, Maintain, & Earn More Money
Jeffrey Johnston
Have you ever thought about starting your own Twitch stream? Are you having a hard time taking your Twitch stream to the next level? If so, look no further! This book is the complete no-bull guide on what it takes to truly be successful in the industry. After reading this book, you'll be leagues ahead of the competition, giving you the tools you need to go from Twitch dreamer to successful Twi... read more
This book will be the most valuable tool at your barber station. If you want to learn how to perfect your barbering skills, offer a world-class client experience, and get your name out there in a big way, this is the book for you. In The Rich Barber Method, Chuka Torres, also known as Chuka the Barber-and founder of The Rich Barber Company-offers a complete game plan for new and experienced ba... read more
Bitcoin Clarity: A Guide to Understanding
Kiara Bickers
Why do people still not understand the blockchain?Is Bitcoin a bubble? Is crypto a scam?People don’t understand Bitcoin, not because it’s complicated—and it is complicated, but because even understanding the basics requires the introduction of tons of new concepts. For most people, it can be overwhelming to try and grasp mining, secret and public keys, blockchains, passphrases, nodes, wallets,... read more
Delivering Massive Value : The Financial Advisor's Guide to a Highly Profitable, Hyper-Efficient Practice
Jarvis, Matthew, Raab, Josh
Josh has 11 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
This is my first book and I looked long and hard for the right editor. From our first contact, Josh's enthusiasm for the project jumped through the screen. Going in, I didn't really appreciate the difference between a line edit and a developmental edit. Josh helped guide me through the process of the developmental edit, providing helpful insights that moved the manuscript forward in positive di...
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Tim Lewis, May 2021
I am so thankful for Josh and for Reedsy. As a new author on the self publishing path I had many fears about this process. My confidence however skyrocketed as soon as Josh sent back my first edits. His ability to take my content and make it better was impressive. He simplified paragraphs and made them better, but still kept my voice. I appreciated his true interest and honest feedback. It was ...
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Mike Povenz, March 2021
Josh is excellent! As a first-time author, I needed a riverguide like Josh at my side. He provided not only high quality editing, but great advice and guidance along the way. He's insightful, responsive, and meets timelines. Couldn't have done it without Josh!
Dan Cremons, July 2020
Josh provided detailed critiques and editorial adjustments that my book needed. He helped me get unstuck. The book forward is much closer to final product that I am proud to share thanks to Josh. I'd highly recommend him!
Mark Fennell, May 2020
Josh is a supremely talented and sagacious editor. His comments are insightful, and as a talented wordsmith, he has a rarified ability to make ordinary writing pop. I was particularly impressed with his comic flair. He knows how to make subtle changes that turn humorous passages into hysterical ones.
I appreciated his honesty in bravely telling me what parts of my work was high quality, and mor...
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Michael Kaplan, March 2020
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Cynthia DiTiberio
I'm a freelance editor and collaborator who worked at HarperCollins Publishers for nine years before going freelance. Non-fiction only.
Palo Alto, United States
Maria Gifford
Extensive experience collaborating with healthcare providers to produce content to help promote behavior change and self-improvement.
Rochester, Minnesota, USA
