Rennie Dyball

Rennie Dyball – Editor

USA Today bestselling author, passionate editor & collaborator; 18 years of experience in fiction & non-fiction for kids and adults

Overview

From picture books to celebrity memoirs, Big Five imprints to indie presses & self publishing, I've worked as an author and editor in many corners of the publishing world. I enjoy taking on developmental editing projects, line editing (aka copy editing), query letter writing, and more. Before working as an author and editor full time, I spent 15 years as a staff writer and editor at PEOPLE magazine, followed by 5 years as managing editor of The Plaid Horse magazine.

Working as a ghostwriter and an editor, I've learned that every author is different. Some thrive with a lot of interaction and follow-ups, while others need space to work solo at times before we dive back in together. I'm always happy to tailor my editing process to my client's preferences and needs. Overall, I believe that editing is the most fun part of the entire writing & publishing process. I love working with an author to take what's on the page and elevate it ... making it sing. I bring that spirit of creativity and fun, along with my flexibility, to every project I take on.

My ghostwriting work has included many memoirs in addition to prescriptive nonfiction. I most recently co-authored THE ADHD FIELD GUIDE FOR ADULTS, an instant USA Today bestseller. I've been involved in every part of the publishing process at major publishing houses, and I've worked just as closely with writers who are self-publishing.

My experience as an author is also integral to helping other writers. I've written many award-winning picture books and middle grade novels, as well as contemporary romance. As a competitive equestrian, projects involving horses are a particular favorite!

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Sports & Outdoors
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Middle Grade Picture Books Young Adult
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • Equus Award - best equestrian fiction; 2021 and 2022
  • Equus Award - best literary fiction for Good Boy, Eddie, 2023
  • Bookstagram Best of 2023 - best read aloud for B Is for Bellies

Work experience

The Plaid Horse

Oct, 2019 — Feb, 2025 (over 5 years)
I guided editorial content for this equestrian publication, focusing on coaching and guiding writers during the editing process, as well as line editing feature stories. As the brand expanded into book publishing, I also reviewed manuscripts and proposals for potential publication and edited equestrian non-fiction.

Self-employed

Dec, 2016 — Present
After nearly 15 years as a writer and editor at People magazine (with regular ghostwriting gigs on the side), I went out on my own as an author and editor. I now provide a variety of freelance editing services as well as consulting on publishing goals, query letter writing, and more. As a longtime book collaborator, I love working together with other writers, whether that's at the query letter stage, for self-publishing, or polishing up a manuscript before going out to agents. As a children's book author myself, I'm also passionate about helping children's authors with their manuscripts, however they choose to publish. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing your work!

Self-employed

May, 2008 — Apr, 2023 (almost 15 years)
As a ghostwriter, collaborator, and "book doctor," I've written or co-authored more than a dozen non-fiction titles, including the USA Today bestseller THE ADHD FIELD GUIDE FOR ADULTS. Working as a co-author allows me to work on books from their start as an idea, through the proposal stage, all the way to publication and promotion.

People and People.com

May, 2002 — Nov, 2016 (over 14 years)
I took my first job at People right out of college and wrote for nearly every section of the magazine over my years at the brand. Favorites included music, movies, TV, human interest, and sports, along with movie reviews and book reviews. As a senior digital editor, I assigned, wrote, and edited 8-10 stories on a daily basis on a wide variety of subjects.

Portfolio

The Wingman

Rosenthal, Meg

Warren Publishing, Inc

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
The ADHD Field Guide for Adults

Osborn, Cate

Gallery Books

Developmental Editing Copy Editing Book Coaching
She grew up in front of the world on the beloved sitcom Full House, but then actress Andrea Barber abruptly left Hollywood. Why did she leave and what did she do for twenty years out of the sp... read more
Developmental Editing Copy Editing Book Coaching
Made with Reedsy
Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher

Fisher, Ben P.

Frayed But Okay Publishing

Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Show Strides Vol. 5: Packer Pressure (Volume 5)

Dyball, Rennie

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Book Coaching
Show Strides Vol. 4: Testing Friendships (Volume 4)

Dyball, Rennie

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Book Coaching
Show Strides Vol. 3: Moving Up & Moving On (Volume 3)

Dyball, Rennie

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Book Coaching
Show Strides Vol. 2: Confidence Comeback (Volume 2)

Dyball, Rennie

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Book Coaching
Show Strides Vol. 1: School Horses & Show Ponies (Volume 1)

Dyball, Rennie

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Book Coaching
Fiona and the Peculiar Praise

Dyball, Rennie

4U2B Books & Media

Good Boy, Eddie

Dyball, Rennie

The Right Words

Rosenthal, Meg

Developmental Editing Editorial Assessment
Book Coaching
Copy Editing Book Coaching
From the star of TLC’s My Big Fat Fabulous Life and the YouTube sensation “A Fat Girl Dancing” comes an empowering memoir about letting go of your limitations and living the life you deserve. ... read more
Developmental Editing Book Coaching

Rennie has 29 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Patricia H.

Patricia H.

Jun, 2026

Pinned
Working with Rennie was one of the best decisions I made during the publishing process. As a first-time author, I quickly learned that editing is about much more than grammar, punctuation, and style. It requires someone who can strengthen a manuscript while protecting the author's voice. Rennie ...
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Jody L.

Jody L.

Jun, 2026

Pinned
Rennie was an outstanding copyeditor for my 70,000-word memoir. From the get-go, she impressed me. She responded to my quote request quickly with a deeply thoughtful reply that made clear she was genuinely interested in the project. Her communication throughout the project was excellent and she c...
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Rennie D.
Thank you for the kind words, Jody! The pleasure was all mine. I think your book is truly going to help your readers. Honored to have played a small part in it.
Camil A.

Camil A.

Mar, 2026

Pinned
Rennie is not only professional, attentive, and responsive. But she connects to your manuscript on an emotional level. I can't recommend her enough. I loved reading the notes of her reacting to my story and wanting to learn more about it, not just to help make it better, but to learn about the au...
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Rennie D.
The pleasure was all mine! I so enjoyed getting to know you through your work. So many people are going to feel seen through reading your book. Thank you for trusting me to collaborate on your proj...
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Davey H.

Davey H.

Jun, 2026

I have never been through this editing process and didn't know what to expect. Rennie was wonderfully informative and encouraging through the entire process. She went above and beyond and would be grateful to work with her again.
Rennie D.
Absolutely loved working with you and I'm cheering for you with this special book. I'd be honored to work together again in the future!
Sarah H.

Sarah H.

Jun, 2026

Rennie was a saving grace in a chaotic time. She stepped in to help in an already tight timeline, provided amazing support, valuable insight, and professional feedback. I thoroughly enjoyed working with her and will definitely seek her out for additional opportunities in the future.
Rennie D.
I was so happy to connect with you, Sarah, and to find myself immersed in your story! It was a total pleasure working with you and I'd love to do so again as you continue your series.

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Most recent contributions

What are the most common formatting mistakes authors make when submitting children's manuscripts, and how can they be avoided?

Including illustrations (Don't! unless you are an author-illustrator) Funky fonts (You can't go wrong with Times New Roman, double spaced, 12 pt size) Extensive art notes (It's important to leave room for the illustrator to tell part of the story; keep these to a minimum) Pagination (Too early...
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How do you maintain an author's voice while editing nonfiction?

I never put my own stamp on an author's work! I generally highlight areas where I'd like an author to expand so that they are providing the new writing themselves.

What strategies do you use to clearly explain your editing services to indie authors new to publishing?

I like to outline the way I typically work to new authors, but I always open up the floor to questions as well. I'm happy to answer anything a prospective client might like to know. Plus, every collaboration is different, and my go-to answer for explaining my editing services is: I work in whatev...
Read more

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