Looking for a professional book editor?

1700+ of the most sought-after editors in publishing are on Reedsy. Come meet them.

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Meet the best editors in the industry

The romantic myth of an author sitting alone in their room and emerging with a perfectly polished book is just that: a myth. While writing itself may be a solo activity, the best books are born from collaboration — and professional book editors are crucial partners. 

Reedsy editors have worked with Big 5 and indie authors alike, and they’ve polished award-winning and bestselling titles to perfection. They understand exactly what resonates with readers in your genre.

Kelly M.

Available to hire

I am a meticulous, passionate copy editor who specializes in YA fiction and cookbooks and has worked with Random House and Simon & Schuster.

Claire R.

Available to hire

Reliable and versatile proofreader and copy editor with a passion for all things Sci-Fi and Dickens.

Louise S.

Available to hire

A detail-oriented proofreader with experience in basic copyediting. I specialize in fiction, creative non-fiction, and memoirs.

Sean L.

Available to hire

Proofreader/editor for 11+ years, reader for 40+, and as a lifelong fan, horror is my go-to genre.

Dick H.

Available to hire

Experienced London-based editor of fiction (novels, short stories, plays), biography, art and culture and personal statements.

How to find the right book editor

The first step to hiring an editor is determining which type(s) of editing your book requires. If you need advice on story and structure, you’re looking for a developmental editor. If you need someone to hone your prose, you’ll need a copy editor. And if the goal is to catch errors, a proofreader is your best bet. (Head down to our service definitions for more information.)

Wherever you are in the editing process, you’ll find the right expert on Reedsy. Our editors have worked with authors like Joyce Carol Oates, Suzanne Collins, and Phillip Pullman to make their stories sing.

You’ll have the opportunity to send along pages and get sample edits before you finalize your decision — and with Reedsy's contract protection, you can start your collaboration with full confidence.

What to look for in an editor

A book editor is a publishing professional who helps authors improve their manuscripts. Generally, their services fall into four types of edits: an editorial assessment, a developmental edit, a copy edit, and a proofread. Each edit serves its own purpose, but the overarching goal across all of them is to make the story as compelling, error-free, and quality as possible for readers. 

Once you know what type of edit you need, you can research and contact suitable editors. Your ideal editor:

  • Has experience editing in your genre. Your editor should know exactly what your target audience will expect from your book. 
  • Aligns with your communication style. Are you looking for blunt honesty or a softer touch? Choose an editor whose sample edits make you feel inspired and excited.
  • Can work with your timeline. Editors book up months in advance, so be sure to agree on the project's start and end date.
  • Fits with your budget. Request multiple quotes to get a range of offers and choose the one that fits your project and budget best.

At Reedsy, we rigorously vet all our freelancers. For editors, we require a minimum of five years’ experience, ideally with a Big 5 publisher or as a freelancer for a bestselling client. We accept only the top 3% of applications and monitor their work and performance once they’re on our marketplace, ensuring quality control and client satisfaction. Find out more about how we select our professionals here!

Here’s what our authors had to say:

“My editor’s hybrid developmental-and-line edit exceeded my expectations and completely blew me away. He showed such deep understanding for my story that I was 100% confident in applying all of his edits.” – J.D. Bass

“Though I must have reread my manuscript hundreds of times, my copy editor caught over 10,000 minor errors! This just goes to show how easy it is to get too close to your book, and how important it is to hire an editor.” — Dhipa Lee

“After my collaboration, I know that my book is not only better than it was, it’s better than I could ever have made it on my own. Working with an editor taught me a number of incredibly valuable lessons about constructing a novel that I can incorporate into my future projects.” — Andrew Chamberlain

“I’m without a doubt that my book wouldn’t have been as successful if it hadn’t been for Reedsy or my editor. No one should consider publishing without professional editing.” — Paul Wilson

Book editing service definitions

People define the various types of editing differently. For our clarification and your convenience, here’s what we mean when we talk about developmental editing, copy editing, and more on Reedsy. Make sure you know what you’re looking for before reaching out to our editors! (If you’re really unsure, we’d recommend starting with an editorial assessment.)

Editorial Assessment

An editorial assessment is a manuscript review that provides feedback on the structure of your book, as well as its characterization, plot, pacing, and style. The main purpose of an editorial assessment is to give you a sense of your book’s overall strengths and weaknesses so you can pursue additional editing services if needed. Read more

Developmental Editing

Developmental editing takes a close look at the larger structures of your book: plot, characters, themes, and tone. A developmental editor ensures that these “big picture” elements are strong before you move on to the minutiae of each line. Read more

Copy Editing

Copy editing polishes your mechanics, sharpens your prose, and ensures consistency of style. This is the service you need if your story’s structure is solidly in place, but the text itself can be improved. Read more

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process: a thorough examination of your book that corrects minor spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. A proofreader does not give feedback on your structure or other major editorial issues but rather guarantees that your text goes to print (so to speak) without a single typo. Read more

Query Letter Review

While not part of your actual manuscript, a strong query letter is crucial for authors who want to land an agent and a traditional publisher. A query letter review analyzes your elevator pitch and the sample of your book that you’ll submit to agents, helping you make them irresistible. Read more

FAQs

How much does a book editor cost?

 

Get to know our editors

To get started on your search, meet some of our top-rated editors.

Ann K.

Duluth, MN, USA

Book editor and award-winning writer who works on fiction and nonfiction, with special expertise on books in translation.

Specializes in:
Fiction
Short Story
Business & Management
Middle Grade
Children's

Kelly M.

Boston, MA, USA

I am a meticulous, passionate copy editor who specializes in YA fiction and cookbooks and has worked with Random House and Simon & Schuster.

Specializes in:
DIY & Crafts
Social & Family Issues
Fiction
New Adult
Non-Fiction

David K.

Chapel Hill, NC, USA

I'm a versatile editor, writer, copy editor, fact-checker, and proofreader with experience in all types of print and digital media.

Specializes in:
Music
Contemporary Fiction
Humanities & Social Sciences
Women's Fiction
Political Science & Current Affairs

Browse thousands of professionals on Reedsy. Search for editors near you

How it works

Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

Step 1

Apply filters

Reedsy is home to thousands of professionals. Select the specific editing services you need and narrow your search based on your book’s genre and requirements.

Step 2

Browse

Then, browse editors' profiles to find out more about their personalities and past projects.

Step 3

Request quotes

Request quotes from up to five editors at any time. They’ll look at your sample pages to give you a tailored quote as well as a sense of how they work.

Step 4

Collaborate

Once you agree on terms and a timeline, you’ll start collaborating using the many communication and editing tools available on Reedsy.

Reedsy in action

Watch how Reedsy can help you assemble your team in the video below:

Join Reedsy

Our editors are hand-picked for their experience. Perfect your manuscript with expert help.