If you’re looking for a list of the best developmental editors, we’ve compiled the following selection for your convenience.
We’ve included top developmental editors based in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Continue reading to learn about them.
Please note: The following entry contains affiliate links to Blue Pen. That means Writing Tips Oasis receive a small % of the sale if you hire the services of Blue Pen, but at no extra cost to you.
1. Blue Pen
Victoria Griffin, an author and editor is the owner of Blue Pen. Blue Pen has a full team of staff consisting of experienced book editors, book designers and project managers who work with authors writing books in different genres. When you work with Blue Pen, you’re assigned a Book Boss who helps you to establish the best path to take for your book. Developmental editing is Blue Pen’s most popular service and the organisation also offers manuscript critiques for those on a tight budget, line editing, proofreading and rereads of manuscripts that have been revised. You can find out more about how Blue Pen can help you with your developmental editing needs by visiting their website.
Please note: The following entries (2-22) contain affiliate links to Reedsy. That means Writing Tips Oasis receive a small % of the sale if you hire the services of any of the following editors, or another professional on Reedsy, but at no extra cost to you.
2. Alyssa Matesic
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Alyssa Matesic is a fiction editor with a passion for historical mystery, espionage, romantic suspense, and psychological thriller, to give some examples. After earning a B.A. in English and American Literature and a certificate in Book Publishing, both from New York University, Alyssa gained work experience at Macmillan and Penguin Random House. Now working as a freelance book editor, she can provide developmental editing, query letter review, and editorial assessment. Her portfolio includes “The Little Clan”, by Iris Martin Cohen, and “The Winters: A Novel”, by Lisa Gabriele. If you’re curious about prices, you can request a quote at this page.
3. Megan Records
A freelance editor living in New York, NY, Megan Records specializes in fiction, particularly in mystery and romance. In terms of studies, she has a B.A in English from Mary Washington College and an M.S. in Publishing from Pace University. Having worked at Kensington Publishing for 5 years helped her learn how to collaborate with both aspiring and established authors. At present, she can provide copy editing, developmental editing, query letter review, and editorial assessment. If you want to see some of her work, you should check out “Deception: An Allie Styles Novella”, by Sydney Campbell. Quotes can be requested here.
4. Barry Hudock
Founder of IdeaHouse, Barry Hurdock started his freelancing career in 2018, some time after earning a B.A. in English from Gannon University. He lives in Albany, Minnesota, and he specializes in developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, ghostwriting, indexing, and translation. Since theology and spirituality have always been present in his activity, Barry is very happy to work with authors of Christian non-fiction. However, he also edits books on parenting & families, philosophy, history, as well as biographies & memoirs and inspirational books. In terms of fiction, horror and sci-fi are his main interests. A book he worked on is “Joe Biden and Catholicism in the United States”, by Massimo Faggioli. To request an estimate, click here.
5. Melissa Kirk
Living in Richmond, California, Melissa Kirk is an editor and book coach with over 15 years of experience in the publishing field. Although her main passions are health, well-being, and psychology, she is also interested in works on sex & relationships, self-help & self-improvement, and on diverse topics regarding the humanities & social sciences. If you want to learn about her past projects, “Buddha’s Brain”, by Rick Hanson, and “Yoga and the Pursuit of Happiness”, by Sam Chase are two titles definitely worth looking up. She mainly provides developmental editing and copy editing, but her guidance will also help you publish your book successfully. To become one of the many authors on her client list, feel free to request a quote at this page.
6. Caroline Tolley
Caroline Tolley is a freelancer based in Quogue, New York. With more than 20 years of experience, she specializes in developmental editing, query letter review, and editorial assessment. In terms of genres, she prefers romance, thriller & suspense, historical fiction, women’s fiction, African American fiction, urban fantasy, and mystery & crime. To get an idea of her portfolio, you should check out “Flies in the Punch Bowl”, by Erika Simms, and “Cold Sweat”, by Faith O’Shea. If interested, you can access this page to request a quote.
7. Lauren Humphries-Brooks
A former academic writing instructor at Hamilton College, Lauren Humphries-Brooks is now a freelance editor living in New York, NY. In terms of studies, she earned an M.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh. Lauren can provide developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and editorial assessment for works in numerous genres – mystery & crime, women’s fiction, romance, and fantasy are some examples. Her portfolio includes “Nottingham”, by Nathan Makaryk, and “Finding Baba Yaga”, by Jane Yolen. Take a look at this page to find out more about Lauren and to request a quote.
8. John Knight
Based in Harrisville, New Hampshire, John Knight is an independent book editor with an M.A. in Comparative Literature. He has been working in the trade publishing industry for over 10 years now, and he is passionate about both nonfiction and literary fiction. Some of his favorite topics are art, history, current affairs, nature, and music. In terms of services, he can provide developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, query letter review, and editorial assessment. If you want to see some of his work, you should check out “Void Star: A Novel”, by Zachary Mason, and “Impossible Owls: Essays”, by Brian Phillips. To request a quote and to find out more about John, click here.
9. Jennifer Rees
The owner of a boutique editorial business, Jennifer Rees is currently living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She can provide developmental editing, query letter review, editorial assessment, copy editing, and proofreading. In terms of genres, she prefers picture books, middle grade, and young adult, to give some examples. During her editing experience of over 15 years, she has won several awards and has come to enjoy working with both aspiring and established authors. “No Such Thing As Dragons”, by Philip Reeve, and “The Hunger Games” trilogy, by Suzanne Collins are just two of the many titles in her portfolio. To request a quote, click here.
10. Kelly Lydick
Based in Phoenix, Kelly Lydick is the owner of The Story Laboratory, a publishing consulting company founded in 2018. As a self-employed editor, she can provide developmental editing, proofreading, editorial assessment, query letter review, and copy editing. Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, Kelly can help you polish your work – since she is a writer as well, it’s easy for her to understand the needs of her clients. In around 15 years of work experience, Kelly added numerous titles to her portfolio – “Sabbatical In The Sun”, by Jackie Ullerich, and “Zero to Sold”, by Arvid Kahl are definitely worth looking up. To learn more and to request a quote, click here.
11. Julie Mianecki
A freelance editor living in New York, NY, Julie Mianecki gained almost a decade of work experience at Penguin Random House. Her specialty is fiction, particularly when it comes to women’s fiction, romance, and mystery & crime, and she has worked on over 40 book projects so far. Julie can provide developmental editing, copy editing, query letter review, and editorial assessment. “(Never) Again”, by Theresa Paolo, and “All the Difference”, by Leah Ferguson are just two of the titles you can find in her portfolio. If interested, you can request a quote here.
12. Laurel Sills
With a certificate in Digital Proofreading from the Publishing Training Centre and an M.A. in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths University, Laurel Sills now has more than 8 years of editing experience. She lives in London, UK, and she can provide developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and query letter review. Specializing in fiction, some of Laurel’s favorite genres are fantasy, women’s fiction, thriller & suspense, and mystery & crime. If you’re curious about her portfolio, make sure to look up “A Vision of Light”, by Judith Merkle Riley, and “A Matter of Oaths”, by Helen S. Wright. To request a quote and to find out more, click here.
13. Roisin Heycock
Living in London, UK, Roisin Heycock is both the Director of Children’s and YA at Oneworld and a freelance editorial consultant. After gaining almost 20 years of experience in the publishing field, she can provide developmental editing, query letter review, and editorial assessment. Besides picture books, middle grade, and young adult, Roisin is also passionate about women’s fiction, historical fiction, thriller & suspense, and fantasy, to give some examples. When it comes to her portfolio, “Undone”, by Cat Clarke, and “The Island”, by Olivia Levez are two titles worth checking out. To request a quote, click here.
14. Daniel Penny
Open to working on both fiction and nonfiction projects, Daniel Penny is a Cambridge-based freelance editor with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Columbia University. After gaining valuable knowledge as part of The New Yorker editorial staff for more than 2 years, he can provide developmental editing, editorial assessment, and query letter review. Some of his favorite genres are literary fiction, biography & memoir, art, design, and poetry. “Air Traffic”, by Gregory Pardlo, and “The Drowning of Money Island”, by Andrew S. Lewis are two of the books listed in his portfolio. To find out more about Daniel’s experience and to request a quote, access this page.
15. Lottie Clemens
A freelancer based in Toronto, Ontario, Lottie Clemens specializes in developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and editorial assessment. Although she is mainly accustomed to fiction projects, as she worked in the fiction editorial department of HarperCollins for three years, she is also open to working on nonfiction books. Entertainment, humor & comedy, short story, and romance are just a few of her favorite genres. Two of the best titles in her portfolio are “The Caves of Steel”, by Isaac Asimov, and “Every Time a Bell Rings”, by Carmel Harrington. To request a quote, click here.
16. Sherryl Clark
Living in Melbourne, Victoria, Sherryl Clark has over 30 years of editing experience. In terms of studies, she has an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University, and a Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing from Victoria University TAFE. Her genres of choice are picture books, middle grade, YA, historical fiction, poetry, and more. If you choose to work with her, you will be able to opt between developmental editing, proofreading, copy editing, and editorial assessment. Quotes can be requested here.
17. Natalie Morrill
An author, post-secondary educator, and freelance editor living in Ottawa, Ontario, Natalie Morrill loves working on projects of both fiction and narrative nonfiction. With an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and several awards earned so far, she can easily provide developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, query letter review, and editorial assessment. To get an idea about her editing experience, you should check out “Secret Lives of Mothers & Daughters”, by Anita Kushwaha, and “If Tenderness Be Gold”, by Eleanor Albanese. Find out more about Natalie and request a quote here.
18. Kate Studer
With over 10 years of publishing experience and a B.A. in English-Rhetoric and Professional Writing, Kate Studer is a freelancer based in Guelph/Eramosa, Ontario. She specializes in developmental editing, copy editing, editorial assessment, and query letter review. Some of her genres of choice are paranormal romance, fantasy, LGBTQ+ fiction, and young adult, and her her portfolio consists of over 20 titles – “These Vengeful Hearts”, by Katherine Laurin, and “The Burlington Manor Affair”, by Saskia Walker are just two worth mentioning. If you’d like to request a quote, access this page.
19. Angela Meyer
A doctor of Creative Arts, Angela Meyer started her career in the publishing industry as a commissioning editor. She is currently a freelance fiction editor living in Melbourne, Victoria, who can provide developmental editing, proofreading, copy editing, editorial assessment, and query letter review. In terms of genres, she prefers thriller & suspense, historical fiction, literary fiction, and short story, to give some examples. “The Tattooist of Auschwitz”, by Heather Morris, and “The Schoolgirl Strangler”, by Katherine Kovacic are two of the most well-known titles in her portfolio. To request a quote and to find out more about Angela, access this page.
20. Sue Copsey
Specializing in developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading, Sue Copsey is an author and freelance editor based in Auckland, New Zealand. She has more than 20 years of experience in the publishing field, and she has worked for renowned companies such as Pearson. Children’s fiction & nonfiction, YA, biography & memoir, and fantasy are some of the genres she is passionate about. To learn more about her portfolio, you should look up “The Bravest Guy”, by Harry Wedewer, and “Broken Silence”, by Helen Vivienne Fletcher. Quotes can be requested here.
21. Sarah Ell
Living Auckland, New Zealand, Sarah Ell is a freelancer with an M.A. in Creative Writing and with over 20 years of editing experience. She enjoys both fiction and nonfiction, and she can provide developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading. To learn more about her past projects, you should check out “Drawn Out: A Seriously Funny Memoir”, by Tom Scott, and “Tears of Rangi: Experiments Across Worlds”, by Anne Salmond. If you want to reach Sarah for a quote, access this page.
22. Katia Ariel
With a Graduate Diploma in Editing and Publishing from RMIT University, Katia Ariel is a Melbourne-based freelancer who specializes in developmental editing, proofreading, editorial assessment, and copy editing. In terms of genres, she is interested in LGBTQ+ fiction, biography & memoir, health & well-being, and poetry, to give some examples. Two of the best books in her portfolio are “Searching for Spiderman”, by Ally Chumley, and “The Happiness Plan”, by Elise Bialylew. If you’d like to work with her, feel free to ask for details or to request a quote here.
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