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Writing Tips Oasis

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10 of the Best Editors for Literary Fiction

By Kevin Chan

best editors for literary fiction

Please note: This article contains 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.

If youโ€™re searching for the best editors for literary fiction, the following list is especially for you.

 

1. Joshua Grubb

Joshua Grubb is a freelance book editor with experience in developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, editorial assessment, and query letter review. Based in San Jose, in the United States, he holds an undergraduate degree in kinesiology and a masterโ€™s degree in novel writing.

Joshua started freelancing as a writer and editor in 2010, working on anything from epic fantasy and literary fiction to non-fiction books on relationships, publishing, health and wellbeing, and self-improvement. For a better idea of his style as a writer and editor, take a look at his book โ€œThere was Musicโ€, as well as his editing in โ€œEnd Average: A Manโ€™s Journey to Growth in Faith, Relationships, Health and Financesโ€ by Ryan Hansen.

Speak to Joshua Grubb now!

 

2. Marina Brown

Located in San Diego, California, in the United States, Marina Brown is a professional writer, writing tutor, and freelance editor. Fluent in Russian and English and holding an MFA in writing, Marina provides editorial support to books written in Canadian English, British English, and American English.

Marinaโ€™s career in editing includes editing for Frontiers Saga Publishing and Cognella Academic Publishing, as well as working as an independent writer and editor, a business that she started in 2015. Her competencies include development editing, copy editing, and proofreading, and she focuses on mainly books of fiction such as literary fiction, poetry, science fiction, and short stories. She edited โ€œCaliforniaโ€™s Best Emerging Poets: An Anthologyโ€ by Z Publishing, โ€œCommunicating Well: A Fundamental Toolkitโ€ by Brecken Chinn, and โ€œSocial Policy and Social Justice: Meeting the Challenges of a Diverse Societyโ€ by Michael Reisch.

Contact Marina Brown for more details!

 

3. Molly Spain

Molly Spain has been an assistant editor at TCU Press for the last six years and has also been a freelance editor since 2015, providing copy editing, editorial assessment, and proofreading for books written in American English. Certified in publishing from the Denver Publishing Institute at the University of Denver, writers can rely on her to provide accurate and valuable contributions to their writing.

Mollyโ€™s editing services include copy editing, proofreading, and editorial assessment for non-fiction books on history, music, and philosophy and fiction such as historical fiction and literary fiction. Books that she has edited include โ€œTalking to the Stars: Bobbieโ€™s Wygantโ€™s Seventy Years in Televisionโ€ by Bobbie Wygant, โ€œPlum Creekโ€ by W.W. McNeal, and โ€œThe Whole Damn Cheese: Maggie Smith, Border Legendโ€ by Bill Wright.

Rely on Molly Spain to edit your next literary fiction.

 

4. Evelyn Adler

Working out of her location in Philadelphia, in the United States, Evelyn Adler is an independent professional book editor of both fiction and non-fiction books. Since 2009, Evelyn has delivered copy editing, developmental editing, editorial assessment, and proofreading for books written in American English.

Formerly a resident of New York City, Evelyn continues the work that she started in her new home. Whether it is for books on art, history, or medicine, or literary fiction womenโ€™s fiction or other genres of fiction, sheโ€™s more than happy to start a conversation with the writer, to assess where and how she would be able to benefit them. For a better idea, take a look at โ€œTainted Bloodโ€ by Tinalynge, โ€œTo Love an Addict: In the Stormโ€ by Gary Schultz, and โ€œThe Popcorn Colonel: There Is a Kernal of Truth to itโ€ by Toni Anderson and Billy Carney.

Start a conversation with Evelyn Adler now.

 

5. Ryan Harrington

For over four years, Ryan Harrington has been a senior editor at Melville House, providing editorial services. From development editing to editorial assessment and query letter review, Ryan is an experienced independent editor who can edit a whole range of different genres including non-fiction books on the social sciences, as well as literary fiction, to name a few.

Prior to his position at Melville House, Ryan spent about four years working as an assistant editor at W. W. Norton, and therefore has a great deal of experience that writers can rely on. The Phoenix, Arizona-based editor has contributed to books like โ€œHow to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economyโ€ by Jenny Odell, โ€œThe Making of Donald Trumpโ€ by David Cay Johnston, and โ€œThe Immortals of Tehranโ€ by Ali Araghi.

Contact Ryan Harrington for more details about what he can help you with!

 

6. Julie Cantrell

Julie Cantrell is an award-winning author who provides top-quality editing for both fiction and non-fiction writers. An award-winner with multiple accolades including being a New York Times bestselling author and winning the Christy Award โ€œBook of the Yearโ€, Julie provides developmental editing, editorial assessment, and query letter reviews for literary fiction, womenโ€™s fiction, and non-fiction books on travel, writing, and biographies.

Since 2001, the Houston, Texas-based publishing professional has operated as a self-employed editor, working with publishers like HarperCollins, Zondervan and other smaller presses such as ClearSky and Rockhaven. Her edited works include โ€œCrescendo: The Story of a Musical Genius Who Forever Changed a Southern Townโ€ by Allen Cheney, โ€œMississippiansโ€ย  by Neil White, โ€œand Touch My Tears: Tales from the Trail of Tearsโ€ by Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer.

Reach out to Julie Cantrell now!

 

7. Avner Landes

Chicago, Illinois, in the United States is home to Avner Landes, a professional editor with an MFA from Columbia University who provides developmental editing, copy editing, and query letter review for books in American English. Heโ€™s worked as a self-employed writer and editor since 2012, working on anything from contemporary fiction, literary fiction, and short stories, to non-fiction memoirs and books on political science and current affairs.

Clients describe Avner as knowledgeable and talented in his craft as an editor. Heโ€™s known as a great communicator and highly skilled at his craft. For a closer look at how he edits, look into books like โ€œDoctrine of Distractionโ€ by M.R. Ruth, โ€œInnovation Starts With I: Increase Your Influence. Ignite Your Impactโ€ by Saleema Vellani, and โ€œBeyond a Million: The Entrepreneurโ€™s Playbook for Expanding Wealth, Freedom and Timeโ€ by Jim Dew.

Allow Avner Landes to support you on your next manuscript.

 

8. Angela Brown

Angela Brown is an experienced freelance editor, with over 700 books credited to her. Located in Los Angeles, California, in the United States, Angela is capable of working on books in a variety of English accents, from American English to Australian English. She is capable of developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and query letter review.

Angela has been editing for over sixteen years, since starting out as a freelance editor in 2005. She is a specialist in editing fiction and can support writers working on fantasy, horror, LGBTQ fiction, literary fiction, and novels for young adults. โ€œThe Dream Fantasyโ€ by John Simes, โ€œInto the Dark of the Dayโ€ by Stu Jones, and โ€œBefore Bethlehemโ€ by James J. Flerlage are a few of the books that she has helped edit.

Contact Angela Brown for more details on how she can help you with your book!

 

9. Emma Borges-Scott

Working out of her base in Los Angeles, California, in the United States, Emma Borges-Scott is an independent editor who is capable of editing fiction like literary fiction, short stories, and womenโ€™s fiction, as well as non-fiction books including biographies and books on history and current affairs. She was awarded the Iowa Arts Fellowship and holds an MFA in fiction from The Iowaโ€™s Writerโ€™s Workshop.

Emmaโ€™s editorial services include developmental editing, copy editing, editorial assessment, and query letter review. She interned at Atheneum, of Simon & Schuster, before working at McCormick Literary as a literary agent from 2012 to 2019. More recent edits that sheโ€™s completed can be seen in books like โ€œWe the Animalsโ€ by Justin Torres, โ€œPermanent Recordโ€ by Mary H. K. Choi, and โ€œThe Lifeboatโ€ by Charlotte Rogan.

Start a conversation with Emma Borges-Scott!

 

10. Naomi Huffman

Naomi Huffman is a self-employed editor who has experience working with reputable companies like MCD, Curbside Splendor, and Featherproof Books. She holds an undergraduate degree in creative writing and currently offers developmental editing, editorial assessment, and query letter review as part of her editorial services.

Naomiโ€™s former clients describe her as an astute editor who is able to deliver a clear plan and accommodate the writerโ€™s original vision while making technical adjustments to create a more sound story. Sheโ€™s able to work on non-fiction biographies, LGBTQ fiction and non-fiction, literary fiction, and short stories. Take a look at โ€œHigh Schoolโ€ by Sara Quin and Tegan Quin, โ€œJillianโ€ by Halle Butler, and โ€œMickeyโ€ by Chelsea Martin.

Go with Naomi Huffman for your next work in progress!

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