New York is a publishing paradise.
It is home to some of the finest book publishers, literary agents and book publicists.
There are also a number of book editors across the state.
If you’re looking for editing support for your book, one of the following 19 top book editors in New York might be able to help.
Note: As always, when selecting a book editor, be sure to do your due diligence before signing any contract and paying any fees.
1. Paul Dinas (Queens, NY)
With over thirty-five years of experience in the publishing field, and nearly twenty years of experience as a freelance editor, Paul Dinas has an extensive background working with both fiction and nonfiction projects. He especially loves to work with first-time authors and help them truly make their manuscripts shine before submitting to either a literary agent or straight to a publishing company.
Paul offers general manuscript reviews, in-depth editorial critiques, developmental editing, line-editing, submission proposal preparation packages, submission and publication process consultations, and proofreading. In terms of rates, Paul recommends that you get in contact with him to discuss a per-project quote since all projects require different services, are different lengths, and can vary in genre. For Paul’s contact information, click here to be taken to his website.
2. Loni Crittenden (Buffalo, NY)
With a BA in Creative Writing, Loni Crittenden is the founder and editor of Crit & Pen Editorial. She loves to work on speculative fiction projects, including fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal. As an official member of the Editorial Freelancer’s Association, Loni is an exceptionally talented new freelancer who is ready to help you with your editing needs.
She offers developmental editing (starting at $0.02 per word), line editing (starting at just $0.01 per word), copyediting (starting at $0.008 per word), and proofreading services (starting at $0.005 per word). If you’re interested in working with Loni, you can use her website’s contact form to get in touch. Simply provide your contact information, indicate the type of services that you’re interested in, an estimated word count, your manuscript’s title, and a brief synopsis of your work.
3. Edward Levy (Brooklyn, NY)
Edward Levy has nearly forty years of experience in the field of publishing, and ten of those years have been as a freelance editor. He is an official member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and has won the 2009 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Award for his editing capabilities, as well as the 2013 Independent Publisher’s Book Award for his work. He prefers to work on nonfiction manuscripts, including education, social science, philosophy, self-help, health, religion, and spirituality.
He specializes primarily in developmental and substantive editing, as well as working with authors whose first language isn’t English to help brush up their manuscripts before submission. If you’re interested in working with Edward, the best way to contact him is via email. Be sure to mention the subject of your manuscript and approximate length to receive a project quote.
4. Ruth Thaler-Carter (Rochester, NY)
Ruth Thaler-Carter has been a freelance editor for over thirty-five years and counting! Some of her previous clients include the Society for Fire Protection Engineers, Land Trust Alliance, the Editorial Freelancers Association, and the Association for Women in Communications. Ruth offers proofreading, line editing, and copyediting services. She highly encourages those interested in her services to either contact her by phone, fax, or use her website’s contact form in order to receive a free project quote.
5. Kristen Holt-Browning (Hudson Valley, NY)
With a BA in English and an MA in English Literature, Kristen Holt-Browning is a freelance editor who has worked in the editorial apartments of publishing companies like McGraw-Hill, Routledge, and W.W. Norton. She’s worked with a wide range of authors like John Wilcox, author of “Revisioning Mission: The Future of Catholic Higher Eduction," and Andrew Smith, author of “Savoring Gotham: A Food Lover’s Companion to New York City."
Kristen loves to work with first-time authors, self-publishing authors, academic writers, and professionals looking to expand their resumes. She offers copyediting, developmental editing, line editing, proofreading, manuscript evaluations, and book proposal and query letter editing. She has a preference for nonfiction projects that are academic, memoirs, about religion and spirituality, psychology, and architecture. The best way to reach Kristen is via email for a free quote.
6. Edward W Batchelder (Buffalo, NY)
Edward Batchelder has over thirty years of experience in the publishing field and has extensive editing experience when it comes to trade fiction and nonfiction. Currently, he spends a bulk of his time on academic manuscripts and corporate communications, but is still open to helping out any authors who may need editing assistance. He especially likes to work on self-help books, reference encyclopedias, books about social commentary, and history.
If you’re interested in learning more about the type of editing services that Edward offers, it’s best to contact him directly via email or phone. He can provide a project quote for you if you provide an estimated word length, genre, and a few sample chapters.
7. Helen Burroughs (New York City, NY)
Helen Burroughs is the founder of HKelleyB’s Editorial Services, founded in 2013. Born and raised in New York City, Helen specializes in editing fiction of all genres. She is an official member o Editorial Freelance Association, the Harlem Neighborhood Writers Group, and the New York Writing Club.
Helen offers copyediting, developmental editing, and line editing services. She is also a proofreader, provides book reviews, and can even be hired as a beta reader for manuscript evaluations. For more information about her editing services, you can find her here on Facebook or contact her via email.
8. Sarah Liu (Rochester, NY)
Sarah Liu is the founder and editor of Three Fates Editing. She loves to work on manuscripts of science fiction, fantasy, young adult, dystopian, and post-apocalyptic genres. She is a member of the Association of Independent Publishing Professionals, the Christian PEN, and the Editorial Freelancer’s Association. She specializes in speculative fiction and offers a wide range of editing services to help authors truly make their manuscripts stand out from the rest.
Sarah offers manuscript evaluations and critiques starting at $400 for the first 100k words, developmental editing starting at a rate of $0.02 per word, line editing starting at $0.015 per word, and copyediting services starting at a rate of $0.01 per word. She is more than happy to provide a sample edit of the first 1000 words of your manuscript to give a better idea of what her editing style will be like. You can send her an inquiry using her website’s contact form. Be sure to indicate what sort of service you’re looking for, as well as provide a brief manuscript synopsis.
9. Elizabeth Granda (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Elizabeth Granda is a freelance editor and founder of ETG Editorial Services Plus. She has over twenty-seven years of experience in the publishing world, and just recently began her career in the realm of freelance editing. She was the associate editor with M.E. Sharpe Inc. and was responsible for writing and editing copy for economic books, reviewing manuscripts, and was the developmental editor for the company’s public administration program.
Her services include copyediting, developmental editing, and proofreading academic books and journals, as well as fiction manuscripts. You can find her comprehensive resume and contact information here. Be sure to reach out to her if you’re interested in her editing services!
10. Walker Kornfeld (Watertown, NY)
If you’ve got a horror, science fiction, or fantasy manuscript, Walker Kornfeld may be the ideal editor for you! As the founder of Watchword Writing and Editing Services, Walker is known for his fast turnaround times and excellent client-editor communication. He is an official member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, as well as the International Association of Professional Writers and Editors.
He offers proofreading, copyediting, line editing, and developmental editing services for all genres, including nonfiction and flash to novel-length manuscripts. If you’re interested in working with Walker, the best way to reach him to receive rates, quotes, and a consultation, you can contact him by phone, regular mail, email, or through his website’s online contact form. He’s happy to provide a sample edit of your available work to showcase his editing skills.
11. Joan D. Saunders (New York City, NY)
Joan Saunders has worked with clients like Chevron Corp, Cisco Systems, Current TV Network, PBS, and more. With over twenty years of experience in the industry and thirteen years of experience as a freelance editor, Joan loves to work on nonfiction manuscripts and scholarly books.
As the founder of Saunders Editorial Services, she offers copyediting, proofreading, substantive and developmental editing, and even in-house training seminars to those interested in learning more about the industry. She would be more than happy to provide a quote for your project and provide more information on the services that she provides. You can contact her through her website’s online contact form, found here.
12. Janice K. Bryant (New York City, NY)
Janice Bryant is an editor with over twenty years of experience. She’s worked as a copy editor for magazines like Vanity Fair, Martha Stewart Living, Redbook, Good Houskeeping, and Kensington Media. She specializes in providing writers with copyediting and proofreading services, and likes to work on elementary and high school textbooks, trade publications, and even websites. The best way to get in contact with Janice is either by phone or email. Her comprehensive resume can be found here.
13. Susan Rescigno (Mohegan Lake, NY)
Susan Rescigno has been a freelance editor for nearly twenty-five years. She’s worked with authors like Angus Kinnear, author of “Against the Tide: The Unforgettable Story of Watchman Nee," and Jean Maaloff, author of “The Healing Power of Joy." She provides both copyediting and proofreading services, and is more than happy to provide a free initial consultation and provide a project quote. You can contact Susan through her website’s online contact form, or via email.
14. Bob Weinstein (Brooklyn, NY)
Bob Weinstein is a seasoned veteran when it comes to the publishing industry, with over forty years of experience under his belt, thirty-five of which he’s been freelance. He’s worked with companies like McGraw-Hill, Business Week, Newsday and the Star Ledger. He specializes in nonfiction manuscripts and offers developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, and even ghost-writing services. For Bob’s comprehensive resume and information on projects that he’s previously worked on, click here. You can contact him via email in order to get more information on his editing rates and a free quote for your project.
15. Anne Horowitz (Brooklyn, NY)
Beginning her freelance editing career in 2010, Anne Horowritz has worked with clients like Tin House Books, Seal Press, Ig Publishing, and the Library Journal. She loves to work with first-time authors and is very experienced with it comes to traditional publishing. She works on a variety of projects, including literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, and even memoirs.
Anne provides developmental editing, manuscript evaluations, line editing, copy editing, and even query letter and proposal editing. Since all projects vary in size and subject matter, it’s a good idea to get in contact with Anne first to receive a free quote for your project. The best way to contact her is either by email or through her website’s contact form, found here.
16. Robert Montgomery (New York City, NY)
Robert Montgomery is a freelance editor who really knows his stuff. As a Pulitzer-nominated author himself, Robert knows exactly what the publishing industry expects out of a top-tier manuscript. With over fifteen years of experience as a freelance editor, Robert Montgomery offers business writing, education writing, and editing services. He’s worked with authors like Anita Wong, author of “Pain Was My Middle Name," and was even a story consultant for the television show Law and Order. You can contact Robert by phone, fax, regular mail, or email for a free consultation about your project.
17. Lauren Martin Parker (New York City, NY)
Lauren Parker is a budding new freelance writer with over five years of experience in the field. She has a BA in Creative Writing from Marquette University, a Certificate of Editing from NYU SCPS, and is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. Lauren has worked on books like “Morning Glory" by Warren Adler and “Elsewhere, U.S.A." by Dalton Conley. She offers proofreading, copyediting, and developmental editing services, as well as writer coaching and even branding and marketing packages for authors looking to expand their reach. The best way to contact Lauren is through her website’s online contact form to discuss rates, found here.
18. Josh Feldman (Brooklyn, NY)
Josh Feldman is a freelance editor who specializes in developmental editing for fiction manuscripts of all genres. He likes to work on projects of literary fiction, historical fiction, young adult, and more. As a fellow author, Josh understands what it takes to really make a manuscript agent or publisher ready. With over ten years of experience, Josh is more than happy to help writers accomplish their goals and polish up their work before submission. For a more comprehensive list of Josh’s previous work experience in the publishing industry, click here. The best way to contact him is via email so that he can first give you a quote for your project and provide any information you may need about his services.
19. Megan Cossey (New York City, NY)
Mega Cossey is a talented freelance editor with over eighteen years of experience in the publishing industry. She used to work as a multimedia journalist who has worked for several organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank. She provides proofreading, copyediting, and even fact-checking services to make sure your manuscripts are error-free and credible. While her rates aren’t explicitly stated on her website, you can get in contact with Megan via email, phone, or even on Twitter and LinkedIn to begin your initial project consultation.
Are there any other book editors in New York that should be on this list? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.
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