If you’re an author in America who needs someone to edit your book, below we’ve featured 19 top book editors in the US.
1. PES Editorial
Based in New York, NY, PES Editorial is the business of Peter Senftleben, a freelance editor who started his career in the publishing industry in 2003.
In terms of services, Peter can provide manuscript evaluation, structural editing, extensive editing, copywriting, partial manuscript critique, second pass and book coaching, as well as query polishing. The latter costs $25, while a critique of the first 50 pages of your manuscript and a synopsis cost $200 – the other services don’t have standard prices, so you will have to ask for a quote if interested.
Before inquiring, you should know that Peter is experienced in working on horror, romance, urban fantasy, and LGBT fiction projects, to name a few genres.
2. Mary Kole Editorial
After working in the publishing industry for more than a decade, Mary Kole, who is now living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, decided to start her editing business in 2013.
Luckily, you don’t need to finish your project in order to be able to benefit from her services – even if you only have a book idea, she can still help. A 30-minute coaching call costs $199, and you can ask her anything about both your story and publishing. At the same time, an outline overhaul is $799, and a novel overview along with a feedback call start at $299. If your novel is complete, you can opt for a full manuscript edit ($3,999/50,000 words), a 100-page edit ($2,199), a reader report ($1,999/50,000), or for a few other services listed here.
To reach her, you can complete the form at the bottom of the main page.
3. Mainly Words
Mainly Words is the business of Jennifer Caven, a professional editor based in Freeport, Maine.
If you have a manuscript that needs polishing, Jennifer can provide developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading. While the first service addresses the weak and strong points of your work in terms of content, characters, and plot, the second one corrects aspects such as poor sentence structure and misplaced modifiers.
Since there are no prices displayed on the website, you will have to request a quote to see if Jennifer’s services are a fit for your budget.
4. The Writer’s Ally
Based in Maryland, The Writer’s Ally is a company founded by Ally Machate, who started her book editing career at Simon & Schuster.
They can provide developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, manuscript evaluation, query letter editing/writing, eBook formatting, and many more services. When it comes to book editing in particular, there are three main packages from which you can choose – Package A, which is great for limited budgets, Package B, for those authors who need developmental feedback, and Package C, which is ideal for those who can invest in their book.
If you want to request a quote or to inquire, you can complete this form.
5. Chretien Wordsmithery
Elisabeth Chretien is a freelance editor currently living in Iowa City, IA, and the owner of Chretien Wordsmithery. Besides having more than 10 years of experience in editing, she also has a Copyediting Certificate from the University of California.
Elizabeth can provide developmental editing, copy editing, query letter/proposal critique, coaching, and permissions management. The first two services are divided into three categories each, depending on how much work your project needs – for instance, the first level of the developmental editing package involves general feedback and manuscript review, while the second level also involves margin comments.
If you are a memoir, fiction, or nonfiction writer, feel free to request a quote here.
6. Writers Untapped
Founded by Tiffany White, Writers Untapped is a Missouri-based boutique company specialized in novel, novella, short story, and screenplay editing.
The services featured on their website are developmental editing ($0.016/word or $0.009 for manuscript assessment without in-line comments), line editing ($0.014-0.02/word), copy editing ($0.012-0.018/word), consultations ($50/hour), partial critiques (first 20 pages/$75, first 50 pages/$150, first 100 pages/$300), and query and proposal critiques ($30 for query/synopsis, $50 for both, $80 for both + the first 5 pages).
Keep in mind that these fees are only estimates, and that you will learn the final price for your project after discussing with Tiffany.
7. Editing Realm
Editing Realm was founded in 2006 by Miranda Miller, who currently resides in Lancaster, Ohio. She has a B.A. in English, specializing in creative writing and literary criticism, and is a freelance editor for Ylva Publishing and for Elite Editing.
Developmental editing (starting at $0.02/word), line editing & copy editing (starting at $0.02/word), copy editing (starting at $0.013/word), manuscript critique (starting at $0.005/word), and proofreading (starting at $0.009/word) are some of the services she can provide. If you want to obtain a good price, you can always opt for one of the packages listed here.
To get more information, feel free to reach Miranda by completing this form.
8. Barbara McNichol Editorial
Currently based in Tucson, Arizona, Barbara McNichol started her business in 1994. She is a member of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors. If you would like to see some of her work, you can look up Walking Tall, by Peggy O’Neill, and Reflection Management, by Nadav Goldschmidt.
Barbara provides editing services for nonfiction business books – Structural/Strategic Manuscript Review, Complete Content/Copy editing, and the Book Submission package are just three options from which you can choose. However, there are no standard prices displayed on the website, so, if you want to collaborate with her, you will have to request a quote here.
9. AMR Editorial
AMR Editorial is the business of Adam M. Rosen, a full-time nonfiction editor who has an experience of over 10 years in the field. At present, Adam is living in Asheville, North Carolina.
He can provide developmental editing ($.035-$.045/word), copy editing ($.025-$.032/word), line editing ($.028-$.035/word), proofreading, manuscript critique ($1,250/50,000 words), consulting, book publication management, and op-ed/article coaching. If you want to review the quality of his work, you can check out It Could Happen Here: America on the Brink, by Bruce Judson, or Red and Me: My Coach, My Lifelong Friend, by Bill Russell.
To learn more about the fees, you can reach Adam here.
10. Jennifer Gingerich Editorial
Currently living in Franklin, Tennessee, Jennifer Gingerich has gained extensive editing experience during the past 15 years of activity in the publishing industry. She has worked on projects in all genres, with clients such as Ken Coleman and Chris Hogan.
In terms of services, Jennifer can provide substantive editing, copy editing, line editing, and proofreading, to name a few. If you would like to see some of the books she has edited so far, you can look up The Proximity Principle, by Ken Coleman, and Business Boutique, by Christy Wright.
To request a quote, you can contact her here.
11. The Blue Garret
The Blue Garret was founded in San Francisco, California by Kristen Tate. Besides being a member of the Association for Independent Publishing Professionals, Kristen also has a Professional Editing Certificate from University of California.
The services that she and her team provide are divided into several packages – the Works package ($2,800/70,000 words), the Pro package ($1,750/70,000 words), and the Trad package ($2,100/70,000 words). The latter involves content editing and copy editing (one round each), query letter editing, synopsis editing, and a project management board, to name a few services.
If you want to get in touch with them for more information, you can do so here.
12. Tiffany Hawk
Tiffany Hawk is an editor, writing coach, and novelist currently living in Tucson, Arizona. She has taught Creative Writing at Rutgers University, was the editor-in-chief of Preferred Destinations, and has over 15 years of experience in both writing and editing.
Tiffany can help you with one-on-one coaching ($800/8 sessions), editorial assessment $1,100/up to 95,000 words), or with a full manuscript consult. When it comes to the latter, you will get a 20-minute consultation, developmental and line editing, a 1-hour post-editing phone call, and a few other services for which you will have to pay $0.04/word.
Unfortunately, her time is limited until the pandemic is over, so there is a great chance that she won’t be available when you reach her. However, if you still want to try, you can do so here.
13. Word Maven Editorial
Living in Ogden, Utah, Kelsy Thompson is the owner of Word Maven Editorial. She is a former editor of the literary journal Weber—The Contemporary West and has a B.A. in Professional, Technical, and Creative Writing from Weber State University.
Kelsy can provide developmental editing, manuscript critique, copy editing, proofreading, line editing, academic editing, query critique, and more. Luckily, she offers a 50% discount to writers who are also Utah residents, so, if this is your case, you might want to consider working with her.
To request a quote, you will have to complete the form at the bottom of the page.
14. GS Editing
Griffin Smith founded GS Editing in 2012 in Park City, Utah. He is a professional editor who specializes in both fiction and creative nonfiction – a few examples of genres he has worked with are action, adventure, crime, and memoir.
When it comes to fiction, Griffin is available for line editing (starting at $0.02/word), developmental editing (starting at $0.03/word), and for editorial assessment (starting at $0.01/word). He also provides copy editing (starting at $0.01/word), but this service is presented separately here.
To schedule a free consultation or to simply inquire, please access this page.
15. Elevation Editorial
Elevation Editorial is the business of Courtney Rae Andersson, a professional editor based in Reno, Nevada.
In terms of genres, she is specialized in fiction (fantasy and science fiction, along with all of their subgenres) and nonfiction (self-help and memoir). For both of these categories, Courtney can provide copy editing, line editing, and developmental editing. She is also available for manuscript evaluation, among other services. The Singing Guru, by Kamla K. Kapur, and Son of a Liche, by J. Zachary Pike are two titles you will find in her portfolio.
Since there are no standard fees displayed on her website, you will have to request a quote if you’re interested in working with her.
16. Your Book Guru
Susan Edwards founded Your Book Guru 40 years ago in Tampa, Florida. Besides gaining experience in working on both fiction and nonfiction projects, she has also won numerous awards, such as the Screenwriting Award from Writers Digest Magazine.
Susan can provide a wide range of services, which includes one-on-one coaching, content editing, copy editing, ghostwriting, and fiction/nonfiction coaching.
Interested in requesting a quote? You can do so here.
17. LCS Literary Services
Currently located in New York, NY, the LCS business was established by Latoya C. Smith, a successful editor with extensive experience in working on both fiction and nonfiction books. Previously, she was an executive editor at Samhain Publishing and an associate editor at the Hachette Book Group.
Latoya can help you with developmental editing, literary consulting, and with proposal evaluation. The genres she is interested in at present are YA fiction, high concept women’s fiction, romantic comedy, business, pop culture, sports, memoir, and a few others.
If you want to request a quote, you can reach her here.
18. Tricia Callahan
Living in Portland, Oregon, Tricia Callahan is a professional copyeditor for fiction and nonfiction books. If you check out her portfolio, you will see that her projects are for both young and adult readers – The Golden Specific, by S.E. Grove, and Things in Jars, by Jess Kidd are just two examples.
Besides copy editing, she can also provide line editing, proofreading, and eBook quality control. If you’re interested in working with her, you will have to request a quote here, as there are no prices displayed on her website.
19. Christi Martin Editorial
Christi Martin is an editor who currently lives in Athens, Georgia. She specializes in both fiction and nonfiction, and is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association.
Christi can provide line editing, copy editing, proofreading, manuscript critique, query review, and content writing services. She also has two packages available – the Self-Publishing one is rated at $8/page (250 words), while the Traditional Publishing package is rated at $10/page (250 words).
To learn more about her fees, you can reach her here.
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