Need a Good Book Editor? Top Up-to-Date Recommendations
Where do I find a good book editor?
This is without doubt the question I receive most frequently from fellow writers. It’s a hard question to answer because, while finding an editor is easy, finding a good book editor is something else again.
I originally published this resource many years ago after reaching out to trusted writing experts for their recommendations of freelance book editors. I also encouraged readers to share their own suggestions in the comments. Today’s is the latest in a series of updates I’ve made to keep the post current—and I plan to continue revisiting it regularly to ensure the information stays helpful and relevant.
The following editors are in alphabetical order, with their names linked to their websites, so you can do further research to discover which is best suited to your needs. I’ll continue adding to the list whenever an appropriate new name comes to my attention (you can always find the list on the Start Here! page—accessible from the site’s top toolbar).
If you’ve personally worked with a good book editor, please feel free to add his or her name and URL in the comments. (If you’re an editor yourself and would like to be included, please ask one of your satisfied clients to nominate you.) The goal is to make this as useful a resource for everyone as possible. New names will be included in the list when I update it again in the future, so in the meantime be sure to check the comment section for more resources!
The Top Recommended Freelance Book EditorsMarlene AdelsteinServices: Developmental Editing, Publishing Consultations, Screenplay Editing.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Commercial Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Memoir, and Screenplay.
Affordable EditorsServices: Line editing, proofreading, developmental editing, comic book editing.
Rates: 1¢–1.5¢ per word
Specialities: Science fiction, fantasy, slice of life, historical fiction, memoir, non-fiction.
Services: Developmental edit, editorial assessment, line editing, copyediting.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Fiction, memoir, flash fiction, academic articles.
Services: Editing, consulting.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Unspecified.
Sally ApokedakServices: Editing, consulting.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Unspecified.
Augustine EditorialServices: Developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, sensitivity reading, beta reading.
Rates: 1.3¢–2¢ per word.
Specialities: Tales set in immersive worlds, stories inspired by S.E. Asian folklore, and slow-burn romantic subplots.
Black Wolf Editorial ServicesServices: Content editing.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Unspecified.
Bookaholics Author ServicesServices: Line editing and copyediting.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: PG-13 material.
Breakout EditingServices: Content editing, copyediting, proofreading.
Rates: 1¢–4¢ per word.
Specialities: Fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, memoir, short stories.
Vicki BrewsterServices: Developmental editing, copyediting, content editing, manuscript evaluation, academic editing, indexing.
Rates: $.50–$1.20 per 100 words.
Specialities: Long-form fiction.
Grace BridgesServices: Line Editing, Developmental Editing, Proofreading.
Rates: $3–$30 per 1,000 words.
Specialties: Science Fiction, Fantasy.
Averill BuchananServices: Development Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading, Indexing.
Rates: £10–£45 per 1,000 words or £1,00–£2,000 per 100,000-word book.
Specialties: Fiction, especially for independent/self-publishing writers.
Burgeon Design and EditorialServices: Coaching.
Rates: $1,200–$6,500.
Specialities: Diversity.
Kelly ByrdServices: Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Crime and Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Memoir.
Sandra ByrdServices: Coaching.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Fiction, creative and narrative non-fiction, memoir, devotionals.
Dario CirielloServices: Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading.
Rates: 1¢–4¢ per word.
Specialties: Science Fiction and Fantasy, Mystery and Crime, Romance, Literary Fiction.
Miranda DarrowServices: Developmental editing, coaching, book mapping, line editing, ghostwriting.
Rates: $.0175–$.0375 per word.
Specialities: Unspecified.
Rochelle DeansServices: Developmental Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading, Manuscript Evaluation, Query Editing, Academic Editing, Non-Fiction Editing.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Plot structure.
Christy DistlerServices: Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading, Manuscript Critique.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Unspecified, but seems to lean toward Christian Fiction.
The Engaged EditorServices: Developmental editing, line editing, proofreading.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Unspecified.
Joshua EssoeServices: Developmental Editing, Line Editing.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Genre Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror.
Elizabeth EvansServices: Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Manuscript Assessment, Proposal Crafting and Editing, Ghostwriting.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Unspecified.
Lorna FergussonServices: Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Appraisals.
Rates: £275–£800+, depending on service and length of project.
Specialties: Unspecified.
Free ExpressionsServices: Comprehensive editing.
Rates: $425–$3,875 per 1,000–100,000 words.
Specialities: Fiction, picture books.
Annette M. IrbyServices: Critiquing, copyediting, proofreading, substantive editing.
Rates: $7–$9.50 per page.
Specialities: Christian fiction.
Don JanalServices: Coaching, developmental editing.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Non-fiction.
Jessi’s Profressional Book EditingServices: Developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, manuscript evaluation, coaching.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Non-fiction, memoir, biography, historical fiction, literary fiction, thriller, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, Christian, young adult, children’s fiction, women’s fiction.
Caroline KaiserServices: Developmental Editing, Copyediting, Line Editing, Proofreading, Manuscript Evaluation.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Mystery, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Children’s Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction.
Nicole KlungleServices: Developmental Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading, Manuscript Evaluation.
Rates: $2–$3 per standard page.
Specialties: History, Humor, Writing Instruction, Memoir, Literary Fiction, Paranormal Romance.
Mary KoleServices: Developmental Editing, Coaching, Outline Evaluation, Manuscript Evaluation.
Rates: $249–$3,999.
Specialties: Children’s Literature.
Ann KroekerServices: Coaching.
Rates: $125–$1,025.
Specialties: Unspecified.
C.S. LakinServices: Developmental Editing, Proofreading, Coaching.
Rates: $8-$10 per page.
Specialties: Fiction, Non-Fiction.
Dana LeeServices: Proofreading, Copy Editing, In-Depth Editing, Developmental Editing
Rates: 1.4¢–4¢ per word
Specialties: Romance, Mystery, Memoir, Non-Fiction, Spanish to English books
Kurt LipschutzServices: Developmental Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading, Coaching.
Rates: Contact for rates
Specialties: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry
Katie McCoachServices: Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Manuscript Evaluation, Coaching.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, Romance.
Leslie McKeeServices: Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Unspecified but seems to favor Romance.
Andrea MerrellServices: Developmental Editing, Copyediting, Mentoring.
Rates: $30–$40 per hour.
Specialties: Unspecified but seems to favor Christian Fiction and Non-Fiction.
Victoria MixonServices: Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Synopsis Editing.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Novel, Short Story, Narrative Non-Fiction, Memoir.
Ginger MoranServices: Developmental Editing, Coaching.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction.
Roz MorrisServices: Developmental Editing.
Rates: £70 per 1,000 words.
Specialties: Fiction, Memoir, Non-Fiction
Robin PatchenServices: Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Proofreading, Manuscript Evaluation, Coaching.
Rates: $2–$7 per page.
Specialties: Unspecified but seems to favor Christian Fiction.
Lisa PoissoServices: Developmental editing, manuscript evaluation.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Unspecified.
Arlene PrunklServices: Developmental Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading, Indexing, Fact Checking.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Unspecified.
Lori PumaServices: Coaching, manuscript evaluation.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Fiction.
Revision DivisionServices: Manuscript evaluation, beta reading, line editing, copyediting, proofreading, coaching, outline evaluation, blurb revision.
Rates: 1.5¢–3¢ per word.
Specialities: Unspecified.
Bryan Thomas SchmidtServices: Developmental Editing, Copyediting, Ghostwriting, Short Story Review.
Rates: 1¢–5¢ per word.
Specialties: Unspecified but seems to favor Science Fiction.
Jessica SnellServices: Proofreading, copyediting, developmental editing, ghostwriting.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Unspecified.
Romy SommerServices: Manuscript, appraisal, developmental editing, copy editing, query assistance.
Rates: 1.2¢–1.8¢ per word.
Specialities: Romance, women’s fiction, historical, cosy mysteries.
Jim ThomsenServices: Line editing, copyediting, proofreading, developmental editing, coverage editing.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Unspecified.
Crystal WatanabeServices: Developmental Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading, Manuscript Evaluation.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Unspecified but seems to favor Science Fiction.
Whisler EditsServices: 1:1 Coaching.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Unspecified.
Lara WillardServices: Developmental Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading, Manuscript Evaluation.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Graphic Novels, Comics, Children’s Fiction, Picture Books, Young Adult.
Ben WolfServices: Developmental Editing.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialties: Unspecified but seems to favor Science Fiction.
Word Haven EditorialServices: Manuscript evaluation, developmental editing, line editing, copy editing.
Rates: Contact for rates.
Specialities: Unspecified.
The Write ProofreaderServices: Proofreading.
Rates: 2¢ per word.
Specialities: Unspecified.
The Writer’s HighServices: Development editing, line editing, manuscript evaluation, manuscript review, coaching.
Rates: 2.4¢–1.2¢ per word.
Specialities: Speculative fiction, historical fiction, mystery, literary, flash fiction, southern themes.
Linda YezakServices: Developmental Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading, Manuscript Evaluation, Coaching.
Rates: $3–$4 per page.
Specialties: Fiction and Non-Fiction.
Ginny YtrrupServices: Developmental Editing, Coaching.
Rates: 2.5¢–3.5¢ per word.
Specialties: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Web Content, Devotional, Query or Cover Letter, Book Proposal, Fiction Synopsis.
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In today’s market, getting feedback from a skilled editor is crucial—especially if you’re planning to publish independently. If you’ve yet to find a good book editor, start with the names here and get ready to transform your story!
Wordplayers, tell me your opinions! Have you ever worked with a good book editor? Can you add to the recommendations here? Tell me in the comments!The post Need a Good Book Editor? Top Up-to-Date Recommendations appeared first on Helping Writers Become Authors.
