The best short story book developmental editing services

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Nicole 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

I'm a literary agent with a passion for collaboration and a love of storytelling. Always thoughtful, engaged, and optimistic.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Women's Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Sex & Relationships, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • The Book Group
  • The Reading Room
  • ICM Partners

Erik 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

From the minutiae of copy editing to the development of craft and style, I will help take your writing to the next level.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Short Story, Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, Literary Fiction, History, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Lee 5 star rating

Portland, Oregon, USA

A sharp, sensitive editor of fiction and creative nonfiction with twenty-five years of experience in publishing.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Anthologies, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, Math & Science, Writing & Publishing, Coming of Age, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Tin House Books
  • Tin House magazine
  • SheBooks
  • The Santa Monica Review
  • Dove Books
  • The Iowa Review

Multigenre editor with a knack for offbeat characters and juicy plots. I love indie publishing and contemporary fiction.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Loyola University Chicago

I've been a freelance editor for 25 years, working with clients on novels and memoirs later published by Dutton, W.W. Norton, Scribner, etc.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Jamie 5 star rating

Wausau, Wisconsin, USA

Writer, editor, tutor, & coach passionate about engaging storytelling & vibrant characters across novels, books, (web)comics, & videogames.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Coming of Age, Literary Fiction, New Adult, Young Adult, Nature, Non-Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Rowman & Littlefield
  • Self-employed
  • SuperPROTEIN Studios Inc.
  • Vilostudios

Cindy 5 star rating

Slippery Rock, PA, United States

I help make dreams come true – developing a plan after your first draft or polishing with personal care. Lower-cost options available.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Cultural & Ethnic, Anthologies, Christian Non-Fiction, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Writing Assessment Services
  • Grove City College
  • Veritas Academy Online
  • Florida State University, Auburn University, Tallahassee Community College, Los Positas College

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Kyle 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Editor with two decades of experience in books and magazines. Known for distilling complex ideas into clear, compelling prose.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Photography, History, Political Science & Current Affairs, Architecture, Biographies & Memoirs, Education & Reference, Short Story, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Art in America
  • Self-employed
  • Artforum

I've been an editor for 28 years now, and I've done everything from line editing, copy editing, and proofreading from academia to fiction.

Genres: Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Anthologies, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Romance, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Bedford/St. Martin's
  • Self-employed

I enjoy working on all sorts of projects with people who need help with grammar. My main areas are business and English.

Genres: Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies, Historical Fiction, Fiction, and Short Story.

Work experience:

  • Lexington Books
  • Golbon

Kaitlin 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

A seasoned television executive bringing story development skills to a new space.

Genres: Plays & Screenplays, Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Short Story, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Medical Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, and Humor & Comedy.

Work experience:

  • WV Entertainment
  • Blondie Girl Productions
  • CBS

Laird 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Editor with 8+ years of experience (5+ @ Farrar, Straus and Giroux [FSG]), expertise in award-winning and bestselling fiction and nonfiction

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Computers & Internet, Philosophy, Humanities & Social Sciences, History, and Psychology.

Work experience:

  • Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Center for an Urban Future

Sarah Lyn 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Developmental editor with 10+ years of experience at publishers + lit mags. Here for your stories, essays, novels, memoirs, and hybrid work!

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, LGBTQ Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Soft Skull Press
  • Catapult Books
  • Catapult (magazine)
  • Penguin Random House
  • Publishers Weekly
  • Self-employed
  • The Rumpus
  • The Rumpus

Jamie 5 star rating

Yonkers, NY, USA

I am an experienced Senior Editor/Proofreader specializing in comic books, graphic novels, young adult literature, and children's fiction.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Children's, Short Story, Anthologies, Coming of Age, Humor & Comedy, Horror, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Archie Comic Publications, Inc.

Versatile editor with more than a decade of experience. Focused on making your writing the best it can be! Self-help. Anthologies. Memoir.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Religion & Spirituality, Career Guides, Short Story, Fiction, Anthologies, Coming of Age, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Erin L. 5 star rating

Seattle, Washington, United States

24+ awards in writing and editing • 30+ books edited • Specialties include nonfiction and poetry • Ph.D. student, lit and creative writing

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Short Story, Poetry, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, History, Nature, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Cavendish Square, Wiley, & other publishers
  • Open Books: A Poem Emporium
  • Killer Visual Strategies
  • Various magazines
  • The Kentucky Standard
  • Sarabande Books
  • Entre Ríos Books

Rachel 5 star rating

Albuquerque, NM, USA

I am a writer, a life-long educator, and an editor who works to help other writers find their voice.

Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Short Story, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Biographies & Memoirs, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Narrative Magazine
  • Antioch Review
  • Antioch College

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Hire the best short story developmental editors

Writing and publishing a short story might seem easier than writing a novel, but in truth they can still be very hard to put together. A short novel means you've got to play your cards (or better say, words) right. That's why you should consider to hire a short-story developmental editor to revise your structure, form, plot, and character development.

At Reedsy, you can find thoughtful, experienced professional short story developmental editors who have worked with publishing companies and published short stories themselves. If you want your short-story to meet the industry standards and expectations, sign up to and request a quote today.

How it works

Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

Step 1

Apply filters

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Step 2

Browse

Then, browse professional profiles to find out more about their personalities and past projects.

Step 3

Request quotes

Request quotes from up to five freelancers at any time. They’ll look at your sample pages to give you a tailored quote as well as a sense of how they work.

Step 4

Collaborate

Once you agree on terms and a timeline, you’ll start collaborating using the many communication and editing tools available on Reedsy.