The best copy editors for hire in the United States

Sign up for free to meet top copy editors on Reedsy

Dave 5 star rating

Seattle, United States

Experienced copyeditor, proofreader, and fact checker proficient with Chicago style. I specialize in literary and historical fiction.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Fantasy, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and True Crime.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Renee 5 star rating

Buxton, ME, United States

Passionate editor of award-winning indie novels, with a specialty in adult dark fiction, spec. fic., horror, and psychological thrillers.

Genres: Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Middle Grade, Children's, Coming of Age, Poetry, Post-Apocalyptic, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Crystal Lake Publishing
  • Sebago Education Alliance
  • Allhorror.net
  • HorrorMovieReviews.com
  • Self-employed

Sandra 5 star rating

Omaha, United States

Skilled nonfiction book editor and book coach in business, true crime, self-help. Get from idea to published. I love first-time authors.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Psychology, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and True Crime.

Work experience:

  • Metropolitan Community College
  • Self-employed

Mary Beth 5 star rating

Orlando, United States

Sensitive, seasoned copy editor dedicated to strengthening each author's particular voice

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins Publishers
  • Self-employed

Georgette 5 star rating

Carmel, IN, United States

I'm a freelance editor and proofreader who's committed to helping authors produce the best work possible for their audiences.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Middle Grade, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Education & Reference, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Scholastic Reading Counts!

Marcy 5 star rating

Montclair, NJ, United States

I am a published novelist. I want you to become one, too. I specialize in literary fiction, YA, women's fiction, thrillers and memoir.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Knopf
  • Dow Jones
  • About.com

Carey 5 star rating

San Rafael, CA, United States

I am an editor who loves helping authors revise and refine their work so it is clear, precise, and ready for publication.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Health & Wellbeing, Travel, Sports & Outdoors, Parenting & Families, and Design.

Work experience:

  • Chronicle Books
  • Self-employed

📞 Chat with our team

Need a hand finding the perfect professional? Our team is here to help. Get in touch for recommendations.

Parisa 5 star rating

Brooklyn, NY, United States

Former Simon and Schuster editor with 15+ years of experience, specializing in all genres of fiction. I’d love to help get your MS in shape!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self Employed
  • Simon & Schuster

Ryan 5 star rating

Los Angeles, United States

Detail-obsessed proofreader and copyeditor with 15+ years of Big Five and indie experience. Let’s polish your manuscript to perfection!

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Espionage, Thriller & Suspense, Legal Thriller, Technothriller, and Psychological Thriller.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Group USA
  • Phoenix Books
  • Deutsch LA
  • Self-employed

Maleah 5 star rating

Nashville, United States

Former Thomas Nelson editor with 20 years experience in Christian non-fiction, study products, and Bibles

Genres: Inspirational, Non-Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins Christian Publishers)
  • Thomas Nelson

Eva 5 star rating

San Marcos, United States

Twenty-five years of experience as a copy / line editor, primarily in science, for university, museum, and association presses.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Nature, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, Life Sciences, Geography, Writing & Publishing, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Erin 5 star rating

Los Angeles, United States

Experienced writer, editor and agent with an MFA in Creative Writing. I have edited New York Times bestselling books and series. 10+ years

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • The Industry
  • tNY Press
  • Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC
  • Self-employed

Lila 5 star rating

New York, United States

I specialize in editing nonfiction and academic books, and I'll work with you based on your specific writing style, voice, needs, and goals.

Genres: History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Law, Political Science & Current Affairs, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Sociology, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

George 5 star rating

Virginia, United States

Experienced copy editor and proofreader of trade books in a wide variety of genres, for readers of all ages.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Children’s Non-Fiction, Middle Grade, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • The Free Lance-Star
  • freelance
  • self-employed and for various companies
  • volunteer

Gail Naron 5 star rating

New Orleans, United States

Editing of academic works, reports, and dissertations, with a focus on the social sciences, Jewish studies, humanities, and law

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Law, Political Science & Current Affairs, Religion & Spirituality, Psychology, and Economics.

Work experience:

  • Aptara, Westchester Publishing Services
  • Jewish Communal Service Association

Trinity 5 star rating

Grand Rapids, MI, United States

Copy editor and proofreader with 18+ years of experience; I work relentlessly to help your ideas and voice shine through.

Genres: Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Inspirational, Biographies & Memoirs, and Health & Wellbeing.

Work experience:

  • SpartanNash (a Fortune 400 Company)
  • Baker Publishing Group
  • Freelance
  • HarperCollins Christian Publishing
  • The Bindery

Angela 5 star rating

Los Angeles, United States

Editor of more than 800 books. I specialize in sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural, horror, mystery, thriller, YA, and dystopian fiction.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, LGBTQ Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Alyson Books
  • Self-employed

Browse 2,000+ additional profiles

Create your free Reedsy account and begin requesting free quotes.

Hire the best copy editors in the United States

Even if you don’t think you need to hire a copy editor, you’d be surprised by how much difference this type of editing can make.

Copy editing isn’t the same as proofreading: it involves an editor examining your work and asking questions about the way you use language throughout the text. Does it flow well? Does your tone maintain consistency? Does your narrative voice change, and are you using specific words that don't align with it? They’ll also look at your writing on a sentence level, making suggestions on clarity and syntax, and correcting spelling errors, grammar mistakes, and awkward turns of phrase. Overall, a freelance copy editor will smooth out all details relating to style to bring your book, fiction or nonfiction, as close to perfect as possible.

For many writers, their copy editor is the most important collaborator they have in the pre-publication process. So why settle for anyone less than impeccable? Here on Reedsy, you’ll find the best copy editors for hire in the United States and around the world. Our copy editors for hire have worked with authors like Meg Wolitzer and Tana French, molding their novels into masterpieces — and they use their training and editing experience to do the same for you. Our editors have experience copy editing a large variety of genres, and have worked with some of the most prolific publishing companies.

Simply sign up and you can start browsing their profiles and reading reviews from clients who've used their copy editing services before. You can request quotes or ask for more information about their copy editing services today.

How it works

Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.

Step 1

Apply filters

Reedsy is home to thousands of professionals. Select the specific services you need and narrow your search based on your book’s genre and requirements.

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.