The best book editors for hire near Berkeley

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Elisabeth 5 star rating

Berkeley, CA, USA

An incisive but kind copy editor, I focus on psychology, self-help, health, and crafts for Penguin Random House, New Harbinger, and others.

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Fashion & Textiles, DIY & Crafts, and Parenting & Families.

Work experience:

  • Selected clients: Penguin Random House, LinkedIn Learning, Morgan Kaufman Publishers/Elsevier, and more
  • Healthline Media
  • Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America
  • Pearson Education

John 5 star rating

Berkeley, CA, USA

A veteran editor and writer who can help polish your fiction and nonfiction manuscripts.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • San Francisco Chronicle
  • Self-employed

Zack 5 star rating

Berkeley, CA, USA

Zack is a widely published writer and experienced editor. He has helped authors polish their work for more than two decades.

Genres: Anthologies, Fiction, Poetry, Literary Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Writing & Publishing.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Oppenheimer Investigations Group
  • Notre Dame de Namur University
  • Cornerstone Research
  • Various Master of Fine Arts Programs

Shire 5 star rating

Berkeley, CA, USA

A fiction/non-fiction editor with wide-ranging interests, I specialize in refining the elements of good writing: voice, style, and grammar.

Genres: Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Inkshares
  • Lost Roads Press
  • Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • New Directions

Julia 5 star rating

Berkeley, CA, United States

NYT-bestselling author, book reviewer, and editor. I've helped dozens of clients get published. I'd love to work with you!

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Political Science & Current Affairs, Education & Reference, Literary Fiction, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Los Angeles Times
  • El Financiero de Mexico
  • Wired News
  • The New York Times
  • Stanford University

Brittany 5 star rating

Rye, United States

Experienced cookbook editor and proofreader with a background in nonfiction publishing.

Genres: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Nature, and Education & Reference.

Work experience:

  • Cider Mill Press Book Publishers
  • Book Passage Bookstore
  • Saint Mary's College of California
  • MARY: A Journal of New Writing
  • The Music Hall

Ray 5 star rating

Northampton, United States

Developmental editing and copy editing for the nonfiction world: health, nutrition, fitness, tech, and entrepreneurship.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Sports & Outdoors, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Business & Management, Computers & Internet, and Technology.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Winning Edits
  • Rocket Code
  • Amazon Services (Amazon.com)
  • Smart Passive Income
  • Buy Box Experts
  • The Storied Future

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Jennifer 5 star rating

Berkeley, CA, USA

Editor w/design background. Worked on Disney books and with hybrid publisher Boyle & Dalton. Advocate for authors, readers, and publishers.

Genres: Design, Non-Fiction, DIY & Crafts, Fashion & Textiles, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Insight Editions
  • Boyle & Dalton

Lindsey 5 star rating

New York, United States

Experienced editor from a Big Five publisher specializing in mystery, suspense, and thrillers.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Action & Adventure, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Grand Central Publishing
  • Crooked Lane Books

Aja 5 star rating

Austin, United States

Making sure your prose sings, your facts and story are straight, and your unique voice shines through.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Music, Entertainment, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Simon & Schuster
  • on my porch, at a coffee shop, in far-flung places . . .

Kathy 5 star rating

San Diego, United States

Freelance copyeditor and proofreader offering 25 years of experience in scientific and educational publishing

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, Math & Science, Nature, Action & Adventure, Classics, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Education & Reference, Science Fiction, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Academic Press (Elsevier Science/Harcourt)
  • Academic Press
  • Brian F. Smith and Associates (Archaeologist)
  • Converse Consultants West
  • Cajon Valley, Mountain Empire, and Palm Middle Schools
  • Self-employed

Karen 5 star rating

Grand Prairie, United States

Experienced copy editor of fantasy, dystopian, paranormal, and speculative fiction. Specializes in working with indie authors.

Genres: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, and Time Travel.

Work experience:

  • INDIE Books Gone Wild
  • Self-employed
  • Ivy Tech Community College, Lafayette, Indiana
  • Purdue University
  • Texas A&M University
  • AgIT Department, Purdue University
  • Blinn College
  • Cancer Information Group
  • Arthur Andersen
  • Texas A&M University Press
  • Arthuriana (academic journal)
  • PLY Magazine
  • UC San Diego Extended Studies

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

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

Sean 5 star rating

Denton, TX, United States

Editor of bestselling, award-winning middle grade, YA, and adult books, specializing in fantasy and sci-fi. Let's make your book stand out!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Romantic Fantasy, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Andrea Hurst and Associates, LLC
  • Andrea Hurst and Associates
  • Self-employed
  • Relay Publishing, LLC
  • The Editorial Department

Paul 5 star rating

New York, United States

Contemporary fiction, romance, YA, plays, memoirs & cookbooks are my specialties. Clients: Amazon, Simon & Schuster, Kensington.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Biographies & Memoirs, Contemporary Fiction, and LGBTQ Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Editing Company
  • Simon & Schuster
  • Diner Journal
  • Kensington Publishing

Julie 5 star rating

New York, United States

I'm an editor with nearly two decades of experience in publishing, most recently at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Middle Grade, Children's, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, and Dystopian.

Work experience:

  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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Hire the best book editors in Berkeley

If you’re looking to get your book published, you’ll want it as polished as possible to attract publishers, readers, and sales. Professional book editors know good copy and will use their expertise to help perfect your manuscript.

Investing in an editor is well worth it to give your book the best chance of flying off the shelves. Whether it’s addressing the flow and organization of your writing, refining your prose to read like silk, emphasizing the theme, nailing the structure, or tailoring to your target audience, a professional book editor will help.

That’s why we’ve curated a selection of the best freelance professionals all in one place at Reedsy. We only accept editors with a proven track record of success — so our Berkeley book editors have a portfolio of work with the best publications, and they know their stuff. Sign up today to browse our comprehensive directory and find the right editor for you.

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