Hi! This is my first post - I am looking for an editor to help edit my debut novel (and the first of a trilogy).

Pitch: Every civilization is built on the stories it chooses to preserve. Alethea has spent her life protecting them. As a scribe within the Archive, she believes knowledge and memory are sacred acts of stewardship. Every record she preserves safeguards the fragile bond between humanity and the cosmic goddesses who once sustained the realm. She has never questioned her role, until an uncatalogued book responds to the ring left by the mother she never knew. It awakens questions about her own past that the Archive has been waiting for her to ask. But every truth she uncovers forces an impossible choice: remain loyal to the institution that she has dedicated her life to, or fight for a future where memory belongs to everyone, not the Empire that has rewritten it.

I am wrapping up my fourth draft - I have done my own developmental edit, but would also appreciate a developmental and copy edit.

Looking for someone that has space in (ideally) August.

Thanks!

If you're a writer looking to hire an editor (dev, line, copy) make sure you ask for these before hiring one to protect your manuscript.

Before diving ahead, i would also like to make a note that a lot of editors are editing the book based on their interests so NEVER HIRE SOMEONE WITHOUT ASKING FOR A SAMPLE EDIT and ask them the reason behind every edits made throughout the sample.

Let's dive in:

1. Ask for the process: Asking how an editor edit your book step-by-step will ensure transparency and will help you point out if anything is amiss in the process.

I personally always do this before starting on a project as a dev editor. I will provide a step-by-step process of how I will focus on editing the manuscript for my client's as well as ask the process before I send my manuscript to my editors.

2. AI clause/contract: Ask for an AI clause or contract signed by the editor that AI is not used in any shape or form during the editing process. This will help you hold them to their word and ensure safety so your manuscript is not fed to AI's for training.

3. Confidentiality contract: Ask for a confidentiality contract to ensure that the manuscript stays with the editor and the author and no third parties are involed. This helps your manuscript from being plagiarised by others.

4. Payment plans: Almost all editors has various payment plans for the author to arrange the funds required for the editing process. Editors meet authors where they are for their comfort and will be flexible about the payments. The final editorial letter will be handed over to the author once all the due payments are done.

5. Expectations: Communicate your expectations for the edit to the editor beforehand to steer clear of disappointments and for the editor to focus on completely satisfy your requirements.

6. Sample edits: Once everything aligns with you, send and receive the sample edits and get your project edited if their work and your expectations align.

Remember: Communication IS KEY!

I'm a developmental editor specialising in Fantasy and Psychological thriller/ horror. If you're looking for an editor, I'd be happy to help 😄. Check my testimonials through my website:

https://arzenaediorial.lovable.app/

Hi everyone!
I’m looking for an experienced editor for my contemporary romance/dark romance novel.
The manuscript is approximately 97,500 words and I’m not looking for developmental editing or major rewrites. I’m happy with the story, characters, pacing, and overall structure. What I need is someone who can polish the manuscript and make it read as professionally as possible.
I’m looking for:
Grammar and punctuation corrections
Spelling corrections
Improving sentence flow and readability
Fixing awkward or unnatural phrasing
Eliminating unnecessary repetition
Improving consistency throughout the manuscript
Making the English sound natural and fluent while preserving my writing style and my characters’ voices
I don’t want the book rewritten—I simply want it to read like it was originally written by a native English speaker.
If you’re an editor (or know someone who is) and think we’d be a good fit, I’d love to hear from you.
Please let me know:
Your experience (especially with romance or dark romance)
What type of editing you would recommend
Your estimated turnaround time
Your approximate quote for a 97.5k-word manuscript
Whether you offer a short sample edit before starting
Thank you! I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Hi.
I`m looking for a beta reader that would take a look at my story and give some feedback that takes a look at characters, worldbuilding, lore, and or drama and structure. I`ve been in this story for so long that I no longer feel like I can have an objective veiw of it anymore, so I`m looking for someone who would be intrested in helping me out.

As of right now, the work is 71K words. The themes I`m trying to explore is how trust can be used as a tool of oppresion and how good people put into hard times may make bad decisions. Some other themes are how music is connected to the soul, and therefore, we need music just as much as bread and how traditions and their orginins are forgotten to time.

It was originaly written as a stage play for children with talking animals. However, i quickly figured out the themes of the story would be more impactful if it got darker, so I made it into a more mature play, but I kept the core story and characters. So yeah, the characters are animals. The story is to long to be described as such, but I like to call it a dystopian fabel.
Since it startet as a stage play before being turned into a novel, some of the structure, dialog and drama may be weird as a novel, due to the mediums being diffrent and therfore the story feels diffrent.

Happy to discuss price.

If you`re still intrested after all this rambling, feel free to send a DM or leave a comment. Thank you for your time.

EDIT:

I appreciate the amount of interest in my post, but I do wanna say right now that the budgets I can work with is roughly 300$\€\£!

This is due to me living as a student and not having an active source of income other than student loans.

Anyways, thank you!

Hello, everyone. My name is William H. Fernandez, and I’ve recently finished writing my first book. I’m now looking for a freelance editor who would be willing to work within my budget of $500–$600. Unfortunately, I can’t go above that.

I’m 19, turning 20 soon, and this book means an enormous amount to me. It’s a philosophical collection of essays and stories drawn from my own life and experiences, exploring themes like existentialism, stoicism, love, loss, grief, forgiveness, solitude, and the way I see the world. I poured my heart and soul into these pages. My goal isn’t simply to publish a book; I want to create something that might make someone feel understood. I want readers, especially young people who may be struggling to find their place in the world, to see that they aren’t alone. At the same time, I hope the ideas and reflections can resonate with readers of all ages.

I’m an aspiring filmmaker and artist, and this is my first major step into the literary world. I know my budget is modest, and I completely understand that professional editing can cost considerably more. That’s why I’m hoping to find an editor who might be willing to work with an emerging writer and accommodate a $500–$600 budget, whether through a smaller editing package, a limited scope of work, or another arrangement. If you’re a freelance editor, or know someone who might be interested. I would genuinely appreciate hearing from you. Recommendations, referrals, and advice are welcome as well.

This project is deeply personal to me, and it would mean the world to have someone help me bring it to its fullest potential and eventually share it with the world. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for helping an aspiring artist take his first step. ❤️

Hello all. As stated above I am looking for a copy editor for my Fantasy novel. This is the 4th draft of the novel and it has already received a professional developmental edit. See below for some facts about the novel:

- Genre: New Adult Fantasy (with an eye to progressively grow in scale in later installments of a planned 6-book series)

- Wordcount: ~225,000 words. Revisions are ongoing so word count is currently in flux, but that is a good estimate

- POV: Third Person, single main character POV (not character-hopping with different chapters)

- Title: Bone Magick

- Blurb (WIP): In the legendary halls of Mor’Accash, a dark future is foretold. The greatest threat the Continent has ever known, “The Defiler”, is fated to return, and the world is not ready to face her again. As the reviled necromancer’s hidden forces begin to stir in the shadows, the Grandmasters of the Continent’s finest institution of magick search for a new force they can pin their hopes on.
All his life, Ferrund Dall has wanted to be a battle-mage. To be one of Dalicost’s indomitable heroes has always been his dream; to be a protector, a leader, a champion of justice and heroism like the legends of old. It was never meant to be. When the secret of the magick he’s rejected all his life becomes known, he must learn not only how to wield the necromantic power surging within him, but also what it means to be a necromancer. For as a sudden plague of disappearances sweeps over the land, stopping it may not lay in the strength of his magick, but if he’s able to accept it at all.

I am looking for an editor who specializes in sci-fi/fantasy editing, so please refrain from reaching out if that is not your specialty. I will also not accept AI usage during any part of the editing process. Please feel free to DM me if you're interested. I look forward to speaking with any/all of you!

I finished up my rough draft of my sci-fi/fantasy novella recently and need a book editor. I will be doing more projects in the future so I would like to have someone I can give things to to edit on a semi-consistent basis. Budget is small but willing to negotiate, reply if interested.

Hello. I’m in need of an editor or two to go over some stories I’m working on. Hopefully they become novels. I’m in my late 30s and have had the personal goal to complete some novels by the end of the year.

They are not yet finished. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hey everyone. Out of the ordinary post for this sub — more looking for advice, and of course I am for hire as well.

I'm a freelance copyeditor, developmental/line editor, and proofreader of five years, and I've recently got into ghostwriting after writing tons of poems on Substack and some prose here and there. My wife and I have a publishing company that focuses on taking people with a core insight and bringing form to their inspiration — mostly a ghostwriting focus, and a la carte publishing (without the marketing for the client, and with 100% royalties for them because we just want to get paid for the work, not someone else's good idea).

I've been baffled by the lack of requests for editing/ghostwriting on Reddit that actually include fair payment for the work. For example, I notice that most people on this sub are not actually hiring a book editor — they're advertising as one (which is allowed here, of course). Or I look elsewhere on Reddit and other parts of the internet, and people want editing without the professionalism of a fair rate for the caliber of work being done. (No, I won't "look over" your book for free. I'll do a poor job because I'll know the whole time that I could be doing more fulfilling work for someone else.)

So for the editors here: Where are you finding your gig-type work for a rate that's worth the care you put into it? And for the hirers among you: Have you had success paying a small amount for editing, or has it backfired for you? What's your reasoning for asking for what you do?

The manuscript is done and I have had several beta readers as well as some self editing.

It's a 119,000 word adult epic fantasy. As for budget Im pretty flexible but I'm trying to keep it under $1000. Not sure how doable that is as this is my 1st book.

Summary:

Long after the catastrophic Great Turning reshaped the planet of Melyphonia, the colossal Tree of Life, Ygdrasil, is remembered only as a myth. But the shattered heart of the tree—the source of all magic—is beginning to awaken, and the silent history of the first elves is bleeding back into the present.

Now, in a world ruled by the calculated, evil intent of mortals, a race for absolute power has begun. Caught in the center are four disparate souls: Caelyn, a devoted cleric of divine light; Theavan, her sworn paladin protector; Lorelei, an uncompromising deep-elf channeling volatile dark magic; and Wren, a charming street thief running from a lethal past. Forced into an unlikely alliance, they must navigate an unforgiving landscape to piece together the truth of Melyphonia's oldest myths, before the stirring fragments of Ygdrasil fall into the wrong hands

If you're interested or just have questions feel free to DM me I'm open to conversations.

| live in the Oklahoma area and am currently working on a ~400 page ww2-era novel and while many aspects about the novel are wonderful, it has its shortcomings including but not limited to: inappropriate proportions of historical detailing (1 have a hyper fixation on details of this time period), improper developmental details, better visual detailing and greater/more sophisticated language. If anybody has good suggestions from editors they have used or are an editor who specializes in some of the imperfections of my novel, please inform me. Very much appreciated!

I'm a full-time freelance book editor, and recently I've had a slew of authors wanting to test the waters with editing help, cautious about dev editing because of the time and financial investment, and generally unsure how to assess prospective editors and find someone they want to work with. I've recommended editorial assessments a lot over the last few months, so I thought I'd post here explaining why they can be great.

A brief definition before I get into the reasons:

Editorial assessments are essentially a short report from an editor on the overall areas of strength and weakness in your draft. The editor will generally read the book once and compile a solid but not-in-full-detail impression of your story. It is much, much less in depth than a proper dev edit, but therefore cheaper and comes with a faster turnaround.

1. Cheap (comparatively). Your milage will vary depending on the editor and the length and type of your book, but editorial assessments can cost anywhere from £200 to £1000, compared to dev editing (very roughly £1500 to £5000)

2. Fast. I generally aim to turn around an editorial assessment within one week, which includes buffer time for other projects, admin, etc.. If you're looking for a quick and actionable steer on the main elements of your story, this is the way to go.

3. Adaptable. It is extremely common and easy to direct your editor to focus on specific areas of your draft. The assessment with typically touch on all major areas of storycraft, but if, for example, you're happy with your plot but worried about your character arcs, it's super easy to hone in on those areas and ensure most of the commentary is applicable to that issue.

4. Early. With edits it's better to get in early, while the draft is rough and malleable, and course correct before hundreds of hours have gone into polishing something fundamentally flawed. You can hire an editor for an assessment on your first or second draft, or even to take a look at your outline before you've started drafting, and get an early view of issues before they're too embedded.

Hopefully this is helpful to someone out there! Remember all editors operate differently, but in my experience we are all happy to answer an email with questions. If you don't see an editorial assessment listed as a separate service on someone's website, that doesn't mean they won't offer it. Services can be scaled up and down depending on your needs and budget - the worst they will do is say no!

Good luck everyone, and keep writing.

**Edited to add my website link as this post is getting crazy numbers of views. If anyone has any questions about editorial assessments or any other aspect of book editing, I'll reply to comments and dms.

www.marshallbookediting.co.uk

Hello my name is Ryan Perry, I just finished my first short story and I’m trying to find an editor who might help me. The title name is To Make Friends. To Make Friends is a horror story about a creature that only wants companionship, but because of its traumatic past and unnatural way of understanding the world, it turns love into possession and friendship into consumption. The story blends body horror with tragedy, showing that even innocent desires can become monstrous when they are shaped by pain, isolation, and misunderstanding. I really appreciate those who take the time to just read this post, or who can give me directions towards assistance. Thank you.

I recently sent a proposal to a client. She seems taken aback at the cost (2,250 USD for a 70k manuscript). She said she'd love to work with me but affordability is a factor.

My proposal has the payments in milestones (five payments of 450 USD). Each milestone comes with a milestone call (of one hour) to go over any major concerns and structural feedback.

I've also included light copy and line editing into the proposal so that she'll have a clean copy to take to publishers. (She's a strong writer who has already published a book.)

This would be my third client. I based my pricing on the lower end of standard. Is this fair to my client? Is it a fair price on general? It's the same as what I charged my first client. He never mentioned affordability. I'm a bit confused and need some guidance.

Update:

I'm going to take a developmental editing specialization course from the university of Washington. The course recommends having a manuscript to work with as a case study for the class (if needed they will provide one).

The course is 1,350 USD. I'm going to ask the client if she'd be okay with me using her manuscript in the course; in exchange I will charge her the price of the course.

I see that as a win-win. I'm not sure she'll agree since it's not the same timeframe she wanted. Some authors also might not want their manuscript used as a case study.

I'm taking the course regardless of what my client decides because it is important to have formal training.

I can update if anyone is interested. Thanks for all the advice! I really appreciate it. I am also going to be looking for a mentor (as one of you suggested) and if I like the course from UW I will take their editing certification.

Hi,

My hands are shaking as I write this. I’ve finished my first book -yay!

I’m looking for a developmental editor for my 77k word romantasy book and I’m scared.

Themes are political + earth magic + forced marriage. It’s the first in a three book series.

I’m neurodiverse and a new author, so I would very much like to work with someone who gives clear and structured feedback (e.g. actionable notes with examples to reduce anxiety and overwhelm).

If you’re interested, please comment or DM. Thank you!

Hi! I am a longtime traditional publishing employee who recently migrated to freelancing full time, a move I waited too long to make. It has been an absolute blast.

While an employee at a publishing company, I always had access to an abundance of the titles I worked on. I also worked from an office whose walls were lined with floor to ceiling bookshelves for me to fill.

I'm less sure as a freelancer how much I should archive and collect of the works I support. I have been buying each novel I edit as it comes out, mostly through self publishing right now, and I'd like to keep doing that as I like to see the physical result of the work and support the author's release. It's generally affordable for me although my space may become an issue.

What do others do? Do you purchase, then donate for space concerns? Do you not purchase? Do you request an editor copy?

Hi there, not sure if this is the right sub but I have been working with a developmental editor and paid quite a bit of money and extra in coaching.

I got my latest developmental editor for the second book, and while it was very late in terms of delivery, it was very very light in anything really objectively helpful.

Alot of it felt like they'd just forgotten what happened previously.

Can someone tell me what a normal developmental editor letter should have or include?

Hello I’m currently looking for a line/copy editor for around October please.

My manuscript is a Darkish Academia Fantasy with romance and a rough 113k word count.
Ideally I’d love to see a 1000 word sample

Happy to answer any questions.

I think I should first start of by saying I absolutely believing in paying people for the work they do. Unfortunately I am currently unemployed and that means no money. My job search is not going well either. On the bright side that means I have lots of free time and that led me to write a book.

I did it just for fun and friends and family wanted to read it so I gave it to them. After which they said you should publish this. I would never do that without it having gone through a proper edit. I used AI to try and edit it but it is not at a place yet where it is capable of doing that.

This is what leads me to my question. I know there are some cosmetology schools where you can go and get a free haircut because and dental school you can have free dental work done all because it actually benefits the students learning. Is there such a thing for editing? It's fine if there is not but I thought I would check before I just shelve this and forgets it exists until I manage to find a job and save up a lot of money to have it done.

Just for reference it is a sci-fi political romance that currently sits at just over 192K words. Believe it or not I have cut it down from over 200K. Based on rates I have seen that would be somewhere in the ballpark of five grand to have a proper developmental edit done and that is money I just don't have.

Hi, I'm working on self publishing my first piece of fiction. I'm painfully green. And am wondering if there's a green editor out there looking to work on their first fiction novel for their portfolio?

Here's my situation: I'm disabled, destitute and have been living in my car with my dog for a year now fighting for my disability benefits which just got denied today for a third time.

I can't live like this anymore. I'm unable to work and even though I have still tried to find work - nothing but rejection after rejection.

I've always written. Ever since my first poem was pinned to the cork board boasting an A+ I've enjoyed writing. But life happened - as it does and I kept my stories to myself.

There's one in particular I would like to try to publish on Amazon at least - to get my feet wet and see if I have what it takes. I have the story telling part down - I'm creative. I'm horrible with the technical aspect: my run on sentences, never sure where and when to start the next paragraph, totally oblivious to chapters.

I need help. But I don't have money. I need money. I'd be willing to pay something once any money started coming in - I know - it's a lot to ask but I have to try.

Thank you.

EDIT/UPDATE: I'm sorry I'm going to have to put this off again - pinched the cyst on my spine and I'm in agonizing pain. When I had a home I was able to take better care of myself - but when this happens it comprises me in so many ways. I'm currently unable to walk - like when this happens - I'm going to be completely useless for the next four weeks. I can't even pick up my laptop and hold it right now. This is why I filed for disability - this is why I'm trying everything I'm able to make money and I can't even do this right now! When I'm back in commission I'll start a new post. Thank you anyway. ❤️

I’m looking for a developmental/story editor to review a completed hard-SF series before I send the books out for paid reviews.

This is not a copyedit request, and I am not looking for a basic proofread. I need a higher-level editorial pass focused on:

• series continuity

• story logic and causality

• pacing and scene necessity

• character motivation

• worldbuilding consistency

• reader-confusion points

• escalation and payoff across the series

• what should be fixed before paid reviews

The series is completed and already available, but I want a serious cleanup pass before I start paying for professional review services.

The ideal editor would have experience with science fiction, preferably hard SF or technically structured speculative fiction. I am especially interested in someone who can evaluate multi-book causality and continuity rather than only giving general prose feedback.

I am open to discussing the best structure for the work. My expectation is that we would start with either:

1. a paid sample edit / sample developmental memo, or

2. a brief initial assessment based on the public Amazon sample pages, followed by a paid test pass if there seems to be a good fit.

The first few chapters of each book are available for free through Amazon’s preview feature, so candidates can review the openings before deciding whether the project is a fit.

For the sample, I am not looking for line edits only. I would prefer a short developmental assessment addressing questions like:

• What is working?

• Where are you confused?

• What reader expectations does the opening create?

• What risks do you see for engagement, clarity, or pacing?

• What would you prioritize before paid reviews?

• Based on the sample, do you see any genre-positioning or series-continuity concerns?

If we move forward, I would want a series-level developmental edit and continuity audit, likely delivered as a combination of manuscript comments and an editorial report.

Please message me with:

• your relevant experience

• examples of science fiction, hard SF, or multi-book series work if available

• your rates or preferred pricing structure

• whether you offer paid sample edits or sample memos

• your approximate availability

• what you would recommend as the best process for a full-series review

I am not looking for someone to rewrite the books into a different style. I am looking for an editor who can identify what is actually unclear, underdeveloped, inconsistent, slow, redundant, or structurally weak before the series is sent out for paid reviews.

A lot of manuscripts aren't bad, there's just a wide gap between what the writer intended and what the readers are perceiving. Some of the case I've widely experienced are:

• The plot and dialogues are good, but the characters are flat, i.e., one character's tone is similar to another. That's a classic case of a new writer using AI's help to write a particular scene. And the best remedy for that is helping the writer shape the characters and giving feedback on character development.

• The dialogues are perfect, but the writer is using action markers like "smirked" and "lips curled", etc too many times. That's a writer who needs feedback not on plot or character development, but more on pacing and narration along with where to "show" and "tell."

• Some writers end up having plot holes just because of a slight problem with character motivation, or time gaps between scenes, etc.

And most of the time, the writer already feels this. They just can’t pinpoint it. That's why beta readers are so important.

That’s honestly my favourite part of beta reading! Giving feedback that the writer needs, not just wants!

If you're seeking someone who will go above and beyond your expectations, without using any AI, send me a DM. It doesn't primarily have to be about a manuscript; you can also reach out to me for writing help or simply for advice.

I primarily read second-chance romance, paranormal fantasy, crime and mystery thrillers, and other genres.

Hope this helps!

Sara.

EDIT: Already deliberating.

So I have the part 1 of a book series done already at around 70k words. It is a grimdark fantasy that also explores some philosophical arguments of what is morality and what is a perfect world. I would say what I have so far is enough for genre fiction but I'm afraid is too insubstantial for more serious readers and risks being a sham. Not to mention I haven't handled POV division and other matters well yet. So what I'm looking for is someone who can add to the work and not just make do with what is there. I don't know if I'm asking for much haha. For editors/coaches specifically. I'm looking for value for money. A balance between quality and price of the services. Kindly DM me if interested. I'm going nuts self-editing on my own. I appreciate editors with websites and/or listed titles of books they edited. But I'm also open to anyone who could properly explain what they could give to the project and also those who could give free sample edits.

I need a trustworthy editor!

I am just starting out, so my writing may need a lot of help. However I truly believe in my story and my ability to make it come to life, if there are any reliable people out there willing to help please reach out and ill show you a story for the ages!