It’s amazing what the practiced eyes and knowledgeable minds of freelance content/developmental editors can pick up on in a manuscript, helping the writer to make their finished product the best it can possibly be. Be aware that this is an investment both of time and of money, and so you should have your manuscript at the best possible level you can get it to on your own before taking the step, so that you receive the most benefit from the experience — but I believe it is well worth it. You can find specifics about each editor’s services by clicking their name.
While I also offer editing services, I am happy to recommend these and other editors.
Emma Walton Hamilton — I have worked with Emma on several projects. Her comments are insightful, wise and encouraging. I feel safe in her hands. I know that what she suggests will be spot-on, and will spur me on to dig more deeply into my manuscript and make it much more than I could have imagined was possible, and she will do this kindly, with my best interests at heart. Emma specializes in children’s literature — picture books, middle grade novels, and young adult novels, — and she is also known in kidlit circles as “The Query Whisperer.” She can help you make your query letter sparkle. Note that Emma is extremely busy these days, so may be unavailable.
Emma D. Dryden/drydenbks — Although I haven’t worked with Emma, friends who have done so recommend her highly. After working as an editor for publishers such as Random House, MacMillan, and Simon & Schuster, she launched her freelance editing business, drydenbks, in 2010. Emma also specializes in children’s literature, working not only with writers but also with illustrators, as well as doing career consultations.
Jordan E. Rosenfeld — I haven’t worked with Jordan (yet) but hope to be able to at some point. I have read and benefited from Jordan’s excellent book Make a Scene: Craft a Story One Scene at a Time. This is a book I highly recommend to anyone working on a novel-length project. When I read the book, I had to keep stopping to write notes — about the novel I was working on. Through her book, she helped me see clearly how to edit and revise the scenes to tell the best story possible. Jordan offers critiques, developmental editing, and copy-editing on novels, memoir, non-fiction, short stories and essays.
Mary Kole — I haven’t worked with Mary yet, as an editor, although I have taken courses and webinars that she has taught and I feel confident in recommending her as an editor. She is a former agent, currently a freelance editor and educator, specializing in the world of kidlit. She is author of the book WRITING IRRESISTIBLE KIDLIT, which I have found very helpful in my writing. As well as her editing services, I highly recommend her blog at kidlit.com as a great source of learning for all things kidlit, as well as her learning and editorial hub, Good Story Company.
All of these women are also writers, and understand the world and mindset of the writer, which is very helpful in terms of feeling comfortable with an editor as well as confident in their abilities.
You can also find a list of freelance editors and critiquers at the KidLit411 website.
Of course, I invite you to explore my editing services, as well.
I’d be happy to work with you for either copy editing or developmental editing.
You may go to my Flubs2Fixes website for more information.