The best poetry book copy editing services

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Sarah 5 star rating

Fayetteville, AR, USA

I am a writer, editor, crafter and mom who loves to encourage other people to express themselves creatively.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, and Poetry.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • University of Arkansas Press

Christina 5 star rating

Portland, OR, USA

Thoughtful, thorough, and insightful Christian theology editor for 14 years. Globally-minded seminary graduate. K–adult educator.

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Clatsop Community College
  • Fuller Writing Center
  • Tillamook Bay Community College
  • Judson International School

Misty 5 star rating

Nashville, TN, USA

Veteran editor specializing in inspiring stories about religious deconstruction, deconversion, and narcissistic abuse recovery

Genres: New Age, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Poetry, Young Adult, Fantasy, and Inspirational.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins
  • Self-employed
  • 2CGaming

David 5 star rating

Durham, NC, USA

15+ years editing for an award-winning literary magazine. I help writers shape their work with clarity and care.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Parenting & Families.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • The Sun magazine

Amanda 5 star rating

Charlottesville, VA, USA

Independent press cofounder, experienced editor, insightful reader. Edits literary and genre fiction at all stages of development.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological Thriller, LGBTQ Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Coming of Age, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Independent Press
  • C&R Press
  • Virginia Tech
  • Freelance

Ariel 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Meticulous editor. Experience at Macmillan, Simon and Schuster, Red Hen Press. Poetry, literary fiction/nonfiction, adult/children's books.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Writing & Publishing, Non-Fiction, Children's, Coming of Age, Short Story, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Red Hen Press
  • Scripps College Journal
  • The Student Life
  • Coffee Stained Press
  • Self-employed
  • The Adroit Journal

Jenn 5 star rating

Olathe, KS, USA

Honest and caring editor. Passionate about helping authors succeed, with ten years in the professional literary world.

Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, and Poetry.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • TouchPoint Press

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Mona 5 star rating

Boston, MA, USA

Passionate and meticulous copyeditor specializing in experimental literature and global perspectives. Ten years of lit mag experience.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Anthologies, Literary Fiction, Cultural & Ethnic, Poetry, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, and Travel.

Work experience:

  • Hummingbird Press
  • Today Newspaper
  • Tin House Books
  • Literary Arts/Tin House Books
  • Chicago Quarterly Review
  • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
  • CareerPro Global, Inc.
  • Catamaran Literary Reader
  • Santa Cruz Sentinel

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

Meg 5 star rating

Philadelphia, PA, USA

20+ yrs as a collaborative journalist/editor/poet, using candor and kindness to help writers win awards + publish their poetry + nonfiction.

Genres: Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Music, Psychology, Biographies & Memoirs, Writing & Publishing, Nature, Poetry, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Garden Design Magazine
  • Women's Health magazine
  • Rathalla Review
  • Rosemont College

Laurel 5 star rating

Portland, ME, USA

I am an experienced editor specializing in K–12 education, memoir, and other nonfiction.

Genres: Education & Reference, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Travel, Humanities & Social Sciences, Poetry, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Solution Tree Press
  • Marzano Resources
  • The Creator Institute

Elizabeth 5 star rating

South Bend, IN, USA

Twenty years as a copy editor and proofreader of Christian fiction, history, and other nonfiction. I look forward to working with you!

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Photography, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, and Poetry.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • University of Notre Dame Press
  • National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
  • Moody's Analytics

Amy 5 star rating

St. Louis, MO, USA

Children's book specialist with over 35 years of experience and 75+ books published. Clients include HarperCollins, Scholastic, and Disney.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry.

Work experience:

  • HarperCollins Children's Books
  • Stony Brook University
  • Studio Goodwin Sturges
  • Self-employed

Val 5 star rating

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Literary Agent, acquiring editor, & author with 10+ years of experience specializing in YA and adult character-driven storytelling.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Coming of Age, LGBTQ Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, and LGBTQ Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Row House Publishing
  • Self-employed
  • Tessera Editorial
  • Poetry International and Fiction International
  • Luminary Publishing
  • D4EO Literary Agency

Mira 5 star rating

Boston, MA, USA

Proofreader and copyeditor with over six years of wide-ranging experience and a special focus on children's and YA!

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Middle Grade Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Charlesbridge Publishing

developmental & copy editor of fiction & poetry | 20+ years experience published novelist & poet | book production & publishing expertise

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, and Religion & Spirituality.

Work experience:

  • W. W. Norton
  • Self-employed

John 5 star rating

Stockton, CA, USA

I have many years of experience in a wide array of editing and writing duties in a wide variety of genres.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Short Story, Agriculture, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Computers & Internet, Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences, Math & Science, Geography, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Philosophy.

Work experience:

  • Oxford University Press
  • MTKG, Inc.
  • University of California Press

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Hire the best poetry copy editors

Poetry is often viewed as being open in form and to interpretation, but you can rest assured that you’ll still need a good copy editor for poetry as much as any other form. In fact, the importance of rhythm and flow to verse means that jarring typos or inconsistencies can be more likely to stand out to readers and reviewers than in prose.

That’s why it’s so important that you hire a poetry copy editor with a surplus of knowledge under their belt who can help you identify typos, mistakes in grammar, and inconsistencies. Once these issues are out of the way, you’re sure to guide your verse to greatness.

And don’t worry, finding an experienced editor doesn’t need to be its own Odyssey: on the Reedsy Marketplace, we host the most talented freelance professionals in the industry. You're in the right place. Now you just need to take the next step — sign up today and request quotes for free.

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.