Job List

Project Title: Copy Editor Needed — Children's Illustrated SEL Chapter Book, Agent Submission Ready

Project Type: Copy Editing
Genre: Children's Fiction — Illustrated Chapter Book, Ages 7–10
Word Count: Approximately 10,000 words
Format: PDF

About the Project
I am seeking an experienced copy editor for a completed children's illustrated chapter book titled HeartLight: Yoga Tales, Volume One. The manuscript is being prepared for literary agent submission and requires a professional, thorough copy edit.

The book follows four animal characters at a magical forest school, guided by a wise owl named Ojas. Each of six chapters addresses a distinct social-emotional learning (SEL) theme — jealousy, focus, sensitivity, confidence, and anxiety — and weaves in age-appropriate breath work and yoga practices through the story. The book is fully illustrated with original artwork and includes a professionally designed activity guide page per chapter.

The story, structure, voice, and illustrations are final. I am not seeking developmental editing or creative feedback. I need the manuscript technically clean and submission-ready.

Scope of Work
Please copy edit for the following:

● Grammar and punctuation errors throughout
● Missing spaces between sentences and words
● Capitalisation inconsistencies
● Dialogue punctuation — this is a recurring issue requiring careful attention
● Paragraph indentation and alignment inconsistencies carried over from Word formatting
● Any awkward or unclear phrasing — please flag for my review rather than rewriting

Style Guide
● British English spelling throughout — colour, favourite, practise, realise, recognise
● This is warm, accessible children's prose — please do not over-formalise or over-punctuate

The following are intentional stylistic choices — please preserve:
● Sound and movement words: Mmmmmm, Boing, CRASH, Thhhhhhh
● Fragmented sentences used for rhythm and pacing
● Italics for inner thoughts and emotional emphasis
● Breath count sequences: One… two… three… four
● Capitalised exclamations in dialogue

Ideal Candidate
I am looking for an editor who has:

● Demonstrable experience copy editing children's fiction in the 6–10 age range
● Familiarity with the children's publishing market and agent submission standards
● At least two published children's book titles in their portfolio — please name them in your proposal
● Experience with SEL, mindfulness, wellness, or educational children's content is a strong plus
● References or reviews from children's authors preferred

What I Ask of You
● Please provide a sample edit of the first 500 words before we confirm the project — this is non-negotiable
● Please state your turnaround time for 10,000 words
● Please provide your flat fee for this project — I am not looking for hourly billing
● Please confirm you work in Track Changes in Microsoft Word so I can review every suggestion

Budget
I am aware of EFA standard rates for copy editing and will pay fairly within those guidelines. Please quote your flat fee for 10,000 words. I am looking for the right person.

Timeline :
Manuscript ready to send immediately. I would like the edited manuscript returned within 3 weeks.

PROJECT TITLE

Manuscript Reconstruction Editor Needed – YA Dystopian Romance (Paid Test Assignment)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Seeking a U.S.-based editor for a completed first-draft YA dystopian romance manuscript.

The manuscript was created primarily through voice dictation and is structurally complete. The story, characters, pacing, scene structure, and worldbuilding are already in place. This is not a developmental editing, ghostwriting, or co-authoring project.

I am seeking a skilled manuscript reconstruction editor to help transform a rough dictated draft into a clean, readable manuscript while preserving narrative intent, voice, structure, pacing, and worldbuilding.

SCOPE OF WORK

Responsibilities include:

• Correcting grammar, punctuation, spelling, and dictation artifacts

• Clarifying dialogue, quotation usage, speaker attribution, and conversational flow

• Improving readability, sentence structure, and prose clarity

• Applying standard publishing and manuscript formatting conventions

• Preserving story structure, character arcs, worldbuilding, and authorial intent

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING PLACEHOLDERS

The manuscript intentionally contains numerous blanks and placeholder references for technologies, institutions, locations, historical events, organizations, and other worldbuilding elements.

All placeholders must remain exactly as written.

Editors should not create, replace, complete, or expand any placeholder names or worldbuilding terminology. These elements will be finalized by the author during a later stage of development.

PAID TEST ASSIGNMENT

Selected candidates will be invited to complete a paid editorial test consisting of approximately 25–30 manuscript pages.

Compensation

$350 USD flat fee

Deliverables

• Edited manuscript pages

• A brief Editorial Philosophy Statement outlining:

Editing approach
Strengths observed in the manuscript
Anticipated challenges
Proposed methodology for a larger engagement

FULL MANUSCRIPT OVERVIEW

The complete manuscript is a single, structurally complete novel currently totaling approximately 1,700 manuscript pages (roughly 425,000 words).

The paid test assignment is the only immediate commitment and is intended to allow both parties to evaluate fit before discussing any larger engagement.

Successful candidates may be invited to participate in a multi-phase manuscript reconstruction project. Future phases are expected to consist of approximately 500 manuscript pages per phase, with anticipated compensation in the $2,500–$3,000 range per phase depending on scope and deliverables.

REQUIREMENTS

• Located within the United States

• All work performed personally from within the United States

• No subcontracting, outsourcing, or delegation of work

• No AI tools, generative writing tools, large language models, or automated editing systems of any kind

• Willingness to sign an NDA and Paid Test Agreement prior to receiving manuscript materials

CONTENT ADVISORY

This manuscript contains mature and potentially sensitive subject matter that may be uncomfortable for some readers.

Themes and content include:

• Human trafficking

• Domestic servitude and systems of coerced labor

• Intentional physical disfigurement and bodily modification

• Surveillance and social control

• Sexuality and sexual themes

• Gender roles and traditional gender constructs as part of the fictional worldbuilding

• Psychological manipulation and institutional control

While written for a Young Adult audience, the manuscript explores darker dystopian themes and incorporates these subjects as part of its setting, character development, and central narrative conflict.

Candidates should be comfortable reading and editing material containing these themes.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in:

• Young Adult fiction

• Dystopian and speculative fiction

• Romance

• Manuscript reconstruction and developmental cleanup

• Dictated manuscripts, rough drafts, and heavily revised works-in-progress

TO APPLY

Please provide:

• Brief introduction

• Relevant editing experience

• Resume, portfolio, website, or LinkedIn profile (if available)

• Three favorite YA novels published within the last ten years

• Brief description of your experience working with rough drafts, dictated manuscripts, or developmental works-in-progress

I look forward to finding the right collaborator for Cloaked.

seeking an experienced editor for Book 3 of an established crime thriller series by retired NYPD detective and author Bart W. Cassidy.

The initial phase of this project will focus on manuscript formatting and developmental editing. The manuscript is approximately 100,000 words and is the third installment in a character-driven detective thriller series that combines homicide investigations, suspense, family relationships, grief, redemption, and the lasting consequences of violence.

Because this is Book 3 of an ongoing series, a key objective is ensuring the story blends seamlessly with the first two novels. The selected editor should be comfortable evaluating continuity, character development across the series, recurring themes, timeline consistency, and whether the third book provides a satisfying progression for returning readers while remaining accessible to new ones.

The developmental editing phase should focus on:

• Story structure and pacing
• Character arcs and emotional development
• Series continuity and consistency with Books 1 and 2
• Plot logic, realism, and investigative elements
• Theme integration and narrative cohesion
• Reader engagement and suspense
• Identification of plot holes, weak scenes, or areas requiring expansion or reduction
• Overall commercial viability within the crime thriller and suspense genres

The manuscript may require additional editing phases after developmental feedback is incorporated. Ideally, I am looking for an editor who may also be available for later stages, including line editing, copyediting, and proofreading, if needed.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience editing crime fiction, detective fiction, mystery, thriller, or suspense novels
• Experience working with multi-book series
• Strong understanding of character-driven storytelling and long-form narrative development
• Ability to provide detailed, constructive developmental feedback rather than proofreading alone

Series themes include crime investigations, family, love, loss, trauma, redemption, second chances, and the enduring impact of past decisions.

Content Warning: This manuscript contains murder investigations, serial violence references, kidnapping, child endangerment, grief, trauma, death of loved ones, and other mature themes common to crime thrillers and psychological suspense novels.

When applying, please include:
• Relevant editing experience
• Genres and specialties
• Examples of thriller, mystery, crime, or suspense projects you have edited
• Experience working with book series
• Estimated turnaround time
• Developmental editing and formatting rates
• Whether you also offer line editing, copyediting, and proofreading services

I'm looking for an experienced editor who has previously worked with PhD students for copyediting/proofreading, grammar, punctuation, clarity, consistency, citation and reference consistency, table placement and figure review, checking abbreviations, terminology, and formatting consistency.

This is for a PhD dissertation on a healthcare workforce-related topic.

I am seeking an experienced developmental editor for my historical biographical fiction manuscript, Wings of Thunder. The book is based on my family history and follows a Polish family across multiple generations, from the 1860s through the 1960s, including szlachta heritage, family separation, immigration to Detroit, World War II occupation, partisan resistance, imprisonment, loss, survival, and rebuilding after war.

The manuscript is historical biographical fiction, so I am looking for an editor who can help preserve the emotional truth and family history while strengthening the manuscript as a compelling novel.

Potentially sensitive or triggering content:
This manuscript includes material related to war, military conflict, Nazi and Soviet occupation, imprisonment, family separation, forced displacement, grief, trauma, violence, death, anti-Polish persecution, anti-Jewish persecution, hunger, loss of home, and survival during World War II. Some scenes may include emotional distress, wartime brutality, and intergenerational trauma. I am looking for an editor who is comfortable working with historically sensitive material and can help handle these scenes with respect, accuracy, and emotional care.

I am especially interested in help with:

Overall story structure and pacing
Character development and emotional arcs
Clarity across a large family cast and multiple generations
Historical-fiction flow and scene development
Strengthening transitions between time periods and locations
Identifying areas that need expansion, compression, or clarification
Improving dramatic tension while respecting the true family history
Guidance on whether the manuscript is ready for line editing, copyediting, and eventual publication layout

Preferred qualifications:

Experience editing historical fiction, biographical fiction, family saga, or WWII-related manuscripts
Familiarity with European history, Polish history, immigration stories, or resistance/partisan narratives is a plus
Ability to work with emotionally sensitive family-history material
Strong developmental editing skills, with clear written feedback and practical revision guidance

I would like an editor who can provide either a full developmental edit or a manuscript evaluation with a detailed editorial letter and chapter-level notes. Please include your experience with similar projects, your availability, your process, estimated timeline, and your rate or fee structure.

Project Deadline: 62 days
Manuscript word count: 102,231
Author: Johanne Edwards

Hi! Manuscript 125,000 words:
-Health and Wellness
-Not too clinical - need to reach the underserved populations
-Part of a book series
-Need help by July at the latest
Thanks so much!!

PRONOIA: The Mindset Shift That Will Transform Your Relationship with AI is a completed nonfiction self-help guide for professionals who have not yet begun their AI journey. The manuscript is approximately 15,250 words.

I am seeking a copyeditor comfortable working with a collaborative writing process who can focus on what is on the page: consistency of voice and tone, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and overall readability. Line editing feedback noted in track changes is welcome but not required as a separate deliverable.

Preferred qualifications include experience with nonfiction self-help or business books and comfort with contemporary, direct prose aimed at a general adult audience. Experience with or openness to AI-assisted writing processes is a plus.

Deadline for return of edited manuscript is July 10, 2026.

I am a mid-life, PhD student working on in-depth academic material within a specific social science niche. I am searching for a collaborative, motivated editor to partner with me on a long-term project spanning the next three + years. The goal of this collaboration is fluid but structured as I plan to publish regular, short-form articles on Substack that will serve as the base and building blocks alongside my PhD research for an eventual full-length non-fiction book.

Because this project maps out over a long term timeline, the workload will start out minimal, focusing on editing the occasional short article. The volume of work will slowly and systematically increase as we accumulate material and approach our final target dates.

This position is ideal for an early-career editor, a recent graduate, or a freelance professional looking to build a long-term portfolio piece in serious non-fiction. You need to be patient, eager to grow alongside a project, and comfortable working with someone over a multi-year horizon.

Your main responsibilities will involve editing the Substack articles for clarity, flow, and audience engagement, while helping me maintain a specific plan to ensure these shorter pieces successfully transition into larger book chapters. You will help bridge the gap between heavy academic research and accessible non-fiction prose, ensuring the writing remains engaging to a broader audience without losing its intellectual depth.

To fit this role, you should be familiar with non-fiction writing formats and have a genuine interest in social science research. You must possess the organizational skills required to track a project with a long horizon, alongside the adaptability to handle a fluid, evolving writing process.

The schedule follows a gradual three-to-four-year trajectory with low, intermittent hours at the start that increase over time. Please include your standard rate, whether hourly or per word, in your reply.

To apply, please send a brief introduction explaining your interest in long-term non-fiction projects, your current availability, and any relevant samples of your editing work. Please also mention if you have experience with academic writing or platforms like Substack.

I am currently writing a memoir and am seeking an experienced editor with a strong background in memoir, narrative nonfiction, grief, trauma, and emotionally driven storytelling.
The manuscript tells the story of my life as a husband, father, soldier, and survivor. It centers on the sudden and unexpected loss of my wife, followed one year later by the suicide of my 26-year-old son. Through those losses, it explores grief, depression, resilience, healing, family relationships, military service, and the long and difficult process of rebuilding a life after unimaginable heartbreak.
A significant part of the story involves my long-distance hiking journey. I have already completed both the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail and am currently hiking the Continental Divide Trail. Upon completion, I will earn the Triple Crown of Hiking—an accomplishment achieved by only a small fraction of hikers and even fewer individuals in their sixties, particularly while carrying the emotional burdens and physical challenges that have shaped much of my journey.
Those challenges extend well beyond grief. Along the way, I have endured significant physical setbacks, including major surgical repairs and an unexpected triple-bypass open-heart surgery. The book is ultimately a story of perseverance, survival, purpose, and finding a way forward despite overwhelming personal loss and adversity.
The manuscript is substantially complete, and I believe it is already exceptional in its current form. However, I recognize the value of an experienced professional who can help elevate it further and ensure it reaches its fullest potential. I am currently hiking the Continental Divide Trail and expect to complete both the trail and the final chapter of the manuscript later this year. The title remains a work in progress.
At this stage, I am primarily seeking a developmental and structural editor who can help me:
• Strengthen narrative flow and pacing
• Ensure the emotional arc remains compelling without becoming repetitive
• Identify areas that should be expanded, condensed, reorganized, or removed
• Preserve my authentic voice while improving clarity and impact
• Help shape the manuscript into the strongest memoir possible
In addition, I anticipate needing assistance with later stages of the process, including copyediting, final manuscript preparation, formatting, and the integration and placement of photographs. I would welcome guidance regarding best practices for incorporating photos into a memoir and preparing the manuscript for publication.
I would also appreciate advice regarding publishing options. While I am currently leaning toward a nontraditional or hybrid publishing approach, I remain open to professional recommendations and would welcome guidance regarding the most appropriate path forward once the manuscript is complete.
Because the subject matter is deeply personal, it is important to me to work with someone who is comfortable editing material involving grief, trauma, family relationships, mental health struggles, military service, and emotionally challenging life experiences.
The manuscript is currently approximately 125,000 words, although that may change somewhat upon completion of the final Continental Divide Trail chapter.
If you believe you may be a good fit, I would appreciate learning more about your memoir experience, editing approach, availability, fee structure, and any additional services you provide. I would also be interested in reviewing a sample edit if that is part of your process.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Mike Zarbo
COL, USA (Retired)

I'm looking for an experienced copy editor and proofreader for a near-final business fable manuscript titled *Data is Like a Plate of Hummus* (107,000 words). The book follows a CEO as she navigates a data crisis at her e-commerce company and gradually uncovers the underlying structural problem. Think *The Phoenix Project* meets *The Five Dysfunctions of a Team* — narrative-driven, character-led, with business methodology woven into the story rather than presented as a framework.