Native US English Literary Editor / Proofreader Needed for (DE-EN) Fiction Project

We are looking for an experienced **German to English literary editor/proofreader** to join our international publishing and translation team. Keep in mind, we are looking for a US English native speaker. We currently have a **specific book project ready to start immediately**, so availability in the near future is important. At the same time, we are not looking for a one-time collaboration only. Our goal is to find a reliable editor/proofreader for a **long-term collaboration** on future fiction projects as our team continues to grow. The current manuscript has already been translated into English and now needs a careful editorial review against the German original. We are looking for someone who can go beyond basic proofreading and help ensure that the final English version reads naturally, fluently, and professionally for English-speaking readers. This is not just a typo check. The goal is to polish the English manuscript so it does not sound stiff, literal, or overly translated, while still preserving the meaning, tone, style, atmosphere, and author’s voice of the German source text. **Language Pair** German → English Strong German comprehension is required, as the English draft needs to be checked carefully against the German original. **About the Work** You will work on full-length fiction manuscripts, including fantasy and other genre fiction. For the current project, we are looking for someone who can start soon and support us with the editorial revision of an existing English manuscript. If the collaboration works well, we would love to continue working together on future book-length projects. We are especially interested in editors/proofreaders with experience in: • Fantasy • Romance / romantasy • Thrillers • Contemporary fiction • Long-form fiction editing • Literary translation revision • Manuscript polishing The ideal candidate has a strong feeling for narrative flow, character voice, tone, rhythm, and natural English prose. **Your Responsibilities** You will: • Review an existing English manuscript against the German source text • Correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and typos • Improve awkward, literal, or unnatural phrasing • Ensure the English reads smoothly and fluently • Preserve the author’s voice, tone, and narrative style • Check that the meaning of the German source has been accurately carried over • Improve sentence flow where needed without over-editing • Maintain consistency in names, terminology, fantasy terms, and worldbuilding • Work with glossaries or editorial notes when provided • Use Track Changes in Microsoft Word or Google Docs **Important** We are looking for someone with experience in fiction, literary editing, translation revision, or manuscript proofreading. Applications focused mainly on technical, legal, academic, or business editing are unfortunately not the right fit for this role. **Requirements** • Native-level English • Strong German comprehension • Experience editing or proofreading fiction manuscripts • Ability to improve naturalness, flow, and style • Strong attention to detail • Confidence working with Track Changes • Familiarity with fantasy or genre fiction is a strong plus • Availability to start soon / immediately • Interest in a long-term collaboration **What We Offer** • A specific book project ready to start immediately • The possibility of regular book-length projects after the first collaboration • Long-term collaboration opportunities • Remote work and flexible scheduling • A friendly international publishing team • The opportunity to work on engaging fiction across different genres **To Apply** Please include: • Your experience with German → English editing or translation revision • Examples of fiction or literary projects you have worked on • Your availability and how soon you could start • Your rate per word or per hour • Your general capacity for future projects • A short note about your approach to editing translated fiction and preserving the author’s voice Shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a short paid test edit of approx. 3 pages. This will help us evaluate accuracy, naturalness, style, and attention to detail. We are looking for someone reliable, detail-oriented, and passionate about helping stories come to life in English.