Hire the Best Book Editors in New York

Published author and professional editor with 8+ years of experience helping writers refine and elevate their work. I specialize in line editing and copyediting for fiction, nonfiction, and professional content—focusing on clarity, flow, and consistency while preserving your voice. Let’s make your writing clear, polished, and ready to shine.

I've been editing long enough to know that most writing problems are really strategy and planning problems. My job is to help you find the stronger, more incisive version of what you're trying to express. I primarily work with book manuscripts, academic content, and business and SEO content, focusing on developmental and line editing. In my experience, great writing comes down to two things: enough depth and specificity to be convincing, and enough clarity that any reader can follow the train of thought. I've worked with clients including TK Business Magazine, where I serve as editor in chief of the print edition, Intergrowth, The Richmond Forum, Big Impact Books, and trade publications for the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Clowns of America International, and the Circus Fans Association of America. I work closely with my clients at every stage of the editorial process. I'd love to hear from you to discuss your project!

I'm proud to have developed a high proficiency as a copy editor, supplemented by my experience at Writers House and HarperCollins, two esteemed companies in the publishing industry. Not only do I have a keen eye for detail and an ability to spot errors from a mile away, but I also provide superb line editing to improve a text's clarity and to add expressiveness without taking away from the author's voice, no matter the text. CMOS and Merriam-Webster are good friends of mine. I specialize in books (YA/Adult Romance, SFF, Action/Thriller, Mystery, Nonfiction), essays, academic writing, and personal statements (statements include developmental editing). I take genuine joy in helping others and making a difference in the work I do. I'm excited to work with you and can't wait to get started!

Once your writing is out of your hands, it speaks for you. My ghostwriting, copy editing, and proofreading will help you make the best first impression on your readers. As an editor and published author with decades of experience, I can take your project in whatever shape it’s in and make it ready for your agent, publisher, or academic committee. Why hire me and not a competitor? Because whatever “space” you’re in—business, the arts, teaching, the humanities, the sciences (natural and social)—I’ve probably had a client or two in it. I’ll quickly “get” what your writing needs. Confirm my grasp of your problem, and I’ll get to work solving it, interacting with you along the way as much or as little as you see fit. And as my clients will attest, I’m very easy to get along with! Here's what you can expect: "Anthony was a great find for this project. He completed the job successfully, exactly as I was looking for. What a relief that I found this gem of a writer. I'm very pleased with the results. Anthony masterfully created an intriguing read from my initial gibberish! Although I've read at least several thousand books, when I tried to write this, I just couldn't make it work to my satisfaction. . . . I would highly recommend Anthony, and I hope he isn't too busy for my next project after the rest of you find him." "The job description called for copy editing and proofreading my manuscript’s first 20,000 words, but my initial cooperation with Tony justified giving him all 91,000 words to edit for content. He did that superbly, humbly, and quickly, giving my manuscript the criticism that it needed. His marginal comments are as clear as they are wise. His response time was excellent. I can recommend Tony without reservation and would gladly work with him again." Is your English non-native? Don’t worry: let an empathetic editor remove tell-tale signs. Shoot me a query; you have nothing to lose. I’ll get back to you right away, usually within hours. We can then, if you'd like, set up a time to chat about your project. Let's find out what I can do for your writing!

"Working with Michael has been one of the best experiences I’ve had on Upwork. He’s not just a meticulous editor but a true creative partner." —François Avisse, Novelist, "Control" "Mike is smart. He is thoughtful. He honors my work. He makes me a much better writer than I am." —William O. Roberts, Jr., Author, "Crossing the Soul's River: A Rite of Passage for Men" "I've hired many proofreaders over the years and he was the BEST!" —Sylvia G., Author, "The Medicare Mama's Guide to Medicare and Social Security Retirement" "Mike was an exceptional collaborator with edits that were consistently sharp and thoughtful. He is a seasoned writing coach -- and he consistently pushed for clarity, precision, and strength in every sentence." —Robert Lewis, Author, "Robert's Extremely Nerdy Guide to SAT Vocabulary" Hello! 👋 I'm Mike — My superpowers: Copy and line editing. Proofreading. Writing copy. I pay attention to the small details — I have a knack for spotting the miscue that nobody else spots. I can transform complex ideas into clear, elegant language. My background: I bring decades of experience in writing and writing instruction, proofreading, editing, and publishing books, stories, large/small writing projects, speeches, presentations, research arguments, blogs, poems, personal narratives, and essays. (I also support the Oxford comma but will humbly bend to your wishes if you do not!) What I can do: 1) Copy editing and proofreading: I have an eagle eye for spotting any kind of error. These might include grammar infractions, verb tense agreement, punctuation, spelling, typos, regionalization (i.e. British/Canadian stylization), capitalization, homonym errors, sentence structure...you name it. I will spot it so we can fix it. I get a thrill when I find the tiny things that most people miss—that odd extra space, lost period, or missing quotation marks. 2) Line editing: I'll help you rework and rephrase complex ideas into simple, elegant, clear sentences. I have an exceptional ear for tone and voice and can preserve your unique style while sharpening and polishing your prose. Line editing is usually performed ahead of the copy editing. I am able to do line and copy editing simultaneously, but depending on the scope and needs of your writing project, it may take longer. 3) Academic research, proofreading/editing: I have an academic background and am adept at helping academics and researchers with academic journal submissions, proofing copy, formatting citations, and adhering to any unique style guides and submission requirements. 4) Developmental editing: I can do "big picture" collaboration and offer feedback for memoir, nonfiction, academic research, literary fiction, poetry, others within my range of expertise and comfort. Extras: I bring over two decades of experience as a master English teacher in American private and public schools. So, I always bring honesty, dependability, flexibility, teachability, and a desire to jump in and learn new things. If I don't know about a topic, I will research and read until I do. I bring tremendous value as a team person and flexible, creative collaborator who can improvise and pivot on a dime to deliver results ahead of your deadline. I have exceedingly high standards for my clients' end products. See what my clients have to say: "He takes complex ideas that have not yet matured to a point of clarity so those ideas are not only comprehensible, but practicable. I've published two books and cannot even remember the services of an editor. They were neither helpful nor hurtful. Mike is the total opposite. He makes my ideas REAL." — William O. Roberts, Jr., Author, "Crossing the Soul's River: A Rite of Passage for Men" "Mike was an exceptional collaborator on my vocabulary book, with edits that were consistently sharp and thoughtful. He not only caught the tiniest of typos and stylistic errors, but also pointed out where entries needed more nuance and -- as a seasoned writing coach -- consistently pushed for clarity, precision, and strength in every sentence. His work made the finished project truly shine." – Robert L., Author, "Robert's Extremely Nerdy Guide to SAT Vocabulary" "I've hired many proofreaders over the years and he was the BEST!" –Sylvia G., Author "Michael is a great editor. He communicated well with me and finished the work quickly. I paid him more than we had agreed on initially because I could see the value he brought to the project. I highly recommend him." – Christine F., Editor "Michael provided excellent help with my project — proofreading and copy editing an academic document. I would certainly work with him again for projects that required proofreading or formatting. He displayed a keen eye for detail." – Ewan K.

Need an experienced ghost writer or editor? I'm a USA Today bestselling author with over 20 published novels in the contemporary romance genre. Whether it's proofreading your book or bringing your ideas to reality as a skilled ghost writer, I can help! I know what it takes to bring a story to life using appealing characters, well-paced action and dialogue, and romantic scenes to heighten tension and draw in readers. I have ghost written 20+ novels/novellas to date, all with 4.5+ stars on Amazon. Some of my favorite reviews: "This book I expected to be standard storyline and maybe some good lines. NO WAY!!! This was one of my best reads in a long time." "Such a beautiful book!! I loved the storyline and how it pertains to real like issues. The characters were well developed and had lots of chemistry. I read this book in one sitting!! Definitely worth reading." "Suspenseful and a page turning off-limits age gap romance. The novel is fantastically written, well balanced and beautifully executed." I also have over 25 years' experience teaching English to high school and college students. I take pride in providing honest yet gentle editorial feedback to writers at all stages of the process. I provide quick and thorough feedback, helping your work shine and stand out. Please reach out and let me help you make your writing the best it can be!