Trusted by these and other publishers (and dozens of self-published authors)
You’ve been writing a nonfiction book and you want it to be read. You want to get it published.
You want your book to be legitimately good—not just “Well, I tried” good.
Organized.
Engaging. Effective. Memorable.
Clear, concise, and consistent.
You’ve already gotten some feedback. But not from an actual nonfiction book editor who knows what makes a book great.
(Let’s be honest—your “friend who was an English major” doesn’t count.)
You’ve been at this a while. Long enough. You’re too close to it to know what you don’t know.
And you sure don’t have the time, patience, or willpower to dive into the 1,200-page Chicago Manual of Style with all the “rules” and publishing industry standards to apply (the new edition, because of course).
No matter which of the levels of nonfiction editing you need . . .
✅ Fine-tuning to clean up your text
✅ Reworking to make sure your writing actually sings
✅ Messaging refinement so your book doesn’t lose its purpose halfway through
✅ Structural support to ensure your book isn’t held together with hopes and prayers
Or some combination of all the above—it’s time to hire an experienced, encouraging nonfiction book editor.
Whether you’re self-publishing or going traditional, let’s turn your manuscript into a compelling, ready-to-publish book that informs, inspires, and actually gets read.
Here’s how it works:
1️⃣Initial Contact/Consultation: Share details about your book, goals, and timeline, along with a confidential manuscript sample. We’ll assess if we’re a fit.
2️⃣Discuss details and deliverables: We define the project and what’s included, typically on a call and/or by email.
3️⃣Proposal and payment: You get a quote, a contract, and invoice (payable by credit card) to confirm the agreement.
4️⃣Files and feedback: You send me a Word document (.docx). I edit it with Track Changes and Comments, returning the file within 2–6 weeks—with an editorial letter and supplementary materials.* I’ll check in along the way.
*Some projects may involve two rounds of editing. Copy editing includes a “style sheet” summarizing changes made and standards applied.
5️⃣Final revisions. You review the comments, approve the suggested edits, and make final revisions to the file I sent you. Prepare a beautiful publication-ready manuscript.
6️⃣Get it published! Move forward in the publishing process (with additional coaching sessions, services, or online courses as needed), and keep me updated!
Dan Tortora is simply the best. Just hire him. . . .
Brilliant. Wise. Deep. Smart. Knowledgeable. Dependable. And a joy to spend time with.
He worked with me through two award-winning books that I could never have finished without him. When I’m ready for the next one, he’s my first call. . . .
I’ve been a writer for 35 years. . . . He is by far the best editor I’ve ever come across to work with me. You’ll find the same.
—Samantha Shad, author of Write Through the Crisis and The Write to Happiness
Meet your nonfiction book editor . . .
Hi, Daniel here!
Nonfiction authors’ secret weapon.🥷
These days, technically, anyone can write a book.
But writing a good book—a book that the right people actually want to read? That takes expert help.
As a nonfiction book editor with over a decade of experience helping craft page-turning nonfiction—
With over a decade of experience crafting page-turning nonfiction, I’ve helped dozens of authors transform their drafts from “Wait, what was I saying?” to “Wow, this is brilliant!”
It’s time to ditch the fluff, amp up the impact, and make sure your readers actually finish the book—not just use it as a doorstop.
Let’s refine your nonfiction manuscript and bring your vision to life.
Recent author successes:
glowing reviews in the Wall Street Journal
#1 New Release on Amazon
200 Amazon reviews in two weeks
featured in documentaries
booking numerous speaking gigs
secured traditional publishing deals and rocked self-publishing—winning either way
successfully planned, published, and received accolades for second, third, and even fourth books
Consider us a match if . . .
✓ You’re ready for experienced editing from a trusted (and friendly) expert to get you to the next level.🚀
✓ Your book empowers, informs, or entertains—and it’s something readers need and are looking for. Ideally, it’s a little unique.✅
✓ You’re ready to get noticed, expand your reach, and collect glowing reviews—because this book deserves to shine. 🤩👏
✓ You are a motivated American nonfiction author 🇺🇸 with a completed or nearly completed draft.
✓ You’re eager to learn and level up through this process.🏫
And, ideally . . .
✓ Your book is under 100,000 words.📝
✓ You plan to write multiple books.📚
Let’s make your manuscript the best version of itself! ✨
As a full-time freelance book editor since 2017, I’ve worked with:
✓ Content creators, coaches, therapists, comedians, attorneys, historians, small publishing companies, professors, and others.
I edit books in these nonfiction genres:
✓ Self-Help & Personal Development; Dating & Relationships; US History, Biography, Politics, and Culture; Humor/Comedy; Health and Wellness; Reference and Guides; Law/Legal; Nature/Popular Science; New England regional interest; and books by academics for a general audience.
Nonfiction Book Editing Services
Choose your path(s) below. Custom quotes (and reasonable rates) are offered for projects requiring different levels of editing.
Get clear, concise, and consistent 💎
Deep-dive feedback 🔍
Fine-tune your pitch to publishers💯
Copy Editing
For a more polished, concise, and consistent manuscript.
- Fine-tune the text and fix errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax
- Improve clarity, streamlining sentences while respecting your voice
- Eliminate awkward or repeated words and phrases
- Ensure consistency and align with industry standards, following The Chicago Manual of Style
With copy editing (or, as it’s also spelled, copyediting), we’ll add the sparkle.
Line Editing
Enhances your prose, pacing, and flow.
- Improve clarity, streamlining sentences while respecting your voice
- Eliminate awkward or repeated words and phrases, replace imprecise words and sentences
- Optimize the flow/transitions between paragraphs, sections, and chapters
- Ensure that your tone is aligned with your goals and your audience
With line editing, we’ll make your writing more beautiful, more readable, and better able to resonate with your reader.
Copy editing rates: $0.027 per word
Line editing + copy editing rates: $0.033 per word
Yes, I check and format captions, notes/references, and bibliography entries in Chicago style.
book description editing for self-publishing or pitching to publishers: $75
Developmental Editing (aka Substantive Editing, Content Editing)
Genres: Self-Help and Personal Transformation; Dating & Relationships; US History; and Biography.
Creates a better structured, more effective book from start to finish.
- Optimize the flow/transitions between paragraphs, sections, and chapters
- Refine the central theme(s), arguments, and overarching narrative
- Rearrange and reorganize material for a better organized, better flowing book
- Suggest what to add or delete
- Optimize the various parts of the book, especially the chapter titles, introduction, and conclusion
- Suggest improvements to the tone and pacing to make the book more engaging and impactful
Developmental editing offers in-depth feedback and suggestions. It shapes your manuscript’s overarching framework and leads to a ensuring a more cohesive, engaging, and effective book.
Developmental editing rates: $0.040 per word
Book Proposal Editing
Crafts a polished and compelling pitch to agents and/or publishing companies.
- Optimize and refine each of the parts of a book proposal prior to pitching your book.
- Get copy editing, line editing, and substantive content suggestions, edits, and comments.
Book propolsal editing is a collaborative process that positions your book to better impress agents and/or publishing companies.
Book proposal editing rates: $179 $149
with a query letter review: $199 $179
Dan doesn’t just read your material, he thinks about it. He cares about it. He checks sources, he fixes grammar, and he considers how the reader will react.
He gives direction, while still respecting the author’s vision.
Dan is an outstanding editor and I will be working with him on all of my future projects.
—Stuart Teicher, author of Addicted to the Dogfight: The Crash and Burn of Superlawyer F. Lee Bailey
I can’t thank Dan enough for the diligence he put into this. He has is an incredible gift to be able to hold attention to such details. . . .
As many times as I went through it, I still can’t believe how many missing words and typos there were. That’s why authors need to recruit a strong team. . . . It is so very worth the investment!
The manuscript looks great and I couldn’t be happier.
—Melissa M. Carvalho, author of Purpose Forward: The Ultimate Career Starter’s Guide to Finding a Career (and Life) of Purpose
With these nonfiction book editing services, you’ll get
a polished manuscript that’s aligned with US publishing industry standards: The Chicago Manual of Style, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, and the Oxford (serial comma);
Thoughtful edits, insightful comments, and practical feedback to elevate your writing and enhance your publishing success;
Supportive guidance with clear communication and regular updates throughout the editing process;
Attention from an professional editor with experience editing dozens of nonfiction books; and
Project completion and deliverables within 2 to 6 weeks.
Let’s talk about editing your book!