Daniel J. Tortora
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Daniel J. Tortora
Nonfiction Book Editor | Publishing Coach | Historian

Every Nonfiction Book Deserves a Great Editor. You’ve Just Found Yours.

Get ready to publish—with expert editing that makes your draft clear, focused, and impactful.

See Editing Services
 
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Trusted by these and other publishers (and dozens of self-published authors)

Recent successes

You’ve been writing a bold nonfiction book that you want to get published.

You want your book to be legitimately good and enjoyed by many.

But you’re too close to it to know exactly what it needs.

And you don’t know all the publishing industry standards to apply.

You’ve gotten some feedback. But not from a professional nonfiction editor who knows what makes a book great.

(Let’s be honest—your “friend who was an English major” doesn’t count.)

You need an experienced, encouraging nonfiction book editor to:

✅ Polish your manuscript so it’s clear, concise, and consistent

✅ Smooth sentences and transitions and improve the flow

✅ Refine your message so it truly resonates

✅ Optimize structure for maximum impact

Whether you plan to self-publish or pursue traditional publishing, it’s time to turn your manuscript into an impressive, ready-to-publish book that actually gets read.

See Editing Options

Hi, Daniel here!

Nonfiction authors’ secret weapon. I help writers create polished, impactful books that land with readers.🥷

Writing a great nonfiction book takes expert shaping.

For the past decade, I’ve helped dozens of authors move from confused to confident and from “meh” to “Dang, that’s good.”

We’ll ditch the fluff, amp up the impact, and make sure your book is read, not used as a very expensive doorstop.

Refine your manuscript with expert editing and strategic guidance and bring your vision to life.

Recent author wins:

  • Glowing reviews in the Wall Street Journal

  • #1 New Release on Amazon

  • 200 Amazon reviews in two weeks

  • Featured in documentaries

  • Numerous speaking gigs and related opportunities

  • Secured traditional publishing deals and rocked self-publishing—winning either way

  • Successful second, third, and even fourth books

 

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

Nonfiction Book Editing Services

Choose your path(s) below. Custom quotes (and reasonable rates) are offered for projects requiring different levels of editing.

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Copy Editing and/or
Line Editing

Get clear, concise, and consistent 💎

see details/rates

Developmental Editing

Deep-dive feedback 🔍

see details/rates

Book Proposal Editing

Fine-tune your pitch to publishers💯

see details/rates

🎯Best fit:

  • American nonfiction authors seeking an experienced, efficient, and uplifting editor to level up their manuscript.🚀
  • Books for general readers that solve a problem, spark a transformation, inform or shift perspectives, or use humor to get people talking.✨
  • Impact-driven books written to attract media, earn rave reviews, generate speaking gigs or business opportunities, or fulfill a long-term passion (bonus points if you plan to write multiple books).👏🤩
  • Word count under 100,000 words.📝

Genres:

  • Self-Help and Personal Development; Dating Advice; Relationships; American History, Biography, Politics, Sports, and Culture; Comedy/Humor; Alternative Health and Wellness; Nature; Popular Science (Geology, Zoology); New England regional interest; Reference Books.

As a full-time freelance book editor since 2017, I’ve worked with:

  • Content creators, coaches, therapists, historians, comedians, publishing companies, attorneys, professors writing for general readers, and others, many of whom have been first-time authors.

Let’s make your manuscript the best version of itself!🌟

The Editing Process:

1️⃣Contact: Tell me about your book, goals, and timeline, and share a confidential sample of your draft.

2️⃣Discuss details and deliverables: I’ll set up a call or we’ll trade emails to clarify scope, timeline, etc.

3️⃣Quote, contract, and invoice: You’ll receive a quote and contract; sign to confirm and pay by card to lock it in.

4️⃣Files and feedback: I edit your manuscript in Microsoft Word using Track Changes and Comments and provide an editorial letter. Some projects include two rounds of editing at no extra charge. I’ll check in as the work progresses.

5️⃣Final revisions. Approve suggested edits, review comments, and revise the file I sent you. Voilà—a publish‑ready manuscript.

6️⃣Get published! Move through the publishing process with coaching sessions, services, or digital products when needed. Keep me updated on your launch and next steps.

Get My Book Edited

Copy Editing

Turn your draft into a clear, concise, and polished manuscript.

  • Correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and syntax
  • Improve clarity and tighten sentences while respecting your voice
  • Ensure consistency across style, headings, terminology, and formatting
  • Align the manuscript with The Chicago Manual of Style
Sentence-level editing that’s ideal for most authors getting ready for traditional publishing or self-publishing. Delivers a clean, reliable manuscript that meets industry expectations and presents your writing at its best.

Line Editing

Refine your voice and sharpen your book’s flow and readability.

  • Improve clarity and tighten sentences while respecting your voice
  • Remove repetition, fix awkward phrasing, and choose more precise wording
  • Smooth transitions between paragraphs, sections, and chapters
  • Align tone with your goals and target audience
Paragraph- and sentence-level editing that’s more stylistic than technical. Great for first-time authors and books with broad audiences. Makes your writing more beautiful and more memorable.

Copy editing rates: $0.027 per word

Line editing and copy editing rates: $0.033 per word

Yes, I can check and format your captions, references, and bibliography in Chicago style.

Hire a Copy Editor and Line Editor
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Developmental Editing (aka Structural Editing, Content Editing)

Nonfiction book genres: Self-Help and Personal Development; Dating Advice; Relationships; American History, Biography, Politics, Sports, and Culture.

Create a well-organized, cohesive, and effectively presented book.

  • Refine the central theme(s), core arguments, and overarching narrative
  • Reorganize and restructure content for maximum impact
  • Recommend additions, deletions, and rewrites
  • Optimize chapter order, chapter titles and section titles, and the various elements of the book, such as the introduction and conclusion
A big-picture edit with in-depth comments and suggestions. Best done before other types of editing. Ideal for first-time authors, projects that feel unfocused, or books that run shorter or longer than typical.

Developmental editing rate: $0.040 per word

Hire a Developmental Editor

Book Proposal Editing

Craft a persuasive pitch that you can confidently send to literary agents and/or publishing companies.

  • Optimize and refine every section of your book proposal for clarity, focus, and market fit (sample chapter editing not included)
  • Optimize and refine your query letter
  • Get content, line editing, and copy editing suggestions and helpful comments
Recommended for those who are new to traditional publishing or who want to make a strong first impression. Done in a Word document or Google Doc. Typical turnaround: two weeks.
Hire a book proposal editor

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 aligned with US publishing industry standards—The Chicago Manual of Style, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, and the Oxford (serial comma).

  • Thoughtful edits, comments, and feedback that elevates your writing and enhances your publishing success.

  • Attention from an experienced editor who’s worked on dozens of nonfiction books.

  • Supportive guidance with clear communication and regular updates.

  • Project completion within 2 to 8 weeks.

Get your book edited today!

Contact A Book Editor