Whether you’re writing about alternate realities, far-flung futures, or dark fantastical worlds, having the right editor can make all the difference. But narrowing down your search for the perfect editor can be tricky — so we’ve put together a list of the best speculative fiction editors on the market, each with a proven track record of bringing brilliant stories to life.
From seasoned professionals with decades of experience to fresh voices reshaping the genre, these editors are dedicated to helping writers refine their unique visions for their speculative fiction stories.
With more than two decades of experience, Anderson is an accomplished editor with a number of celebrated speculative fiction anthologies under her belt, including Tesseracts Seventeen and her The Exile Book of Anthology series. Her own stories are equally well-regarded, earning her recognition as a Bram Stoker Award finalist. Anderson’s mastery of the craft is self-evident, with 19 (and counting) award nominations to her name.
π Specialty Genres: Horror, Fantasy
π©π¨ Fun Fact: When she’s not editing or writing, Anderson channels her creativity into visual art — one of her pieces was even selected for an art show at the Vancouver Public Library!
As a current critic and writer and former PhD scholar and English teacher, Wes Brown has extensive experience in all things creative. But his storytelling expertise goes beyond the classroom, as he’s developed an excellent understanding of character work during his time as a professional wrestler. With a resume as impressive as it is vast, Brown has a strong grasp of how the publishing industry works, which he uses to guide authors through every stage of the writing and editing process.
π Specialty Genres: True Crime, Mystery
π€Ό Fun Fact: In 2023, Brown published his hard-hitting autobiographical novel titled Breaking Kayfabe, a fictionalized retelling of his time as a pro wrestler.
A sci-fi specialist, Ella Chappell has worked with everyone, from emerging debut writers to NYT bestselling authors. With an impressive portfolio that includes the award-winning speculative sci-fi novel The City in the Middle of the Night, she is always looking for bold new takes on the speculative fiction genre. Chappell is particularly passionate about nurturing new voices in the genre, helping them refine their ideas and bring their unique visions to life.
π Specialty Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult
π Fun Fact: Chappell has an impressive academic background, earning both a BA and an MA from the UEA (University of East Anglia) in Creative Writing and Poetry respectively.
Known for his expert guidance on everything from intricate space operas to sinister supernatural stories, Greg Cox has a knack for navigating the most mind-bending corners of speculative fiction. His portfolio speaks for itself, including standout projects like the Star Trek tie-in novels and Stan Lee’s The Devil’s Quintet. Cox’s editorial expertise brings out the best in each author's unique voice, a skill he’s honed over 30 years in the industry.
π Specialty Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction
π₯ Fun Fact: Cox is also a successful writer in his own right, with an impressive resume that includes the official movie novelizations of Man Of Steel, The Dark Knight Rises, and Daredevil.
A seasoned editor and supernatural aficionado, Renee DeCamillis specializes in dark, atmospheric stories that push the boundaries of speculative fiction. Her expertise extends across various subgenres, from horror to psychological thrillers, with a particular focus on character-driven stories. Her background as an author and musician gives her a unique perspective on rhythm and pacing, ensuring every story she works on builds to its own satisfying crescendo.
π Specialty Genres: Horror, Psychological Thriller
π» Fun Fact: DeCamillis’s “eerie” expertise goes beyond her career in the publishing industry, as she spent three years working as a graveyard groundskeeper.
Nicholas Herrmann has a long history of editing speculative fiction, working with renowned companies such as HarperCollins, Faber & Faber, and Hodder & Stoughton. A keen writer himself, Herrmann understands the nuances of crafting complex, believable worlds and characters that resonate with readers. His manuscript Short Rains won the New Voices Award in 2022, showcasing his skill at blending gripping narratives with thought-provoking themes.
π Specialty Genres: Dystopian Fiction, Literary Fiction
π Fun Fact: Always looking to improve his craft, Herrmann is currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of St Andrews.
With five New York Times bestsellers to his name in the past few years, Stephen S. Power brings a wealth of experience to any project he works on. Outside the world of fiction, Power is known for his work on biographies and memoirs from some of the biggest names in US politics, including Bernie Sanders, John Kasich, and John Boehner. He’s also an accomplished author in his own right, having published his own fantasy novel The Dragon Round in 2016, and more than 40 speculative fiction stories over the course of his career.
π Specialty Genres: Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Short Story
πͺΆ Fun Fact: Power’s literary proficiency also goes beyond writing and editing — his poetry has been featured in various anthologies over the years, including West Avenue Publishing’s A Flight of Dragons.
Named as one of the top book editors in the US by Grammarist, Constance Renfrow is one of the best editors you could hope to hire! Renfrow has a star-studded portfolio, including editing credits on award winning titles such as Weird Girl and What’s His Name and Exile on Bridge Street, and her passion for publishing — especially speculative fiction — is palpable.
π Specialty Genres: Young Adult, LGBTQ fiction
π Fun Fact: Outside the world of publishing, Constance spends time tending to her ducks and chickens at her home in North Carolina.
Autumn Sullivan has more than 15 years of experience editing everything from short stories to novel-length speculative fiction. Her background in communications has given Sullivan an eye for clarity and coherence, which helps her keep stories engaging and accessible. During her time at Random House, Sullivan also worked on several books focused on visual design, including Steve Bissette’s How to Draw Monsters and Creating Animated Cartoons with Character by Joe Murray, creator of Rocko’s Modern Life.
π Specialty Genres: Urban Fantasy, Horror
π₯§ Fun Fact: Even the most hardcore horror fanatics need a break from time to time — when Autumn isn’t working on her next project, she enjoys baking, crocheting, and gardening.
A Hollywood veteran, Conor Welter spent a decade working for various film studios, production companies, and television networks. Since beginning his editing career in 2018, Welter has worked on a number of acclaimed works of speculative fiction, including The Briar Archive and the Tidecaller Chronicles series. His highly collaborative editing style makes him the perfect editor for any ambitious writers looking to enter the field of speculative fiction.
π Specialty Genres: Screenplays, Space Operas
π Fun Fact: Welter’s love of storytelling extends into his personal life, where he enjoys serving as a Dungeon Master for his Dungeons & Dragons group.
About the author
Savannah Cordova is a writer from London. Her work has been featured in Slate, Kirkus, BookTrib, DIY MFA, and more. She loves reading and writing short stories, and spends much of her time analyzing literary trends into the ground. You'll often find her with an iced vanilla latte, a book, and a furrow in her brow.
