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, reputed company, 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, reputed company, 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 reputed company Word or reputed company 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. Apply To This Job

Back to blog

Other Jobs To Apply

No other job posts for this day.

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...