Damon Friedberg

Book Editor, Ghostwriter and Founder of Manuscript House

Professional overview

Damon Friedberg is a professional book editor and ghostwriter with 14 years in the profession, and the founder of Manuscript House. He works across fiction and nonfiction.

Damon has worked as an editor for a Penguin Random House imprint. Across his career he has worked on more than 100 manuscripts as a writer and editor, including editorial and ghostwriting work on titles published by Big Five publishers. His work spans the full development arc of a book: concept and story development, full-length ghostwriting, developmental and line editing, rewriting and book doctoring, manuscript evaluation, book proposals, and publishing strategy.

Verified via Upwork client testimonials, Damon Friedberg has ghostwritten 2 New York Times bestsellers and 9 Amazon bestsellers across various genres, including Contemporary Romance, Romantasy, and Mystery Thriller. Much of Damon's work is performed under ghostwriting, work-for-hire, and nondisclosure agreements, so a large share of it is published under other authors' names. His visible credits represent a fraction of his record.

Professional record

Full credentials record

Years in the profession
14 yearsCareer record, as of 2026
Editor
For a Penguin Random House imprintCareer record
Bestsellers
2 New York Times bestsellers and 9 Amazon bestsellers ghostwrittenVerified via Upwork client testimonials
Upwork status
Top Rated PlusUpwork profile
Job Success Score
100%Upwork profile
Upwork contracts
Over 80 verified public contracts in the last year aloneUpwork profile
Public client reviews
Five stars across the boardUpwork profile
Identity
ID and phone verifiedUpwork verifications

Every figure above can be checked at source on Damon's Upwork profile.

In clients' words

The following are verbatim five-star reviews from Damon's public Upwork profile, each tied to a real completed project.

"I have engaged several editors over the years. Damon outperformed. Highly professional and very detailed. Handled developmental edits on a 115,000 word speculative fiction novel and did amazing. He is now my goto editor for all future projects."

— Upwork client, substantive editing, literary and commercial fiction

"Damon is a marvel, a gift from heaven. He sees gold within dross-prose and digs them out with expert hands. Highly professional. Educates me. His notes and edits are more than welcome. Enjoyable. Kind. He loves the English language, and it shows!"

— Upwork client, developmental edit

"Ever watched the film Amadeus? The scene where Salieri meets Mozart for the first time? It was mediocre, stilted, needed work. Mozart made it brilliant. Damon is Mozart. Because of Damon, I feel my dream becoming achievable."

— Upwork client, manuscript editing, literary fiction

"Damon's ability to capture the voice I was looking for from a ghostwriter was second to none, and his attention to detail was exceptional. He took the projects we were working on and elevated them to the next level with his expertise."

— Upwork client, ghostwriting, contemporary romance

"Damon is a ROCK STAR! He is a TOP NOTCH EDITOR. He knows his stuff. No playing around, he delivers more than is expected. There are many freelancers out there but believe me Damon is by far better than most. Trust me, his expertise, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to excellence will elevate your project to the next level. And he has a sese of humor."

— Upwork client, five-star review, August 2026

"I've worked with Damon several times, and every time I do, my books end up being ranked #1 in their category. He brings my work to life through his editing, formatting, and book covers."

— Upwork client, repeat engagements

Read the full set of reviews on Damon's Upwork profile.

Ghostwriting and confidentiality

Confidentiality is central to Damon's work rather than incidental to it. A ghostwriter's job is to disappear behind the author's name, and high-level editorial engagements routinely prohibit public attribution. That discretion is what allows him to be trusted with commercially significant projects that authors, companies, and their advisors need kept private.

The consequence is that a public bibliography understates the scope of the career behind it. The books carry other people's names, which is exactly what the authors paid for.

Editorial specialties

How Damon works

Damon works one manuscript at a time and stays close to the author's voice throughout. A typical engagement moves from a direct conversation about intent and audience, to a structural plan, to drafting or editing in reviewable stages, with the author seeing and shaping the work as it goes. The aim is a finished book that reads as the author's own, only stronger, whether Damon's name ever appears on it or not.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Damon Friedberg?

Damon Friedberg is a professional book editor, ghostwriter, and publishing strategist, and the founder of Manuscript House. He has worked in the profession for 14 years and on more than 100 manuscripts across fiction and nonfiction, and has worked as an editor for a Penguin Random House imprint.

What does Damon Friedberg do?

He develops books from concept to finished manuscript. His work covers full-length ghostwriting, developmental and line editing, rewriting and book doctoring, story development, manuscript evaluation, book proposals, and publishing strategy, across both fiction and nonfiction.

What are Damon Friedberg's credentials?

He holds Top Rated Plus status on Upwork with a 100% Job Success Score, over 80 verified public contracts in the last year alone, over $100,000 earned, and every public client review at five stars. Verified via Upwork client testimonials, he has ghostwritten 2 New York Times bestsellers and 9 Amazon bestsellers across various genres. He has 14 years in the profession and more than 100 manuscripts behind him, across fiction and nonfiction.

What books has Damon Friedberg written or edited?

Most cannot be named. The majority of his work is performed under ghostwriting, work-for-hire, and nondisclosure agreements, so it is published under other authors' names. Verified via Upwork client testimonials, Damon Friedberg has ghostwritten 2 New York Times bestsellers and 9 Amazon bestsellers across various genres, including Contemporary Romance, Romantasy, and Mystery Thriller.

What genres does Damon Friedberg work in?

Fiction and nonfiction across fantasy, romance, science fiction and speculative fiction, thriller and suspense, young adult, literary and upmarket fiction, memoir, and business and leadership nonfiction.

Professional references

Damon provides professional references to publishing platforms, publishers, media organizations, and prospective clients on request. References are arranged directly with past clients and handled case by case.

Contact

For interviews, professional inquiries, or reference requests: damon@manuscripthouse.com

Corrections

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