Editorial journal
Notes from the margins.
Original guides to craft, revision and the quiet mechanics of good books. Read each piece in full, then decide what applies to your own manuscript.
“An opening is an invitation, not a complete explanation of the book. The reader needs a reason to turn the page before they need the history of every room, relationship and rule.”
Craft · Editorial guide
Why your opening chapter is probably doing too much
An opening is an invitation, not a complete explanation of the book. The reader needs a reason to turn the page before they need the history of every room, relationship and rule.
Read the article →Editing Explained · Editorial guide
Developmental, line, copy, proof: the four layers of editing
Editing works best in an order that avoids polishing words that may be cut. Each layer asks a different question about the manuscript.
Read the article →Revision · Editorial guide
How to read your own manuscript like a stranger
Familiarity fills in gaps that are not actually on the page. Revision needs a little distance, a changed view and a question worth asking.
Read the article →Nonfiction · Editorial guide
Finding the one sentence your book is about
A nonfiction book can have many ideas, but readers need to know what holds them together. A working sentence gives you a test for what belongs.
Read the article →Voice · Editorial guide
Editing without erasing
A strong edit makes the writing more legible without making every author sound alike. Voice is not a decorative layer to preserve after the work; it is part of how meaning is made.
Read the article →Publishing · Editorial guide
Before you hire an editor: a preparation checklist
A little preparation helps you get more useful editorial attention. You do not need a perfect manuscript, but you should know what version you are sending and why.
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