Editing

A sensitivity read checks your manuscript for stereotypes and false notes. Here’s what it is, who does it, what it costs, and whether your book needs one.

Finished a draft? This 4-step first revision process helps you get distance, find the real problems, and fix them in the right order.

Not every critique sounds like one. Here are 3 sneaky types of writing feedback, from “I didn’t finish it” to “No notes!”, and how to act on each.

Really, very, that, thing — three categories of overused words that weaken otherwise strong writing. Here’s when to cut them, when to keep them, and what to use instead.

Self-publishing is faster and cheaper than ever. So what does traditional publishing still offer that authors can’t replicate on their own? The answer isn’t editing or marketing—it’s something more fundamental.

CMS, APA, AP, AMA, MLA — choosing the right style manual depends entirely on what you’re writing and who you’re writing it for. Here’s how to find yours.

More words don't mean more meaning. This practical editing guide shows you three types of wordiness to hunt down in any draft—and how to decide whether to cut, condense, or keep.

Manuscript evaluation, developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, proofreading—they're not interchangeable. Here's exactly what each type of editing covers, what you'll receive, and when you need it.

Everyone says kill your adverbs—but that's lazy advice. This 3-step system shows you exactly which adverbs to cut, which to swap for stronger verbs, and which are doing genuine work worth keeping.

These are the editing tools I use every day in my own practice — a working editor's honest recommendations, from the desk I work at to the gear that keeps me going.

Learn how professional proofreaders read book proofs—from checking front matter and tables of contents to catching widows, orphans, and composition errors. A step-by-step process for authors and editors.

Learn how to create a manuscript style sheet from scratch—and why every author needs one. This step-by-step guide covers what goes on a style sheet, when to start it, and how editors use it throughout the publishing process.

Perfectionism doesn't make your writing better — it stops you from finishing. Here's what 21 years in publishing taught me about quality, errors, and knowing when to call it done.

From PDF markup to EPUB errors: a complete proofreading guide for authors working with a pro or flying solo. Know what to catch before your book publishes.

Finished your first draft? Here's how to tackle your first revision efficiently—when to start, what to look for, and how to plan your attack.

Writers make three common comparisons that quietly destroy their confidence — comparing their drafts to published books, to peers in their writing group, and to writers at a similar age or stage. Here's why those comparisons are unfair, and two useful comparisons you can make instead.

oncise writing isn't always better — but knowing how to cut is a skill every writer needs. A professional editor shares three practical editing techniques for tightening your prose: finding words that can be replaced by one, cutting nothingburgers, and a sentence-by-sentence brevity exercise.

Reading your own writing with a critical eye is one of the hardest things a writer has to do. These three self-editing strategies — scene-by-scene synopsis, backward reading, and reading aloud — help you create the distance you need to find what's not working at every level, from plot to prose.

Four tools to organize your writing projects and stay productive: Notion for project tracking, Pacemaker for writing schedules, 750 Words for daily habit-building, and Focuswriter for distraction-free writing sessions.

A beta reader who tells you your manuscript is perfect is wasting your time. Here's what good beta feedback actually looks like — and how to ask for it.