Ten Book Edits: When It Rains…

On a Sunday in early May, Atlanta had a third rain shower in a week, one predicted to last all afternoon.  I recall hearing a powerful, small-voiced thought: ‘what a good day to edit a book!’  As the rain pattered the ground sounding like hands dancing on a rattling keyboard, I enjoyed both my editing…

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Hiring and Working With an Editor

Just out of college, he had never written a book before, much less hired an editor.  He asked for help from a few friends and his mom, but they didn’t want to hurt his feelings or find flaws with his work.  He needed a professional who didn’t know him to do a thorough cleanup and…

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Dance With The Deadline

As if Frankenstein himself is busting down the door, many writers are freaked slap out by the deadline.  The writer will cower and bargain with the monster, begging for more time to explore and re-work.  Any argument tempts nature like a rooftop experiment in an electrical storm ultimately making the writer feel crazy-mad, defeated and,…

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