How do you encourage needed criticism?
Their names don’t appear in the masthead. They work as volunteers. But without them, the magazine I produce would miss its potential.
They serve as my proofreaders, but they do much more than catch typos. They alert me to awkward phrases or unclear passages. They tell me when I overuse words. They ask tough questions.
Most of the time, I agree. … Continue reading
A few goofs can make readers doubt.
The review gave a glowing recommendation, underscoring the meticulous research behind The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America’s Enemies.
The author’s note speaks of using the subject’s “letters and papers, declassified U.S. and British government files, Freedom of Information Act requests, and my own interviews.”
The book devotes three … Continue reading
A first draft is great, but seldom good enough.
by Andy Scheer
The author’s eagerness shone through his email. He’d just finished a manuscript, a 40,000-word nonfiction piece. He’d written it to encourage and inspire others in his occupation.
In two months, he’d attend a writers conference. He hoped I’d edit his manuscript — before the conference. To give me a sense … Continue reading