THE EDITOR’S BLOG

Learn to edit your novel

with expert articles, audio guides, worksheets, and free resources.

How to Read Like an Editor: 5 Tips to Make the Most of Every Book You Read

As Stephen King says, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” Here’s how I use my reading to inform my editing—and how you can, too.

One Insidious Cause of Disappointing Endings (and How to Fix It)

STRUCTURE

Does the end of your story pay off everything you set up in the beginning and the middle? Here’s how to tell whether your story’s end works—and how to fix it if it doesn’t.

One Critical Problem You’ll Find in Boring Scenes (And How to Fix It)

SCENES

If your characters don’t do something in every scene, you’ll bore your readers. Here’s how to make sure your characters don’t just think, but take action in every scene.

What to Do When You Get Feedback From an Editor

EDITING PROCESS, FEEDBACK, PRO EDITING

Have you received developmental feedback on your novel? Here’s the process I recommend to turn the feedback you receive into actionable edits.

Your Story Has Deep Meaning. Do You Know What It Is?

THEME

Stories shape the ways we think, the things we do, and the way we understand the world. How will your story impact your readers?

How to Create an Editing Process That Works for You With Author JD Edwin

EDITING PROCESS

The best editing process is the one that works for you. Here’s how author JD Edwin designed her own process, and how you can do the same.

Extended Edition: How Spider-Man’s Leap of Faith Makes Us Feel Triumphant

STORY STUDY

How does Miles Morales’s leap off a skyscraper create a feeling of triumph so strong, it’s almost palpable? Editor Kim Kessler and I take a close look at why this scene is so effective.