In this episode of Wayward Writers, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer welcome author Jennifer Gennari to discuss the intricacies of line editing and its importance in the writing process. Jennifer talks about her journey as a writer and editor, shares her approach to character-driven dialogue, and offers practical advice for strengthening sentences. The conversation also delves into common issues faced by writers and teaching strategies to improve one’s manuscript. Guest recommendations for craft books and personal anecdotes round out this educational and inspirational episode.

If you’d like to read Heather’s deep dive article on this episode, you can find it here:

EPISODE 104 DEEP DIVE: The Art of Line Editing, A Guide to Polishing Your Prose

00:00 Introduction to Wayward Writers

00:32 Meet Jennifer Gennari

01:33 Jennifer’s Writing Journey

02:48 Books Jennifer Recommends

04:23 The Importance of Line Editing

06:27 Line Editing Techniques

08:18 Character Development Through Line Editing

12:35 Character-Driven Analogies

17:17 Avoiding Over-Polishing in Writing

18:06 The Power of Reading Aloud

19:31 Using Beta Readers Effectively

21:20 Common Issues in Student Manuscripts

23:04 Recognizing Generic Sentences

25:11 Polishing Dialogue for Emotional Resonance

27:23 Advice for Middle Grade Authors

28:54 Recommended Craft Books

30:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Find Out MORE:

Jennifer Gennari’s Website and Links to Muffled and Stifled.

​​​​The Art of Description: World Into Word​ by Mark Doty

​The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

Kekla Magoon, Author

Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt Bell

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne & Dave King

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