EPISODE 108: The Art of Line Editing: Elevating Character and Plot with Author Jennifer Gennari

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 Prose00:00 Introduction to Wayward Writers00:32 Meet Jennifer Gennari01:33 Jennifer’s Writing Journey02:48 Books Jennifer Recommends04:23 The Importance of Line Editing06:27 Line Editing Techniques08:18 Character Development Through Line Editing12:35 Character-Driven Analogies17:17 Avoiding Over-Polishing in Writing18:06 The Power of Reading Aloud19:31 Using Beta Readers Effectively21:20 Common Issues in Student Manuscripts23:04 Recognizing Generic Sentences25:11 Polishing Dialogue for Emotional Resonance27:23 Advice for Middle Grade Authors28:54 Recommended Craft Books30:20 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsFind 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 SoontornvatKekla Magoon, AuthorRefuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt BellSelf-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne & Dave King This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com