The Artful Edit

Susan Bell has edited fiction and nonfiction professionally for nearly two decades, including at Random House and Conjunctions magazine. She currently teaches at The New School and Tin House Writers Workshop in New York City.

The Artful Edit delves into the multifaceted and frequently misunderstood - or just disregarded - process of editing. This book demonstrates the importance of editing to great writing through examples, quotes, and case studies, including an illuminating discussion of Max Perkins' editorial collaboration with F. Scott Fitzgerald on The Great Gatsby. Bell also provides strategic self-editing tips and exercises, as well as a series of remarkable interviews in which readers are taken into the studios of established authors such as Michael Ondaatje, Tracy Kidder, and Ann Patchett to learn from their various approaches to shaping their work after its initial creation.

The Artful Edit is much more than a guidebook; it challenges readers to consider both the discipline and the creativity of editing, as well as how editing may improve their work. It is regarded as one of the best books on editing. This book, like The Triggering Town and The Elements of Style, is a must-have companion for every writer. It is a vigorous investigation into the history and meaning of the edit.

Author: Susan Bell

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0393332179

Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars (from 123 reviews)

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