The Editor's Half Hour

Developmental editor and anthropologist Andrew Hodges shares his view of the editor’s role in shaping fictional worlds—especially in speculative fiction. He brings a unique perspective to the craft, blending editorial expertise with a background in cultural anthropology. We discuss:

• How editors can guide world-building without taking over the creative vision
• Common mistakes writers make when creating new worlds
• Approaches to handl...

In this episode of The Editor’s Half Hour, Nadia Geagea Pupa welcomes editor Rachel Lapidow for an in-depth look at the role editors play in the world of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). From rulebooks and lore to quests and character creation, editing TTRPGs involves far more than just grammar—it’s about helping writers and designers bring expansive, interactive worlds to life with clarity, consistency, and heart.

Rachel share...

In this special double feature episode, I’m joined by two standout voices from this year’s ACES conference in Salt Lake City.

First, I interview Heather Saunders, president of ACES: The Society for Editing and CEO of Nova Arc Content. Heather shares her perspective on leading in the editing world, the importance of advocating for editors in specialized fields like STEM, and how she’s working to build a stronger, more inclusive profe...

Let’s be real—promoting yourself can feel like a microfiber cloth snagging on dry skin. Ick. We’re editors, not salespeople! But fear not, because in this episode, I speak with marketing guru, and work and life coach, Colleen Newvine, all about how to feel more authentic and less cringey when it comes to self-promotion.

Colleen’s approach to marketing makes you feel at ease, that promoting your brand is less selling and more serving...

What if copy editing was more than just a profession—what if it was a lifestyle? In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Jamaal Pittman, author of The Copy Editor’s Life(Style) Guide, for a deep dive into the world of editing, career longevity, and what it really takes to thrive in the publishing industry.

Jamaal’s book isn’t just another style guide—it’s an insightful, engaging, and often humorous look at the editor’s life, from m...

AI is transforming the way we edit, write, and create—but where do we draw the ethical line? 

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the ethics of AI in publishing to explore some of the biggest ethical questions editors and writers face in the age of AI. 

Are AI tools a helpful assistant or a threat to creativity? How do we ensure fairness, accuracy, and integrity in AI-assisted editing? 

I interview Amy Frushour Kelly, editor and A...

Welcome back to The Editor's Half Hour podcast! We're kicking off the year with an episode designed to help you work smarter, not harder. In this episode, I interview productivity expert and editorial pro, Lori Paximadis for a lively discussion about the systems and shortcuts that can revolutionize your workflow.

Lori has been a successful full-time freelancer for more than half of her 33-year career in pu...

In this special episode and season finale, I interviewed Madeleine Vasaly, the author of the newly released book, “The Proofreader’s Guide to Comic Book Style.” This book offers an in-depth catalog of style traditions in comics and explains how they’re different from the standards in other types of media. In this interview, we discuss grammar, style, and the heroic art of editing dialogue balloons.

Madeleine Vasaly is a developmenta...

When you pick up a cookbook, do you ever wonder how it all comes together? From the ingredients to the instructions to the tempting photos, a lot more happens behind the scenes than meets the eye. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the essential yet often-overlooked role of the cookbook editor.

Join us as we chat with seasoned cookbook editor Melissa Haskin, who reveals what it takes to turn a chef’s vision into a polished...

In this insightful episode, we dive into the nuanced world of editing for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) writers. It’s one thing to edit for grammar and flow, but how do editors balance maintaining a writer’s authentic voice while adapting the language for clarity and readability in English? This episode unpacks what it takes to work effectively with EFL writers, touching on topics like cultural sensitivity, linguistic d...

Isabella Furth shares her insight about emotional labor and how it affects the editing process. Emotional Labor is defined as caring work or relationship work; it’s about managing emotional resources, but it can often become devalued or taken for granted.

Isabella explains the importance of recognizing emotional labor because it isn't something that should be avoided or ignored. As editors, we must find the mo...

For about 20 years, the University of Chicago Press has been looking to publish a book about book design, and it has finally happened. In 2024, The Design of Books, written by Debbie Berne was officially published and it shares everything that authors, editors, and agents should know about book design. Debbie has been a professional book designer since 2002 and has designed hundreds of book interiors and covers i...

Rebecca Scharpf of Scrollwork Edits provides an abundance of information about what it takes to work with neurodivergent clients. She primarily works with fiction writers and specializes in editing fantasy, sci-fi, and romance novels.

In this episode, she shares a variety of ways editors can create positive and affirming spaces for neurodivergent writers.

Rebecca shares several resources for bo...

Award-winning editor, Karen Yin joins us to discuss her latest book, The Conscious Style Guide: A Flexible Approach to Language That Includes, Respects, and Empowers (Little, Brown Spark). She provides insight and guidance on how to be more equitable in the way we communicate.

Karen explains that this is not a book of dos and don'ts. In fact, it's the opposite of that! This book is a cornerstone guide that...

There are several things that CaTyra Polland is known for, but the most notable is being the founder of National Black Authors Day, which is celebrated on May 4. In this episode, she shares valuable insight into how she started her editorial career, which led her to start her own business, Love For Words (love4words.com). She explains her mentality behind starting this national holiday and what it means for Black authors.

CaTyra spe...

In this “STET Special” one-hour podcast episode with the award-winning copywriter, Erin Brenner, we take a deep dive into her latest book, The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors: How to Take Care of Your Business, Your Clients, and Yourself from Start-Up to Sustainability.

We cover a variety of topics like branding, marketing, finances, setting rates, and last but not least, self-care. This book, published by the...

The Universally Acknowledged Truth About Romance examines the editorial approach to romance through the lens of Jane Austen. Our special guest, Sarah Calfee—founder and owner of Three Little Words Romance Editing—has been a fiction editor since 2018 and specializes in romance.

In this episode, Sarah gets into the nuts and bolts of what it takes to provide dev editing and line/copy editing her way. With an MFA in creativ...

Unlock the magic of what it takes to integrate your personal story with your business. In this episode, Sonia Alleyne shares advice that freelancers can take when they are forming their businesses or updating information on their websites. Potential clients need to be sold on an experience, but first, they need to be “seen.” Sonia got her start as an editor in New York and has interviewed high-profile business leaders including Urs...

What does it mean to find your community?

If there's one thing to be shared from my interview with Tara Whitaker, it's that there's power in numbers! Today more than ever, editors need to stick together, have more open conversations about what we do, and create a way to congratulate and encourage one another. Tara is pioneering a new wave of modern editors to create companionship, camaraderie, and community among editors...