Intuitive Editing: A Review

One in an occasional series of writing book reviews. Today, I’ll talk about Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin.

I came across this book when I went to the home of a fellow author who was hosting a write-in. She had very cleverly put out all of her craft books as decoration in the center of the dining table where we were invited to sit and write.

Intuitive Editing was among many books, most of which I had heard of, read or owned. I have to say, I’m really sorry I hadn’t heard of it before now. It’s a terrific book.

It covers the basics of writing craft without talking down to the reader or over simplifying. The author assumes that the reader is an intelligent, well-read individual. She does use a number of movies for her examples, but most are those are ones most people have seen. (My only complaint is that she uses the movie of the Princess Bride, rather than the book which — as is usually the case — was so much better.)

Martin organizes her book logically from the biggest concepts — what she calls “ macroedits” to the smaller concepts — “microedits.”

Macroedits, according to Martin, include character, stakes, and plot, in that order, which I think is just right. A novel is nothing without great characters, these characters must need something or else, and this is what makes up the plot…