Paper Chapter

  I can almost hear your thoughts. Why has Vivian, ever the champion of publicity, subrights, and the occasional reluctant dive into international sales, suddenly turned her attention to an editorial segment? Rest assured, it is not because I have run out of ideas, though some might wish that were possible. No, this is a deliberate move to showcase my range. If only you could see the expression on my face as I wrote that line—the closest thing in emoji form might be the melted face. Every Book Starts with Words Anyway, every book starts with words. I mean the literature, the grammar, the syntax. I am talking about that finished or loosely finished manuscript that survives its journey through editing before it reaches the world. Once I was a fresh duck testing the waters of publishing, tottering along though secretly dreaming of being an editor in all its forms, including developmental editing. I have done the research, read the guides, and learned from experience, so I like to ...