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

About this episode

The episode features a discussion on line editing with author Jennifer Gennari, focusing on its significance in enhancing character and plot.

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 Prose 00:00 Introduction to Wayward Writers 00:32 Meet Jennifer Gennari 01:33 Jennifer’s Writing Journey 02:48 Books Jennifer Recommends 04:23 The Importance of Line Editing 06:27 Line Editing Techniques 08:18 Character Development Through Line Editing 12:35 Character-Driven Analogies 17:17 Avoiding Over-Polishing in Writing 18:06 The Power of Reading Aloud 19:31 Using Beta Readers Effectively 21:20 Common Issues in…

People in this episode

Hosts: Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, Nicki Jacobsmeyer

Guest: Jennifer Gennari

Topics covered

• line editing
• character development
• writing process
• dialogue
• manuscript improvement

Keywords

• line editing
• character-driven dialogue
• writing advice
• manuscript issues
• craft books

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: EPISODE 104 DEEP DIVE: The Art of Line Editing, A Guide to Polishing Your Prose

More episodes of Way-Word Writers Podcast

• EPISODE 111: Writing in the Dark: Jeannine Ouellette on Uncertainty, Slow Language, and Writing as a Path of Becoming · June 2, 2026 · 46 min
• EPISODE 110: Inside Today’s Cookbook Market with Agent Sally Ekus · April 28, 2026 · 37 min
• EPISODE 109: ​Grammar as a Craft Choice with Patty McGee · April 7, 2026 · 38 min
• EPISODE 107: Summit Club Workshops--Coming to Way-Word Writers · March 10, 2026 · 20 min
• Tackling Time Management & Writing Goals · March 9, 2026 · 33 min
• EPISODE 106: Kickstarter Campaigns & Author Partnering with Christina Boufis and Victoria Olsen · February 24, 2026 · 39 min