Editing

The Case for a Critique Before You Commit

Marguerite Aduba, Editorial Director · 22 January 2026 · 4 min read

Three hundred pounds of honesty can save three thousand of misdirected editing.

A critique tells you which edit your book actually needs. It is the cheapest diagnostic in publishing.

If the critique says the structure is sound, you can commission line work with confidence.

critique

budgeting

Most authors think structural editing is about plot holes. It is closer to architecture — and it changes the book from the foundations up.

A living record of every decision your book makes about itself — and why you should keep it forever.

Word count is a proxy for hours. Here is how the arithmetic actually works.

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