Louise Harnby | Crime Fiction and Thriller Editor
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Lean writing: Resources for fiction authors and editors

Learn how to write and edit so every words counts

Hone your writing and editing craft with articles, books, webinars and audio content dedicated to helping you tell stories that are immersive and compelling rather than overworked and cluttered.

​Scroll down the page or click on an icon to go straight to a section. Want to learn about a different topic? Select the green icon to return to the main library page.​
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Articles about lean writing

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Books for fiction authors and editors


Making Sense of ‘Show, Don’t Tell’

‘I cannot tell you how informative and useful I found this’ – Nic Winter, crime writer

​​​This fiction-editing guide helps editors and authors understand the differences between shown and told prose. Learn how to determine whether there are stylistic problems and how to craft solutions. The outcome is a stronger story and a more immersive reading experience.
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Editing Fiction at Sentence Level

Fiction is about flow, rhythm, mood, voice and style. But mostly it’s about story. When writers self-edit at line level with confidence, story is elevated by the sentence, rather than buried beneath it.

Editing Fiction at Sentence Level shows you how to hone your line craft so that your narrative and dialogue compel readers to turn the page.​
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Book: Editing Fiction at Sentence Level
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THE IMPACT ON THE BETA READING TEAM HAS BEEN EXPLOSIVE ...
I’ve worked hard on those opening eight chapters. They’ve been adapted in accordance with your suggestions and edits, and the impact on the beta reading team has been explosive. The raw voice of both the narrator and characters was preserved despite such powerful changes.
DANIEL GARRETT, MYSTERY AUTHOR
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Webinars for writers and editors


​Narrative Distance: A Toolbox for Writers and Editors

‘Told me masses of new stuff, and gave me a set of new tools to use immediately.’ – SoA @ Home Festival​ attendee
This webinar teaches professional fiction editors and commercial fiction authors how to recognize and control narrative (psychic) distance, and edit for a better reader experience.​
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How to Line Edit for Suspense

Learn how to identify suspense in a novel and evaluate its effectiveness using the suspense trifecta framework. Edit for improved reader experience and communicate your revisions with confidence.
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Preparing Your Book for Submission

'The BEST event I have been to on how to edit a manuscript. I learned so much!' – ​SoA @ Home Festival​ attendee
This 30-minute webinar teaches commercial fiction authors 11 pithy line-editing tips that make a substantive difference to writing flow and reader experience.
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Listen to The Immersive Fiction Collection


Listen to these episodes of The Editing Podcast in which Denise and Louise chat with independent authors and editors about sensitive and immersive fiction.
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I stand against prejudice, discrimination and othering, and strive to provide a safe, inclusive, respectful and supportive service for every writer I work with.
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