shawn mackenzie

Any book about editing is, necessarily, a book about writing. For the casual scribbler or earnest author, "Red Line/Blue Line" is a collection of 36 essays - informative, occasionally digressive, and frequently irreverent - on writing, editing, and the essential interplay between the two.
Every day, a writer weaves passionately through a forest of choices both large and small. For, beyond the spark of an idea and the ensuing blood, sweat, and tears, writing is all about choices. This is the heart of editing - the subjective, at times eccentric art of sprucing up our prose and making it fir for public viewing.
Even a lone scribe struggling in the literary wilderness should respect her creation enough to make it as good as it can possibly be before sending it out into the world. After all, we may write in our teddy-bear slippers and pjs, but our work should go forth in crisp Ascot and morning coat.
"Red Line/Blue Line" is an invitation to read well and write better. At day’s end, I hope it inspires you to look at your work differently, to see the big picture and the small, spin your craft on its head, and have fun doing it. Come along for the ride and enjoy.