Problem: Connecticut Explored, a brand-new, quarterly magazine devoted to Connecticut’s rich history, was off to a great start in 1991. But after a few issues, it was feeling more like an academic publication than one for a general readership.
Solution: When I became the editor (six issues in), I took steps to shift to a more reader-friendly tone, eliminating footnotes, for instance, in favor of embedding sources and documentation in the text itself. The magazine has since attracted a robust and enthusiastic following (under the leadership of our stalwart founder and publisher, Elizabeth Normen, and now with her awesome successor Kathy Hermes) and just celebrated its 20th year.
It’s kind of scary how much I love to edit other people’s writing. It’s like solving a puzzle; I get a big kick, and lots of professional pride, out of helping others express their meaning clearly simply by rearranging their words and punctuation marks. I’d love to get my hands on your writing, whether it’s a grant application, a book you plan to publish, your exhibition catalog, or your company’s annual report. Be forewarned: I’m a stickler—and I do firmly believe in the Oxford comma.