The Editor's Half Hour

For the Season 3 finale of The Editor’s Half Hour, I’m joined by a truly extraordinary guest: Peter Sokolowski, editor at large at Merriam-Webster. With the highly anticipated 12th edition of the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary—the first major update in more than two decades—Peter gives us a rare look behind the scenes of how our language is shaped, refined, and recorded.In this conversation, Peter takes us inside the meticulous world of lexicography: how new words earn their place, how usage guides definition, and how the dictionary reflects the culture around us. We talk about nuance, evolution, clarity, and the responsibility of capturing the living nature of English—while honoring history, accuracy, and meaning.This episode is a celebration of everything editors love about language. Whether you’re an editor, a writer, or a full-on word nerd, you’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for the craft behind the dictionary you’ve trusted for years.In this episode, you’ll learn:·       What goes into updating a major dictionary edition·       How lexicographers track evolving usage and cultural influence·       The surprising ways words shift meaning over time·       What gets added and what gets revised in the 12th edition·       How editors and lexicographers share similar instincts for clarity and precision·       Why dictionary work is both deeply technical and beautifully humanAnd because this is the season finale, the episode begins with a special announcement: the winner of this season’s listener giveaway! Become a sneak “Pique” Patreon supporter to get access to exclusive content.Visit https://www.merriam-webster.com/collegiate-dictionary-twelfth-edition to get your copy of the latest 12th edition.If you’re planning to attend the LoveLitCon in San Diego (Feb. 13–16), visit lovelit. and use code PP7299 to get $25 off the registration fee.Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow editors!Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcastConnect with me on Instagram: @Editors_Half_HourSubscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHourBecome a Patreon Sneak “Pique” supporter to get access to exclusive content on YouTube: patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour

Book Marketing for EditorsWhat happens after the edits are done? In this episode, I interview Aryn Van Dyke, founder of Book Rockstar and former HarperCollins marketing expert, about how editors can better understand the world of book marketing—and why it matters more than ever.Aryn shares how her background in corporate publishing led her to create Book Rockstar, a boutique agency dedicated to helping authors build authentic, sustainable book marketing strategies that actually fit their values. She opens up about her journey from marketing professional to author, including her own Kickstarter campaign for her debut novel and what she learned about community, vulnerability, and creative entrepreneurship along the way.If you’ve ever wondered how editors can support authors beyond the manuscript—or what it takes to turn a polished book into a thriving brand—this episode will give you real-world insight into the marketing side of publishing.In this episode, you’ll learn:What editors should know about the author marketing journeyHow to help authors think about visibility from the startThe biggest misconceptions about book marketingLessons Aryn learned from crowdfunding her debut novelWhy marketing doesn’t have to feel “salesy”How collaboration between editors and marketers benefits everyonePlus, in the exclusive after-party episode for Patreon supporters, Aryn gets personal about the emotional side of launching a novel, the lessons she’s learned about balance and burnout, and how she’s exploring the role of AI in modern book marketing.Find Aryn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aryn-van-dyke/Learn more about Book Rockstar: https://www.bookrockstar.com/Buy your copy of Aryn’s book: https://www.arynvandyke.com/Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow editors!Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcastConnect with me on Instagram: @Editors_Half_HourSubscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHourBecome a Patreon Sneak “Pique” supporter to get access to exclusive content on YouTube: patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour

In this episode of The Editor’s Half Hour, Nadia Pupa talks with Marie Ellis, founder of Muse Content and an experienced editor and content strategist. Marie shares how she helps authors and organizations shape their ideas into clear, meaningful content while staying grounded in the joy of editing.Together, we explore:·       What it means to find your “happy place” as an editor·       How to create a balance between editorial precision and creative satisfaction·       The role of confidence in building an editorial career·       Practical ways to stay motivated when projects feel overwhelming·       Why connection—with writers, clients, and other editors—matters to sustaining joy in the professionWhether you’re new to editing or a seasoned pro, Marie’s insights are a reminder that editing is more than correcting—it’s about clarity, collaboration, and content that resonates.Learn more about Marie’s work at Muse Content: https://www.musecontent.co.ukReach out to Marie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-ellis-content/Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow word nerds and editing enthusiasts!Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcastConnect with me on Instagram: @Editors_Half_HourSubscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHourBecome a Patreon Sneak “Pique” supporter to get access to exclusive content on YouTube: patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour

If you’ve spent any time on LinkedIn, you may have seen this episode’s guest in action—Laura Poole. She’s become known for her signature ‘snip snip’ posts, where she takes a sentence, trims the excess, and shows how just a few smart cuts can transform writing into something sharper, cleaner, and more powerful.In this episode, we discuss the art of concise editing: how to cut the clutter, keep the meaning, and make every word earn its place. Whether you’re an editor or a writer, you’ll come away with practical tools—and maybe even the courage to pick up the scissors and give your words a little snip snip.With her decades of experience in scholarly nonfiction and her gift for teaching, Laura explains how the art of concise editing can transform writing from wordy to worthy. She reminds us that editing is not about judgment—it’s about clarity, flow, and nuance. Laura has been editing full-time since 1996, and shortly after, she founded her company, Archer Editorial Services, Inc., in 1997. She currently serves on the ACES Awards Committee as head judge for the Robinson Prize.Visit her company website: https://www.archereditorial.com/Follow Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapoole/Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow word nerds and editing enthusiasts!Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcastConnect with me on Instagram: @Editors_Half_HourSubscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHourBecome a Patreon Sneak “Pique” supporter to get access to exclusive content on YouTube: patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour

In “Not Your Grandma’s Grammar,” we dive deep into the evolving landscape of language, exploring what’s truly worth holding onto from the old-school grammar playbook and what’s time to retire.Dave Nelsen shares what he thinks Grandma did get right, the most common mistakes he still spots out in the wild, and the grammar “hills” he’s ready to defend fiercely. Dave has more than two decades of experience copy editing business collateral, academic writing, proposal content, marketing materials, and anything else that’s been put in front of him. Dave has been with Dragonfly Editorial since 2017. He began as a contractor, editing and writing proposal content for several of Dragonfly’s health care and IT clients. Today, as the deputy editorial manager, he works closely with the editorial manager to develop and maintain Dragonfly’s high editing standards. He also edits and proofreads proposal content and other communication for key clients. He’s especially proud of his super-nerd-level love of style guides. Ask him any question about the Associated Press Stylebook or The Chicago Manual of Style, and you’ll have a hard time shutting him up. In this episode, we challenge the myths (yes, including that infamous “don’t end a sentence with a preposition” rule), and discuss how modern communication—think texting, TikTok, and Threads—is reshaping our understanding of language.We also tackle hot topics like:·       Is autocorrect helping or hurting our grammar brains?·       Why punctuation in texts can sometimes feel like a secret message.·       How grammar rebels from history inspire today’s editors.·       Why editors might want to broaden their skill sets beyond traditional copyediting.Plus, for exclusive content, Dave dives into the future of grammar in an AI-driven world. From how editors might become language ethicists to the challenge of editing algorithm-generated voices, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the craft of language. (Visit patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour to become a Patreon supporter to get access to the exclusive content.)You can find Dave on LinkedIn and Bluesky:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-nelsen-0551588/ @thegrammargeek.bsky.social Visit https://dragonflyeditorial.com/resources/top-4-english-myths/ to read the “Top 4 English Language Myths,” which is one of Dragonfly’s Field Guides written by Dave. Visit https://dragonflyeditorial.com/training/ to learn more about the webinars they have to offer.Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow word nerds and editing enthusiasts!Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcastConnect with me on Instagram: @Editors_Half_HourSubscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHourBecome a Patreon Sneak “Pique” supporter: patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour