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Reposted by Martha Carlson

Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

"A woman leaving the facility 'dropped to her knees. She did the sign of the cross in extreme relief. As if coming out of a nightmare,' he said... “May we never become so accustomed to suffering that we stop seeing the humanity of those experiencing it.” www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

miamiherald.com

Amid whistleblower claims, advocates ask lawmakers to visit ICE office in Miramar

Community leaders demand Florida lawmakers investigate Miramar ICE facility amid whistleblower allegations of severe overcrowding and filthy facilities

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Yes. I try to remember that new writers are often resistant to revising, but hearing from editors/teachers wears down that resistance. One day they wake up eager to revise. Asking questions is a great response.

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Q4 #StetChatThis is hard. I might try asking for brief annotations of passages of published fiction: how the paragraph is structured, how the author uses concrete details or creates dialogue, one topic at a time. Really noticing writing skills might make the writer more open to editing suggestions.

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Q3. #StetChat. This would definitely start a conversation. If the question was factual and in common domain (Who wrote Moby Dick?), that's one thing. Even so, I think my trust would be broken. If they weren't honest about this one time, how often had they been dishonest? I'd back away.

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Q2 for #StetChat: One time I felt that I was being manipulated into doing line editing when what I'd recommended strongly was a manuscript assessment. I said politely that when our our assumptions were that out of alignment, it wouldn't be a satisfactory experience for the writer. He was OK with it

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

If I'm working for a publisher, my first response is to share what I've found with that publisher and confer about how to broach the problem (and solutions) with the author.

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Hi, #StetChat. I'm Martha Carlson, a developmental editor and writing coach who works with writers of fiction, mostly literary fiction and upmarket fiction. I offer coaching, manuscript assessment, developmental editing, and line editing.

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

This week on Crafting the Path, I discuss small revisions that make a big impact on the flow of a novel or short story. crafting-the-path.pika.page/posts/flow-i...

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Today on Crafting the Path, I talk about the quality of "flow" in fiction. crafting-the-path.pika.page/posts

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Two days ago I bought a summer hat at CVS. A treat, but not an edible one.

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

I saw a saucer magnolia in full bloom for the first time this week. After the long winter, it felt like a miracle.

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Reposted by Martha Carlson

Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander @goodlander.house.gov · 17/04/2026

It is after midnight, and the Speaker of the House just released a new bill that would reauthorize our intelligence community to conduct warrantless surveillance under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for the next 5 years. This is no way to govern. You deserve better.

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

I do have a grinder. Thanks for the idea. I'll check out prices for whole bean coffee.

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

When I read that book sales have dropped, I wonder if library borrowings have gone up.

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Remember when "conflict of interest" actually meant something?

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

So my favorite brand of ground coffee seems to have jumped from $11 for ten ounces to $17 for ten ounces. I'm looking for something cheaper.

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Today on Crafting the Path, I discuss how an AI policy benefits both fiction writers and their editors. crafting-the-path.pika.page/posts/protec...

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

In Crafting the Path today, I discuss how we leave "breadcrumbs" of our writing process in our early drafts — and how sweeping away those crumbs makes our fiction more exciting for our readers. crafting-the-path.pika.page/posts/wordin...

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

In Crafting the Path this morning, I review David Szalay’s novel Flesh, especially the way the writer sustains pacing and tension throughout a long novel covering decades of the main character’s life. crafting-the-path.pika.page/posts/tensio...

An illustration showing a path made of horizontal boards going through a forest.

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Today on Crafting the Path, I discuss the benefits of editing filter phrases like "I saw, he noticed, they felt" to make fiction more concise and and vivid. I pay special attention to the sense of smell, which writers often struggle to revise. crafting-the-path.pika.page/posts/filter...

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Reposted by Martha Carlson

Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

"The Fulton County raid is a test run for messing with election administrators and the counting of ballots in the midterm elections in 2026..." slate.com/news-and-pol...

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Martha Carlson @marthaeditor.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

In Crafting the Path today, I discuss the new Independent Press Top 40 Bestseller list and why it's especially useful to writers of literary fiction, upmarket fiction, and books that may have niche audiences or an unconventional approach to fiction. crafting-the-path.pika.page

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