Elevate has a new name!
In today’s episode, Jane is joined by Kali Handelman. Kali is the developmental editor for Book Brilliance. She has her eyes on every single piece of writing reviewed in the program, and she’s here to discuss what you can expect when you have your work edited. Jane and Kali discuss:
- How we define developmental editing
- How developmental editing helps you develop and refine the big ideas in your book
- The most common concerns writers have about their work, and how we address them.
- The benefits of submitting short passages for developmental editing
- Using developmental editing to establish a writing pace
- Why we deliver feedback in two different ways, and how the methods complement one another.
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to be in one of Jane’s book-writing programs, this episode gives you all the details.
📝 Ready to turn your dissertation into a publication-worthy scholarly book? Learn how you can join Book Brilliance by visiting https://rightprose.co/book-brilliance/
📲 Let’s Connect! Say hi on BlueSky and share your favorite gem from this episode. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
💗 Spread the inspiration. Know someone who would benefit from some guidance on their book-writing journey? Share this episode with them!
Transcript
[00:00:00] Introduction and Welcome
Jane Joann Jones:
Hello, everyone. I hope you’re doing well. We have a special guest on the podcast today. I am so excited because, as you know, I never have a guest. So it’s our first guest and it’s also a special guest. Her name is Kali Handelman, and she is the developmental editor in the Book Brilliance program. She has been with the program since it was called Elevate. You know, it was called Elevate yesterday.
Jane Joann Jones:
It’s called Book Brilliance today. But nonetheless, she has been with the program since its inception. I thought it would be great to chat with Kali about her role in the program, what we see with students in the program, our philosophies about writing — we have some shared philosophies, but, of course, Kali has her own — and how we help you. Kali has a background in religious studies. She has been a developmental editor for…
Kali Handelman:
How many years now, Kali? Remind me. I have to…
Jane Joann Jones:
Do math. Eight years. Eight years. And her specialty is the dissertation-to-book transition and helping people write public-facing books. Welcome to Academic Book Writing Simplified. I’m your host, Jane Joanne Jones, a writing coach and developmental editor who’s here to give you some tough love about the way you write. This podcast is for women and non-binary scholars in academia who are writing academic books but feel as if the process is a little or a lot like a mystery. If you’re ready to trade your confusion and frustration for ease, clarity, and purpose, you’re in the right place.
Let’s head into today’s episode. Welcome, Kali.
Kali Handelman:
Thank you. Great to be here.
[00:01:59] Kali’s Role in the Book Brilliance Program
Jane Joann Jones:
I’m happy you’re here. So tell the listeners, tell everyone a little bit about what you do in the program, like what your role is.
Kali Handelman:
Yeah. I think for a lot of folks in the program, this is their first time encountering developmental editing, so maybe it’s good to talk a little bit about how I conceive of that. Developmental editing means working on the big picture and foundations of the book — developing its argument, its structure, the framing, theorization, voice, and style. It’s about making the book the strongest version of itself.
Often it’s useful in the early stages, whether transitioning from a dissertation or starting a new project. Developmental editing decides the key elements, priorities, and how to write it. Later come other types of editing like line editing, copy editing, and proofreading. In the program, our focus is on developmental editing, delivered through coaching and feedback.
Kali Handelman:
I provide feedback on drafts (up to 1,500 words), making comments, asking questions, pointing out strengths and areas for development, and offering suggestions. Authors also submit questions with their drafts. I summarize key feedback in a top note, recommending next steps.
Another key element is our editorial workshops — one-on-one conversations based on drafts or writing questions. Academics often think by writing, but thinking out loud in conversation can be very revealing. Workshops allow real-time exploration of ideas, questions about the project, and argument development.
[00:05:45] Dialogue and Iterative Development
Jane Joann Jones:
I think that’s great because they are complementary. We need to be in dialogue with people. That’s the whole point of being in a group program — truly talking to people regularly. Every week, we’re in your business: what are you writing, can we look at it, can we tell you about it, can you ask us questions about it? That’s what distinguishes it from traditional developmental editing.
Kali Handelman:
Exactly. It’s not that one-on-one editing doesn’t have conversations, but here we see iterations quickly. Someone can tweak their argument multiple times without needing massive overhauls.
Jane Joann Jones:
Exactly. And they can do it at academic speed — very tight.
[00:06:53] Consistency, Community, and Project Management
Kali Handelman:
One of the big advantages of the program is the consistency and frequency. Writing a book can be isolating, and having regular conversations means you don’t drift off or spin out. We also adjust to each person’s life circumstances: teaching, postdoc, sabbatical, young children, caregiving — all of that impacts your writing. Our goal is to ensure everyone has a personalized plan.
Jane Joann Jones:
Yeah. No one-size-fits-all here. We have goals, but they’re personalized, realistic, and flexible.
[00:09:51] Adapting to Challenges Over Time
Kali Handelman:
We started this in lockdown COVID, and it’s been adjusting from the beginning. No “normal.” We’ve seen things, and we know how to plan accordingly.
Jane Joann Jones:
Exactly.
[00:10:43] Typical Concerns and How We Address Them
Jane Joann Jones:
Let’s talk about typical concerns and how we address them. Most people come in needing to build or reshape an argument — either tightening, making a disciplinary shift, or transforming within the same discipline.
Kali Handelman:
Yes. And also, people writing something different from what they’re used to — shifting from articles to a book, or from academic monographs to public-facing books. Some haven’t written a book in a long time and need structure.
Kali Handelman:
Typical concerns include figuring out how to write a book (not a dissertation), developing the argument, understanding structure, finding your voice, and making writing feel authentic again after graduate school “garbling.”
[00:14:04] Helping Scholars Find Their Voice
Kali Handelman:
We help people figure out how they want to sound, making writing exciting again. There’s no one “right” academic voice. Writing doesn’t have to sound generic. It can still sound rigorous and personal.
Jane Joann Jones:
And part of our coaching is helping people make informed decisions about how they want to sound, balancing risk and authenticity.
[00:18:19] Supporting a Range of Writers
Kali Handelman:
Not all academics love writing. Some prefer teaching or research. We support both kinds — those who are natural writers and those for whom writing is a necessary task.
Jane Joann Jones:
The group benefits from hearing each other’s feedback and challenges. It creates a supportive learning environment.
[00:20:35] Second Book Challenges
Jane Joann Jones:
Second books can feel lonelier than first books because there’s no dissertation advisor, no built-in structure. Service commitments grow, especially for women and minoritized scholars. The writing time cliff is real.
Kali Handelman:
Yes. After tenure, there’s often a loss of external deadlines, and service commitments explode. Our program balances acknowledging these pressures with helping people prioritize writing.
[00:23:33] Practical Planning and Time Management
Jane Joann Jones:
Our planning approach is grounded in your actual writing. Your outline is your plan. It’s not just about protecting time — it’s knowing what you’ll do in that time. We help you outline, plan, and strategically manage your book project.
Kali Handelman:
You can’t just “write book” on your to-do list. We help you break it down into manageable, strategic tasks.
[00:26:33] Why We Use 1,500-Word Submissions
Kali Handelman:
1,500-word drafts allow steady progress, regular feedback, and more focused work. It accommodates different writing paces and helps build the skill of asking for useful feedback. You practice framing your feedback requests intentionally, which is crucial for life after the program.
[00:30:08] Preparing You for Success Beyond the Program
Jane Joann Jones:
We’re equipping you for life beyond the program — how to seek feedback, what to ask for, how to improve meaningfully. It’s not about overwhelming you; it’s about sustainable progress and strategic support.
Kali Handelman:
Exactly. Developmental editing here is about guiding your thinking, not just correcting text. It’s feedback that builds skills and confidence.
[00:31:12] Final Thoughts
Jane Joann Jones:
Thank you so much, Kali.
Kali Handelman:
My pleasure! I always look forward to getting to know new cohorts and new projects.
Jane Joann Jones:
It’s like the first day of school — and we get that excitement multiple times a year.
Kali Handelman:
Exactly.
Jane Joann Jones:
Thank you, everyone, for listening. I’ll see you in the next episode. Writing an academic book is challenging, but you don’t have to overcomplicate it. Please leave a review if you enjoyed today’s episode — it helps us spread the word. Take care and tune in for the next one.
