Learning the Lead, from Creative Nonfiction Magazine

Dedicated to the art of crafting a better beginning, the latest issue of Creative Nonfiction, #36: "First Lede, Real Lead," offers readers a rare and instructive look into the editorial process.

The bullet points:

• We hacked off the original beginnings to three of the essays,starting them paragraphs or pages later.
• You can read the edited versions in print.
• The essays are posted online in a manner that pits the submitted form vs. the edited form.
• The authors provided statements explaining how they really feel about what we did to their work.
• There is an online discussion forum following each essay. Voice your opinion. Tell us what you think: Did our edits improve or destroy the three essays?

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