Michael Robert Evans is assistant professor at the Indiana University School of Journalism. He was the founder of the syndicated column "Finders," regional editor for the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and managing editor of Western Massachusetts Magazine.

The author's explicity expressed opinions are nicely tempered by the candid, but always constructive, comments from various contemporary editors. -- David Abrahamson and Nathan Eddy Journalism & Mass Communication Editor

• Layer 1. The Big Picture From Spark to Flame: How to Conceptualize a Magazine Who Is Out There? Finding and Understanding Audiences Hocus Focus: The Magic of a Clear Mission Freedom and Responsibility: The Law and What to Do About It Does Write Make Right? The Ethics of Editing Layer 2. The Big Questions The Plan's the Thing: Planning Issues and Working with Writers Hands Off! First, Make Sure It Makes Sense Editorial Muscle: Checking an Article's Fit and Tone Beginnings, Endings, and All that Comes Between: Structure, Leads, and Conclusions Layer 3. The Small (but Important) Stuff How's That, Again? The Facts of Fact Checking Word World: The Joy, Beauty, and Sheer Staggering Unimaginable Grace of Grammar Word World II: The Cutting Edge of Tricky Grammar Dots and Squiggles: Spelling, Punctuation, and Other Proofreading Fun The Supporting Cast: The Other Little Things that Editors Do The Business of Editing: How to Recognize Success Without Looking Overly Surprised Final Thoughts: A Great Job and How to Get It Say What? Some Important Terms and What They Mean