diff --git a/prisma/dev.db b/prisma/dev.db
index 168826f..e870c4b 100644
Binary files a/prisma/dev.db and b/prisma/dev.db differ
diff --git a/src/app/lib/create.ts b/src/app/lib/create.ts
index d0f2d2b..fa99386 100644
--- a/src/app/lib/create.ts
+++ b/src/app/lib/create.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { prepGenreData, prepStoryData } from "./validate"
 
 //TODO - data validation, error handling, unauthorized access handling
 
-export async function createStory(data: Story & { genres: number[] }): Promise<Story | boolean | undefined> {
+export async function createStory(data: Story & { genres: number[] }): Promise<{ success: string }> {
 	// will return undefined if middleware authorization fails
 	"use server"
 	try {
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export async function createStory(data: Story & { genres: number[] }): Promise<S
 			}
 		})
 		revalidatePath("/story")
-		return res
+		return { success: `Created the story '${data.title}'.` }
 	} catch (error) {
 		console.error(error)
 		return false
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export async function createStory(data: Story & { genres: number[] }): Promise<S
 }
 
 
-export async function createPub(data: Pub & { genres: number[] }): Promise<Pub | boolean | undefined> {
+export async function createPub(data: Pub & { genres: number[] }): Promise<{ success: string }> {
 	"use server"
 	//prepare data
 	const pubData = {
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export async function createPub(data: Pub & { genres: number[] }): Promise<Pub |
 				{ genres: { set: genresArray } }
 		})
 		revalidatePath("/publication")
-		return genresRes
+		return { success: `Created the publication '${data.title}'.` }
 	} catch (error) {
 		console.error(error)
 		return false
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ export async function createPub(data: Pub & { genres: number[] }): Promise<Pub |
 
 
 
-export async function createSub(data: Sub): Promise<Sub | undefined> {
+export async function createSub(data: Sub): Promise<Sub | boolean> {
 	"use server"
 	try {
 		subSchema.parse(data)
@@ -86,6 +86,6 @@ export async function createSub(data: Sub): Promise<Sub | undefined> {
 		return res
 	} catch (error) {
 		console.error(error)
-		return undefined
+		return false
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/app/lib/edit.ts b/src/app/lib/edit.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 273e5b3..0000000
--- a/src/app/lib/edit.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-"use server"
-import prisma from "./db"
-import { revalidatePath } from "next/cache"
-import { redirect } from "next/navigation"
-import { SubForm } from "app/ui/forms/sub"
-
-export async function editSubmission(data: SubForm) {
-	const res = await prisma.sub.update({
-		where: { id: data.id },
-		data
-	})
-	console.log(`updated ${data} to ${res}`)
-	revalidatePath("/submission")
-	redirect("/submission")
-}
diff --git a/src/app/lib/update.ts b/src/app/lib/update.ts
index e9c38be..1ec01b5 100644
--- a/src/app/lib/update.ts
+++ b/src/app/lib/update.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 "use server"
-import { Genre, Story, Sub } from "@prisma/client"
+import { prepGenreData, prepPubData, prepStoryData } from "./validate"
+import { Genre, Pub, Story, Sub } from "@prisma/client"
 import prisma from "./db"
 import { revalidatePath } from "next/cache"
 import { redirect } from "next/navigation"
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ export async function updateField({ datum, table, column, id, pathname }: { datu
 		return res
 	} catch (error) {
 		console.error(error)
-		return undefined
+		return false
 	}
 }
 
@@ -39,11 +40,11 @@ export async function updateGenres({ genres, table, id, pathname }: { genres: {
 		return res
 	} catch (error) {
 		console.error(error)
-		return undefined
+		return false
 	}
 }
 
-export async function updateSub(data: Sub): Promise<Sub | undefined> {
+export async function updateSub(data: Sub): Promise<Sub | boolean> {
 	"use server"
 	try {
 		subSchema.parse(data)
@@ -52,35 +53,62 @@ export async function updateSub(data: Sub): Promise<Sub | undefined> {
 		return res
 	} catch (error) {
 		console.error(error)
-		return undefined
+		return false
 	}
 }
 
 
-export async function updateStory(data: Story & { genres: number[] }): Promise<Story | undefined> {
+export async function updateStory(data: Story & { genres: number[] }): Promise<Story | boolean> {
 	"use server"
-	//prepare data
-	const genresArray = data.genres.map((e) => { return { id: e } })
-	const storyData = {
-		title: data.title,
-		word_count: data.word_count,
-	}
-	//prepare schemas
-	const schema = storySchema.omit({ id: true, genres: true })
-	const genreSchema = z.object({ id: z.number() })
-	const genresSchema = z.array(genreSchema)
-	try {
-		//validate
-		schema.safeParse(storyData)
-		genresSchema.safeParse(genresArray)
 
+	try {
+		//prep and validate
+		const storyData = await prepStoryData(data)
+		const genresArray = await prepGenreData(data.genres)
+		//submit
+		const res = prisma.story.update({
+			where: { id: data.id },
+			data: storyData
+		})
+		await prisma.story.update({
+			where: { id: data.id },
+			data: {
+				genres: { set: genresArray }
+			}
+		})
+		return res
 	} catch (error) {
 		console.error(error)
-		return undefined
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
+
+export async function updatePub(data: Pub & { genres: number[] }): Promise<Pub | boolean> {
+	"use server"
+
+	try {
+		//prep and validate
+		const pubData = await prepPubData
+			(data)
+		const genresArray = await prepGenreData(data.genres)
+		//submit
+		const res = prisma.pub.update({
+			where: { id: data.id },
+			data: pubData
+		})
+		await prisma.pub.update({
+			where: { id: data.id },
+			data: {
+				genres: { set: genresArray }
+			}
+		})
+		return res
+	} catch (error) {
+		console.error(error)
+		return false
 	}
 }
 
 
 
-
-
diff --git a/src/app/lib/validate.ts b/src/app/lib/validate.ts
index 8b1bdb1..9aa04a7 100644
--- a/src/app/lib/validate.ts
+++ b/src/app/lib/validate.ts
@@ -1,26 +1,30 @@
 import { z } from "zod";
 import { storySchema } from "app/ui/forms/schemas";
-import { Story } from "@prisma/client";
+import { Pub, Story } from "@prisma/client";
+import { pubSchema } from "app/ui/forms/schemas";
 
 //schemas
 
-const schema = storySchema.omit({ id: true, genres: true })
+const storySchemaTrimmed = storySchema.omit({ genres: true })
+const pubSchemaTrimmed = pubSchema.omit({ genres: true })
 const genreSchema = z.object({ id: z.number() })
 const genresSchema = z.array(genreSchema)
 
 export async function prepStoryData(data: Story & { genres: number[] }): Promise<{ title: string, word_count: number }> {
-	const storyData = {
-		title: data.title,
-		word_count: data.word_count,
-	}
-	//prepare schemas
-
+	const storyData = structuredClone(data)
+	delete storyData.genres
 	//throw an error if validation fails
-	schema.safeParse(storyData)
-
+	storySchemaTrimmed.safeParse(storyData)
 	return storyData
 }
 
+export async function prepPubData(data: Pub & { genres: number[] }): Promise<Pub | Boolean> {
+	const pubData = structuredClone(data)
+	delete pubData.genres
+	pubSchemaTrimmed.safeParse(pubData)
+	return pubData
+}
+
 export async function prepGenreData(data: number[]): Promise<{ id: number }[]> {
 	"use server"
 
diff --git a/src/app/publication/create.tsx b/src/app/publication/create.tsx
index a50db64..be438a7 100644
--- a/src/app/publication/create.tsx
+++ b/src/app/publication/create.tsx
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export default function CreatePubDialog({ genres }: ComponentProps<"div"> & { ge
           <DialogTitle>New publication</DialogTitle>
           <DialogDescription>Create an entry for a new publication i.e. a place you intend to submit stories to.</DialogDescription>
         </DialogHeader>
-        <PubForm createPub={createPub} genres={genres} closeDialog={closeDialog} />
+        <PubForm dbAction={createPub} genres={genres} closeDialog={closeDialog} />
         <DialogFooter>
           <Button form="pubform">Submit</Button>
         </DialogFooter>
diff --git a/src/app/publication/edit.tsx b/src/app/publication/edit.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d25c862
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/publication/edit.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+"use client"
+import { Dialog, DialogHeader, DialogTrigger, DialogContent, DialogClose, DialogTitle, DialogFooter, DialogDescription } from "@/components/ui/dialog";
+import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import { ComponentProps } from "react";
+import { Genre } from "@prisma/client";
+import { createPub } from "app/lib/create";
+import PubForm from "app/ui/forms/pub";
+import { Plus } from "lucide-react";
+import { useState } from "react";
+
+export default function CreatePubDialog({ genres }: ComponentProps<"div"> & { genres: Genre[] }) {
+
+  const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false)
+  function closeDialog() {
+    setIsOpen(false)
+  }
+
+  return (
+
+    <Dialog open={isOpen} onOpenChange={setIsOpen}>
+      <DialogTrigger asChild>
+        <Button>
+          <span className="hidden md:block">Create new publication</span>
+          <Plus className="block md:hidden" />
+        </Button>
+      </DialogTrigger>
+      <DialogContent>
+        <DialogHeader>
+          <DialogTitle>Edit publication</DialogTitle>
+          <DialogDescription>Modify an entry for an existing publication.</DialogDescription>
+        </DialogHeader>
+        <PubForm dbAction={createPub} genres={genres} closeDialog={closeDialog} />
+        <DialogFooter>
+          <Button form="pubform">Submit</Button>
+        </DialogFooter>
+
+      </DialogContent>
+    </Dialog>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/app/story/create.tsx b/src/app/story/create.tsx
index d3cba95..630b6a3 100644
--- a/src/app/story/create.tsx
+++ b/src/app/story/create.tsx
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export default function CreateStoryDialog({ genres }: ComponentProps<"div"> & {
           <DialogTitle>New story</DialogTitle>
           <DialogDescription>Create an entry for a new story i.e. a thing you intend to submit for publication.</DialogDescription>
         </DialogHeader>
-        <StoryForm createStory={createStory} genres={genres} className="" closeDialog={closeDialog} />
+        <StoryForm dbAction={createStory} genres={genres} className="" closeDialog={closeDialog} />
         <DialogFooter>
           <Button form="storyform">Submit</Button>
         </DialogFooter>
diff --git a/src/app/story/edit.tsx b/src/app/story/edit.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d64b575
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/story/edit.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"use client"
+import { createStory } from "app/lib/create"
+import { Dialog, DialogHeader, DialogTrigger, DialogContent, DialogClose, DialogTitle, DialogFooter, DialogDescription } from "@/components/ui/dialog";
+import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import { ComponentProps, useState } from "react";
+import { Genre, Story } from "@prisma/client";
+import StoryForm from "app/ui/forms/story";
+import { Plus } from "lucide-react";
+
+
+export default function EditStoryDialog({ genres, closeDialog, defaults }: ComponentProps<"div"> & { genres: Genre[], closeDialog: () => void, defaults: Story }) {
+
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <DialogHeader>
+        <DialogTitle>Edit story</DialogTitle>
+        <DialogDescription>Create an entry for a new story i.e. a thing you intend to submit for publication.</DialogDescription>
+      </DialogHeader>
+      <StoryForm dbAction={createStory} genres={genres} className="" closeDialog={closeDialog} defaults={defaults} />
+      <DialogFooter>
+        <Button form="storyform">Submit</Button>
+      </DialogFooter>
+    </>
+
+  )
+}
+
diff --git a/src/app/submission/create.tsx b/src/app/submission/create.tsx
index 0c26631..0c4dd7c 100644
--- a/src/app/submission/create.tsx
+++ b/src/app/submission/create.tsx
@@ -10,16 +10,8 @@ import { Plus } from "lucide-react";
 import { useState } from "react";
 
 
-type CreateSubDefaults = {
-  subId?: number,
-  storyId: number,
-  pubId: number,
-  submitted: Date,
-  responded: Date,
-  respoonseId: number
-}
 
-export default function CreateSubmissionDialog({ stories, pubs, responses, defaults }: ComponentProps<"div"> & { stories: Story[], pubs: Pub[], responses: Response[], defaults?: CreateSubDefaults }) {
+export default function CreateSubmissionDialog({ stories, pubs, responses }: ComponentProps<"div"> & { stories: Story[], pubs: Pub[], responses: Response[] }) {
 
   const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false)
   function closeDialog() {
@@ -39,7 +31,7 @@ export default function CreateSubmissionDialog({ stories, pubs, responses, defau
           <DialogTitle>New submission</DialogTitle>
           <DialogDescription>Create an entry for a new story i.e. a thing you intend to submit for publication.</DialogDescription>
         </DialogHeader>
-        <SubmissionForm pubs={pubs} responses={responses} stories={stories} defaults={defaults} closeDialog={closeDialog} />
+        <SubmissionForm pubs={pubs} responses={responses} stories={stories} closeDialog={closeDialog} />
         <DialogFooter>
           <Button form="subform">Submit</Button>
         </DialogFooter>
diff --git a/src/app/tailwind.css b/src/app/tailwind.css
index 3e4b5f8..70a70ce 100644
--- a/src/app/tailwind.css
+++ b/src/app/tailwind.css
@@ -777,6 +777,14 @@ body {
   margin-top: 1.5rem;
 }
 
+.mt-auto {
+  margin-top: auto;
+}
+
+.mb-4 {
+  margin-bottom: 1rem;
+}
+
 .block {
   display: block;
 }
@@ -879,6 +887,10 @@ body {
   height: 100vh;
 }
 
+.h-5\/6 {
+  height: 83.333333%;
+}
+
 .max-h-96 {
   max-height: 24rem;
 }
@@ -964,6 +976,10 @@ body {
   width: 100vw;
 }
 
+.w-5\/6 {
+  width: 83.333333%;
+}
+
 .min-w-\[8rem\] {
   min-width: 8rem;
 }
@@ -1251,6 +1267,11 @@ body {
   border-top-right-radius: 1.5rem;
 }
 
+.rounded-l-3xl {
+  border-top-left-radius: 1.5rem;
+  border-bottom-left-radius: 1.5rem;
+}
+
 .rounded-tl-3xl {
   border-top-left-radius: 1.5rem;
 }
diff --git a/src/app/ui/forms/pub.tsx b/src/app/ui/forms/pub.tsx
index 139df87..c0e1c7f 100644
--- a/src/app/ui/forms/pub.tsx
+++ b/src/app/ui/forms/pub.tsx
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ import { toast } from "@/components/ui/use-toast"
 
 import { randomPublicationTitle } from "app/lib/shortStoryTitleGenerator"
 import { ComponentProps } from "react"
-import { Genre } from "@prisma/client"
+import { Genre, Pub } from "@prisma/client"
 import GenrePicker from "./genrePicker"
 import { pubSchema } from "./schemas"
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation"
 import { Ban } from "lucide-react"
 
-export default function PubForm({ genres, createPub, className, closeDialog }: ComponentProps<"div"> & { genres: Array<Genre>, createPub: (data: any) => void, closeDialog: () => void }) {
+export default function PubForm({ genres, dbAction, className, closeDialog, defaults }: ComponentProps<"div"> & { genres: Array<Genre>, dbAction: (data: any) => Promise<{ success: string }>, closeDialog: () => void, defaults?: Pub }) {
 	const form = useForm<z.infer<typeof pubSchema>>({
 		resolver: zodResolver(pubSchema),
 		defaultValues: {
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ export default function PubForm({ genres, createPub, className, closeDialog }: C
 
 	async function onSubmit(values: z.infer<typeof pubSchema>) {
 		try {
-			const res = await createPub(values)
+			const res = await dbAction(values)
 			if (!res) throw new Error("something went wrong")
-			toast({ title: "Successfully submitted:", description: values.title })
+			toast({ title: "Success!", description: res.success })
 			router.refresh()
 			closeDialog()
 		} catch (error) {
diff --git a/src/app/ui/forms/story.tsx b/src/app/ui/forms/story.tsx
index e5e1a52..ea3354d 100644
--- a/src/app/ui/forms/story.tsx
+++ b/src/app/ui/forms/story.tsx
@@ -29,23 +29,25 @@ export const formSchema = z.object({
 	genres: z.array(z.number())
 })
 
-export default function StoryForm({ genres, createStory, className, closeDialog }: ComponentProps<"div"> & { genres: Array<Genre>, createStory: (data: any) => void, className: string, closeDialog: () => void }) {
+export default function StoryForm({ genres, dbAction, className, closeDialog, defaults }: ComponentProps<"div"> & { genres: Array<Genre>, dbAction: (data: any) => Promise<{ success: string }>, className: string, closeDialog: () => void, defaults?: Story }) {
 	const form = useForm<z.infer<typeof formSchema>>({
 		resolver: zodResolver(formSchema),
 		defaultValues: {
-			word_count: 500,
+			title: defaults?.title ?? "",
+			word_count: defaults?.word_count ?? 500,
 			genres: []
 		},
 	})
+	console.log("DEFAULTS: " + defaults)
 
 	const router = useRouter()
 
 	async function onSubmit(values: z.infer<typeof formSchema>) {
 		try {
-			const res = await createStory(values)
+			const res = await dbAction(values)
 			//server actions return undefined if middleware authentication fails
-			if (!res) throw new Error("something went wrong")
-			toast({ title: "Sucessfully submitted:", description: values.title })
+			if (!res.success) throw new Error("something went wrong")
+			toast({ title: "Success!", description: res.success })
 			router.refresh()
 			closeDialog()
 		} catch (error) {
diff --git a/src/app/ui/forms/sub.tsx b/src/app/ui/forms/sub.tsx
index 989b1d1..0dd2005 100644
--- a/src/app/ui/forms/sub.tsx
+++ b/src/app/ui/forms/sub.tsx
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ import { Ban } from "lucide-react"
 export type SubForm = z.infer<typeof subSchema>
 
 
-export default function SubmissionForm({ stories, pubs, responses, defaults, closeDialog }: { stories: any, pubs: any, responses: any, defaults: any, closeDialog: () => void }) {
+export default function SubmissionForm({ stories, pubs, responses, defaults, closeDialog }: { stories: any, pubs: any, responses: any, defaults?: any, closeDialog: () => void }) {
 	const form = useForm<z.infer<typeof subSchema>>({
 		resolver: zodResolver(subSchema),
 		defaultValues: {
diff --git a/src/app/ui/tables/contextMenu.tsx b/src/app/ui/tables/contextMenu.tsx
index c12e13c..2a41b25 100644
--- a/src/app/ui/tables/contextMenu.tsx
+++ b/src/app/ui/tables/contextMenu.tsx
@@ -19,15 +19,9 @@ export default function FormContextMenu({ table, row, openEditDialog, openDelete
         : ""
       }
 
-      {
-        pathname === "/submission" ?
-          <>
-            <ContextMenuItem onClick={() => openEditDialog(row)}>
-              Edit
-            </ContextMenuItem>
-          </>
-          : ""
-      }
+      <ContextMenuItem onClick={() => openEditDialog(row)}>
+        Edit
+      </ContextMenuItem>
 
       {
         selectedRows.length > 0 ?
diff --git a/src/app/ui/tables/data-table.tsx b/src/app/ui/tables/data-table.tsx
index 70dec7e..5a9ed5b 100644
--- a/src/app/ui/tables/data-table.tsx
+++ b/src/app/ui/tables/data-table.tsx
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ import EditSubmissionDialog from "app/submission/edit"
 import { DialogTitle } from "@radix-ui/react-dialog"
 import { toast } from "@/components/ui/use-toast"
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation"
+import EditStoryDialog from "app/story/edit"
 
 export interface DataTableProps<TData, TValue> {
   columns: ColumnDef<TData, TValue>[]
@@ -167,13 +168,23 @@ export function DataTable<TData, TValue>({
 
       <Dialog open={isEditDialogVisible} onOpenChange={setIsEditDialogVisible}>
         <DialogContent>
-          <EditSubmissionDialog
-            stories={stories}
-            pubs={pubs}
-            responses={responses}
-            defaults={dialogRow?.original}
-            closeDialog={closeEditDialog}
-          />
+          {tableName === "sub" ?
+            <EditSubmissionDialog
+              stories={stories}
+              pubs={pubs}
+              responses={responses}
+              defaults={dialogRow?.original}
+              closeDialog={closeEditDialog}
+            />
+            : tableName === "story" ?
+              < EditStoryDialog
+                genres={genres}
+                // TODO: prepare genre data so that it can be read by StoryForm 
+                defaults={dialogRow?.original}
+                closeDialog={closeEditDialog}
+              />
+              : ""
+          }
         </DialogContent>
       </Dialog>
 
@@ -223,7 +234,7 @@ export function DataTable<TData, TValue>({
                 const recordIds = rowIds.map(id => Number(table.getRow(id).original.id))
                 const res = await deleteRecords(recordIds, pathname)
                 if (!res) toast({ title: "Oh dear...", description: "Failed to delete." })
-                if (res) toast({ title: "Sucessfully deleted records of id:", description: JSON.stringify(recordIds) })
+                if (res) toast({ title: "Successfully deleted records of id:", description: JSON.stringify(recordIds) })
                 router.refresh()
                 setIsDeleteDialogVisible(false)
               }}>