diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0d1fe1c..a652a73 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,16 +2,16 @@
 # novem - data visualisation for coders
 
 A wrapper library for the novem.io data visualisation platform. Create charts,
-documents, e-mails and dashboards through one simple API.
+documents, e-mails, and dashboards through one simple API.
 
-**NB:** novem is currently in closed alpha, if you want to try it out please
+**Note:** novem is currently in closed alpha. If you want to try it out, please
 reach out to hello@novem.io
 
 
 ## Examples
 
-Create a linechart from a pandas dataframe (assumes a configured profile —
-see "Getting started" below).
+Create a linechart from a pandas dataframe (this assumes a configured profile,
+described under "Getting started" below).
 
 ```python
 import numpy as np
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ These are resolved, in order of precedence, from:
  4. the config file written by `python -m novem --init`
 
 The simplest setup is the config file (`--init` above). To configure novem
-programmatically instead — handy in notebooks, scripts or CI — set a token on
+programmatically instead (handy in notebooks, scripts, or CI), set a token on
 the global `novem.config` object once, and objects created afterwards pick it
 up automatically:
 
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@ plot = novem.Plot("my-plot", token="your-token")
 ```
 
 ### Multiple accounts / profiles
-A `Session` captures connection settings (token, api_root or a config-file
-profile) and constructs objects bound to them, without touching the global
-defaults — useful when working against several accounts at once:
+A `Session` captures connection settings (token, api_root, or a config-file
+profile) and constructs objects bound to them without touching the global
+defaults — useful when you work against several accounts at once:
 
 ```python
 import novem
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ novem package `from novem import Plot`.
 The `Plot` class takes a single mandatory positional argument, the name of the
 plot.
  * If the plot name is new, the instantiation of the class will create the plot.
- * If the plot name already exist, then the new object will operate on the
+ * If the plot name already exists, then the new object will operate on the
    existing plot.
 
 In addition to the name, there are two broad categories of options for a
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ plot: data and config.
    * Titles/captions/names/colors/legends/axis etc
 
 
-There are two ways to interact with the plots, one can either supply all
+There are two ways to interact with the plots: you can either supply all
 the necessary options as named arguments when creating the plot, or use the
 property accessors to modify them one by one (this is more helpful when working
 with the plot interactively). Below is an example of both approaches.
@@ -171,13 +171,56 @@ df.pipe(line)
 ```
 
 
-**NB:** All novem plot operations are live.
+**Note:** All novem plot operations are live.
 This means that as soon as you write to or modify any aspects of the plot
 object, those changes are reflected on the novem server and anyone watching
 the plot in real time.
 
 
 
+## Error handling
+Every novem operation talks to the platform over the network, so any call can
+fail: a rejected token, a missing resource, or a value the server won't accept.
+When a read or write fails, novem raises a `NovemException` (or a more specific
+subclass) carrying the server's error message instead of failing silently.
+
+```python
+from novem import Plot
+from novem.exceptions import NovemException, Novem403
+
+try:
+    # the constructor creates the plot (a PUT) unless create=False, so this
+    # call can raise too, not only the writes that follow it
+    plot = Plot("my-plot")
+    plot.type = "line"
+except Novem403:
+    print("not permitted to write this plot")
+except NovemException as e:
+    # the exception carries the server message and any rejected lines
+    print(f"novem rejected the write: {e}")
+```
+
+Every exception is importable from `novem.exceptions` and inherits from
+`NovemException`, so catching the base class catches them all:
+
+ * `NovemException`: the base class, raised for any otherwise-unclassified API
+   error.
+ * `Novem401`: the server rejected the supplied token.
+ * `Novem403`: the token is valid but lacks permission for this operation.
+ * `Novem404`: the resource does not exist.
+ * `NovemAuthError`: no usable token could be resolved locally. This is distinct
+   from `Novem401`, which is the server rejecting a token that was sent.
+
+Note: creating an object that already exists is not an error — the create PUT
+returns a 409, which novem treats as a no-op rather than raising.
+
+### Timeouts
+novem requests time out instead of hanging indefinitely. Every call uses a
+default timeout of `(10s connect, 2min read)`. Job execution (`job.run()`) can
+take far longer and uses `(30s connect, 30min read)`. A request that exceeds its
+timeout raises `requests.exceptions.Timeout`.
+
+
 ## Contribution and development
 The novem python library and platform is under active development, contributions
 or issues are most welcome.