 For Authors: September 14, 2016 Issue [#7865] |
  For Authors
This week: What Editors or Publishers Hate - Part 2 Edited by: Vivian  
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Four weeks ago I promised to finish the partial list of things editors and publishers hate. I stopped at number 9 and will begin at 10 in this newsletter. No, these problems areas are not all the items that irritate publishers and editors, but they are some of the most important.
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What Editors and Publishers Hate - Part 2
One of the main areas covered last month was unprofessional behavior is a big "no-no" with editors and publishers. We all need to remember writers are professionals, and we need to behave as such. Now, on to the last part of the list of things hated:
10. No originality or freshness. Even general ideas need to be “made” the author’s. My example earlier about the writer “stealing” the idea of another book was bad enough, and then his poor writing made it worse.
11. Publishers hate when an author figuratively sits backs and crosses his arms and does nothing to promote or market his book. Authors should have a marketing plan before submitting a manuscript, a platform. If authors such as James Patterson must promote “his” books, then the rest of us surely need to do the same.
12. Editors hate when the writing is heavy and unwieldy. It includes inflated sentences, stilted language, and overuse of adjectives and adverbs. Note the word "overuse," which does not mean "use."
13. They hate repetitive use of vocabulary and repetitive sentence structure and length.
14. Publishers and editors hate clichés and stereotypes. Lazy writers use such devices.
15. They hate the narrative telling rather than showing. Narrative must develop the scene. “The party was loud” tells, but describing the conversations, the waiter dropping a tray, cell phones ringing etc. shows.
16. Editors hate when dialogues turn into speeches. Dialogue shows relationships, moves the story along, creates scenes, etc. It is the interaction of two people or more, not a chance to “tell” by having someone give a speech.
17. They hate when events or a character’s behavior has no motivation, no reason.
18. A complaint from many editors, including those from 4RV, is writers do not learn, whether they can’t or won’t. An editor points out a problem in one section of a manuscript and suggests the writer check the rest of the manuscript for like problems and correct them. However, the writer doesn’t, expects the editor to find them and correct. Then a writer doesn’t learn from one project to the next. The same problems occur one project after another. An editor’s job is not to rewrite a book for an author but to help the author polish a manuscript.
A few other bits and pieces from publishers and editors that they hate: use of “fiction novel”; following a trend without an authentic manuscript; manuscripts too complicated to be published; manuscript is boring; shifting into a sliding point of view; a writer saying how great his book is; writing is too flowery; graphic violence, profanity, and explicit sex; writer has an unpleasant tone and attitude; book’s pacing is off;
Of course I can’t possibly cover every possible thing publishers and editors hate, but those are the main ones I’ve found and many of the ones I hate.
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Words from Our Readers
GabriellaR45 
Dear Vivian, How wonderful it always is to see you here imparting your wisdom.
I read your newsletter this week with great interest. As always, what you convey is clear, concise,
and helpful. All of your warnings are right on the money. Thank you for continuing to guide
and inspire us. Your experience and expertise are invaluable. Warmest best,
(875)
SkyHawk - Into The Music
Viv,
A lot of what you say here seems to fit the idea of "If you don't like how something is written, don't write that way yourself." I know that things like grammar / spelling errors especially turn me off. It makes me think that the writer wasn't invested enough to do a good job (and I imagine that editors feel the same way).
A hopefully not stupid question -- what is the best way to obtain / learn a publisher's guidelines? Go to their website or write the editorial department of that publisher.
One thing where I have a beef with some editors -- stories (including from major authors / publishing houses) where EVERY character speaks grammatically perfect English. My beef with this is that this rarely if ever happens in real life. If for nothing else than the fact that regional dialects and accents will appear from various people, not to mention education levels. If I don't hear some variety in that area, I put the book down. Then you haven't worked with professional editors. Remember, major publishers do not edit any more.
Quick-Quill 
I'm saving this one. Actually I'm printing it. I have to turn in 30 pages to one agent and 3 chapters to another. They aren't written yet.....
maryccasey
Thank you for this newsletter. I read as a slush, or first reader, for three online/print magazines. Everything you mentioned I have heard from the editors. Reading the requirements for submissions is important and not everyone does it.
papadoc1
Hi Viv!! What an EXCELLENT newsletter I read just now! TRULY an in-depth How To and How NOT To deal with Editors. Before/During/After they've dealt with us. I found an interesting contest here on WDC: I liked the concept so much, I decided to enter into it. Basically, it was based on the following awards: 1 first place award, the rest of the entries got a rejection letter and a review. How cool was this?!?! Just like in REAL Life!
So Viv, your thoughtful NL is filled with GEMS on how/how not to deal with rejection letters - and so much more. I cannot believe the amount of good reads there are in here, and I wanted to simply let you know that it was blind luck that I found this today!! What a treasure!!
And thank you so very much!
I shall be reviewing the majority of the authors you've listed within this NL as well: thank you for taking the time to locate/post them for our edification!!
Once again - thanks so much!!
Papa Doc #1
Thanks for the previous comments.
Angel 
Hi Viv, thank you for this newsletter, it's been so useful and I'm going to keep a copy. I have to say, for me, some of it is, of course, common sense.
I would like to add a comment on the discussion about the difference between 'I could care less' and 'I couldn't care less'. I was interested to read that 'Midgard' said they had never heard anyone say the latter. Here in the UK, the latter is commonly heard and I've never heard the former. I'm wondering, then if this also shows the differences in the English language between countries as well as dialects within each country.
Angel
The difference between "I couldn't care less" and "I could care less" has nothing to do with countries, but with lazy speech and more definite speech. They mean different things, just as I could and I couldn't mean different things.
{userf:bumblegrum}
Hi Viv
Thank you for those valuable hints about what seem to me to be commonsense issues. On the other hand, IMHO there is nothing so uncommon as commonsense.
One point I would like to raise. I was born and acculturated (lovely word) in England, so much of my writing is in BrE. Experience on WdC has moved me a little way towards AmE but not totally. What is the attitude of US publishers and editors to material written in BrE, please? I realise this may create problems, but, for instance, how would you respond to BrE material at 4RV if otherwise it met all your requirements?
Thanks, Viv - great newsletter, definitely a keeper.
To answer your question, the 4RV website states we use standard U.S. usage. Since the majority of our editors and our sales are in the U.S., we want to produce books that will appeal to both.
Thank you for joining me again this issue, and Happy Birthday to W.Com
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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