I’ve struggled with the second part of my ways to avoid annoying editors series, mostly because the things that tend to annoy editors (okay, me) are difficult to write about without sounding harsh. I kept trying to couch my comments and be more positive, but in the end decided that telling the truth was more important. It is better to hear about them before you submit than after. So take this advice for what it is: tips to get better so your work is accepted, not rejected.
Basic Grammar
It is one thing to find errors in a manuscript, and another to realize the writer does not understand basic grammar. There are some issues that should not happen. Ever. There, their, they’re. Two, too, to. These are basics, people. If you are weak on grammar, get a book, take a class or hire a tutor to teach you. That’s the job. Okay, I know that sounds harsh, but you wouldn’t attempt to do most jobs without the proper skills. Grammar is a required part of this job.
Don’t Review Your Own Work
Just because you are sending something to an editor does not mean you do not have to edit it yourself and proof your work. You should submit your best work. The editor will make it better. It is not their job to write your novel, script, speech, or whatever else you are submitting for review. Unless you are offering a joint byline, review your work before you send it. A rough draft is just that—rough. Clean it up before you hit send.
Changing Tenses
Pick a tense and stick with it. Don’t change from past to present to pluperfect. Learn the difference and stick to one. It’s a common mistake, but one that is easily fixed in revision. Keep an eye out for it…and an ear. It is often easiest to find tense changes when reading aloud.
Head Hopping
Keep your POV switches to a minimum and limit them to main characters. There is nothing more distracting, or distancing, than bouncing from one character’s viewpoint to another. In most books, it is best to keep the points of view to no more than two or three, depending on genre. For example, women’s literature is predominately written in first person present tense with one POV—the female lead. Romances are typically written using two points of view—the heroine and hero. Mysteries include the main detecting characters and sometimes the villain. There are exceptions, but they are rare because head hopping can alienate your reader. Tread carefully.
Incorrect Word Usage
Now this is a personal pet peeve. Words have nuances. It is important to use the right word in each situation. Reticent means reluctant to speak, not merely reluctant (although rampant misuse has denuded this word of its original meaning). Languor means lethargy not weakness (as it was defined in my son’s English book). Pay attention to the variations of word choice and use the right one. Don’t rely on your thesaurus to guide you. Use a dictionary and look up the meaning of any word whose definition you cannot give without context or prompting.
To Oxford or Not?
This is a tricky one. Some editors prefer that extra comma. Others detest them. It is up to you to figure out your editor’s preferences. It’s not always easy to spot, although reading a few samples of their authors’ works will give you clues. If you are not willing to go Sherlock on the matter, you can do the next best thing: be consistent. Pick one way and then use that style throughout your work. Personally, I don’t care which you choose, as long as you are consistent. Don’t use a serial comma in the beginning of the work and then drop it later on. That is a nightmare to fix.
Inconsistencies
It’s not just a comma issue. Inconsistency is a difficult thing to edit. Once an editor realizes that the writer is using two different styles (such as, sometimes saying email and other times saying e-mails), they have to go back through the entire piece looking for those inconsistencies. Yes, there is global find and replace, but usually when there is one inconsistency, there are others. This causes stress and another pass through the manuscript. Adopt a style guide to use or create your own.
Eliminating these issues from your manuscript, article or whatever else you write will help you get editor approval.
Good luck.