Pet Peeves of Fiction Editors
Five Things to Avoid Before Submitting Story to an Editor
Jul 25, 2009
The job of a writer is to tell the story. He or she puts all those hours in to creating an entertaining experience for the reader, but it’s very easy to overlook common grammatical mistakes. No matter how many times a book is edited by its author, it almost always takes the critical eye of an editor to point out these mistakes. Please note the steps detailed below assume the writer has a basic working knowledge of English grammar. Following are the most common mistakes (and pet peeves for editors):
Don’t be Afraid of Pronouns
This is a dangerous one. Telling a writer to use more pronouns isn’t always a good thing. It’s a common rule that once the character has been identified in the scene, saying their name over and over again can become redundant. If there are only a man and a woman, it is easy enough to tell who he and she are. But what happens if there are four characters? Who is the he when two men are being described? In cases like this the name must be used more often so as not to confuse the reader. Since most conversations and scenes usually consist of just two people, it is easier during these times to use pronouns and limit the use of their names.
Limit Head Hopping
Point of View is tricky. There is nothing wrong with using unlimited third person, but numerous changes during one scene can confuse and irritate the reader. It can become difficult for him or her to keep track of whose thoughts are being described.
The best way to keep head hopping to a minimum is to stay in one character’s head during any given scene. If a switch is necessary, make a change of scenery or start a new chapter. Interruptions can also be good transitions, for example if the POV is with the female, have the phone ring or someone knock on the door. She goes to answer, leaving the male to wait in the living room. The reader can then pick up his POV during the transition. Visit Point of View in Writing for more information.
Use Deep POV
Deeper POV is more descriptive and should be used to help the reader relate more with the main characters. What is deep POV? It is when a character has internal dialogue with his or herself that is totally unknown to anyone else. It can be as simple as picking out a dress in a store or remembering a lost love, but it is much more profound with more description. Here is an example of regular and then deeper POV:
Sandy sat on the beach and stared out at the ocean. She enjoyed watching the sun set against the water. The waves crashed on the shore a few feet away, and she sighed.
Sandy sat on the beach and stared out at the ocean. She smiled as the salty sea breeze caressed her face, and she took a deep breath. She enjoyed watching the sun set against the water, where the blue of the sky turned crimson to match the fiery glow of the ocean. The colors were breathtaking, probably one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. The waves crashed on the shore a few feet away, soothing away the tension of her day. The sound was almost hypnotic, and she sighed with contentment.
Obviously the second paragraph is more detailed and helps the reader clearly see what the character sees and feels. Deeper POV involves the reader, which is key in having him/her stick with the story through to the end. Visit Writing With all Five Senses for more help.
Limit use of Dialogue Tags
A dialogue tag is a basic way of letting the reader know who is doing the talking, like “he said” or “she asked”. This topic needed its own article and can be found by visiting Using Dialogue Tags Correctly.
Avoid Using the Same Word or Phrase
Every writer is probably guilty of using the same word or phrase too many times. It’s a suspense novel, so the character is always surprised or alarmed. Just don’t use the phrase “He frowned” or “She gasped” over and over again. Repetitive phrases stand out to readers, and the last thing desired is for them to start looking for the overused words. That detracts from the story and their enjoyment of it. Whip out a thesaurus and find other appropriate ways of saying the same thing. Takes a bit more time but results in a better written story.
There are certainly more pet peeves for editors, but these are the most glaring issues. Keep them in mind while writing for more successful and entertaining books.
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