January 1, 2012, I became an acquisitions editor with Black Velvet
Seductions. I’ve been on the job for over a year now, and I have a growing list
of pet peeves of a new editor.
Let’s continue
our talk from April 1st about little things that writers have done
when submitting their work for consideration that drive me (and other editors) crazy.
Here’s the second half of my list—
6. …writers
who don’t proof their manuscript before they send it in.
I know, I
know, proofing your own writing is hard to do. Ask a friend who uses the
language properly to read your story and make notes on changes.
If common
English punctuation and grammar trip you up, then may I suggest taking a Workshop
with MM?
7. …writers
who send their manuscripts typed in size 9 of a decorative font and
singled-spaced.
Editors read,
that’s it! Double space and use an easy-to-read font like Times New Roman,
Courier New or Arial in a size 12 font – it’s easier on the eyes. Being kind to
the editor is in your best interest.
8. …writers
who send in separate chapters from beginning, middle, and end of the
manuscript, instead of the first three chapters or the entire manuscript,
according to the publisher’s request.
I don’t
understand their thinking with this one. How can an editor tell anything about
pacing or plot or character development in three non-sequential chapters?
9. …writers
who aren’t prepared to send in additional information, like a chapter outline
or a promotion plan, when requested by the editor.
It’s a fact
of small press publishing today that writers who use such presses will need to
do some promotion for their books once they are published. Have a promotion
plan handy in case a publisher is interested in seeing it. Same with a chapter
outline. Better yet, write a fabulous synopsis, and I wouldn’t need to see a
chapter outline.
10. …writers
who sign with a publisher, but don’t let other publishers who also received
their work know that bit of information.
This happened
– I read a submission I thought showed promise. I was excited. I checked out
the writer’s blog and website where I found out that another publisher had
already contracted the work. Lots of wasted time and energy on my part! It’s
not as if we had let her submission hang out in submission purgatory for
months.
Common
courtesy is so underused in business relationships today. Need I say more? Uh,
I guess I already did.
MM Pollard,
Editor, Black Velvet Seductions
About MM Pollard
MM Pollard is a very nice former English teacher
and now acquisitions editor for Black Velvet Seductions. She has accepted the mission to find and help
writers correct ungrammatical grammar, misused usage, problematic punctuation,
and poor writing in their work.
With fifteen years of experience teaching English
serving as a resource of knowledge and a life-time love of teaching and of
language, MM has been presenting workshops since February, 2011. She has
presented workshops for many RWA chapters, Savvy Authors, Writers Online
Classes, and in her own virtual classroom. MM is excited to have over thirty
workshops scheduled for 2013. Check out her blog for more details.
Also check out her new forum for
free workshops and advice on using English correctly. You don’t have
to register as a member of Lefora Forums unless you wish to comment.
MM has helped many writers improve their language
and writing skills through her fun workshops. Yes, English can be fun! MM is
sure she can help you, too, master the fundamentals of English.
MM
Pollard,
editor,
Black Velvet Seductions
Workshops
with MM http://blackvelvetseduction.com/Workshop1 --
info on her workshops on her private forum
MM’s
Fundamentals in English http://queenofenglish.wordpress.com –
sign up for her newsletter on her blog and see her complete list of workshops
for 2013
I hope you will join my class on
FLASHBACKS
Hosted by
Fantasy-Futuristic& Paranormal Romance Writers
This 10 Day class starts April 22, 2013
For more information click HERE
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