Every editor has a list of pet peeves. These are the common issues that pop up over and over again in early drafts. Last week, while teaching a workshop called Structure Your Story through the University of Tennessee’s Professional Learning and Personal Development program, a colleague and I compiled a list of the most frequent editing frustrations.

These issues are easy to fix once you know what to look for. If you want to hand your editor a clean, professional draft, start here.

 

 

Common Errors to Avoid in Your Draft

Sentences that start with the word "It"
 Use your word processor’s “Find” tool to check how often you begin sentences this way. You may be surprised how many times it shows up. Aim to be more specific and intentional with your openings.

Dead words
 Words like “very,” “just,” “really,” and “that” often weaken your writing. Eliminate them whenever possible. Your sentence will be clearer and stronger.

Gerunds
 Too many “-ing” verbs in a row create a dragging, passive tone. Choose action verbs whenever you can.

Overuse of pronouns
 Readers need clarity. Make sure your characters are clearly identified. Reintroduce names throughout your writing to avoid confusion.

Misused relative pronouns
 People are “who,” not “that.” For example: “The teacher who assigned the essay,” not “The teacher that assigned the essay.”

Pronoun agreement
 “They,” “their,” and “them” are plural. To stay grammatically correct, either match the subject to the plural or rewrite your sentence.
 Wrong: Each student should bring their pencil.
 Right: Students should bring their pencils.

Punctuation abuse
 Ellipses, semicolons, exclamation points, and other specialty punctuation marks are often overused. Unless you know the rule, leave them out. As my mother, a retired English teacher, says, “If in doubt, don’t.”

Quotation marks and italics together
 Do not use both at the same time unless a specific rule applies. Look it up if you are unsure.

Double spaces between sentences
 This one is simple. Use only one space after a period. That is the standard in modern publishing.

Modal verbs
 Avoid unnecessary modal verbs like “could,” “might,” or “would” when a regular verb is more precise.
 Instead of “The doctor could see,” say “The doctor saw.”

 

 

Create Your Own Cheat Sheet

One of the best ways to improve your writing is to create your own self-editing checklist. If you want a head start, download the Proofread Like a Pro Checklist from the Story Mountain Media team. It includes:

  • Our full submission guidelines

  • A list of dead words

  • Self-editing strategies

  • Grammar reminders and formatting tips

This tool is available in the Author Shop at www.crippledbeaglepublishing.com, and it works beautifully for all Story Mountain Media clients as well.

Your editor wants to help you succeed. When you give your best draft, you will receive the best feedback.

If you want help preparing your manuscript or need a fresh set of eyes before submitting to an editor or publisher, schedule a free call with me today:
 https://calendly.com/jodydyer/free-first-consultation

Jody Dyer
Founder and CEO, Story Mountain Media