From email messages and front-page news in the New York Times to published books and magazine articles, the 10 ouchies listed here crop up everywhere. They’re so pernicious that even respected Internet columnists are not immune. | The list also could be called, “10 COMMON PROBLEMS THAT DISMISS YOU AS AN AMATEUR,” because these mistakes are obvious to literary agents and editors, who may start wording their decline letter by page 5. What a tragedy that would be. —Pat Holt
—10 Mistakes Writers Don’t See (But Can Easily Fix When They Do) (Holt Uncensored)
Mostly geared towards fiction writers. Some of the tips are a bit too broad; number 8, “awkward phrasing,” isn’t that helpful. Still, I appreciate this glimpse into the mind of a literary editor.
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What interests me about these tips is that they reveal the nasty, tedious housekeeping that is a necessary part of writing for an audience. Inspiration isn't enough and it isn't just teachers who are picky about such details. In many ways, editors are a lot less forgiving than teachers.
Actually (!), the list is incredibly helpful for the fiction writer and although these points are clearer through elaboration in many of the books on writing, I guess this new internet stuff once again is both good and evil: While the information is not in full form, at least it's readily available. Writers are now used to the internet style, and fewer may either think or take the time to read the books that exist.
Thank you for your surfing and selection--with all the time I've spent on seeking out such informational sites, I've not come across this one yet. I'm stealing from you once again.