Ask An Editor: Mistakes Authors Make

Editor Feedback. Yay! Today we welcome editor, Melody Miller here. I have worked with Melody Miller over the last two books, namely THE MILANESE STARS & the first book in my sports romance series. Hopefully, she’ll be working on my entire series. And she is wonderful to work with. There are some editors who just get your work and Melody “gets” my work.

Melody Miller is an editor at Touchpoint Press. She is also part of their acquisitions team. I asked Melody to share some tips about makes an editor accept a manuscript.

1. What are the top 5 mistakes you see authors making in their novels?

1. Not starting your story with action.

When I found out that an editor may choose to
put down a manuscript if there is no action hook on the first page, I said, “Really? But that
doesn’t make sense.” As an editor, I can tell you that it makes all the difference.

Which manuscript is going to get more attention: one who starts with an action-packed sequence, one that incorporates action with character description and/or thought, or one who starts with a long stream of description and/or thoughts?

Really, either of the first two will catch my attention. I need to know that the author can grab my attention and make me feel like I’m right there with the character, and the easiest way to do this is by making action one of your priorities from page
one.

2. Not double-checking your editors or learning which editing style your publishing press follows.

TouchPoint Press follows the Chicago Manual Style. That’s a lot of rules to try to
keep straight. When you’re a writer, you want to focus on your writing and not have to
constantly worry about your commas and your periods and all that jazz. I get it. That’s my job as
an editor.

But it’s refreshing whenever I’m assigned a manuscript that looks like it’s been gone
over with a grammatically fine brush. Extra credit if you’ve paid attention to some CMS rules.
Every well-placed comma counts. Sadly, a well-edited manuscript has become a bit of a luxury
for me as an editor. You will catch my attention instantly if your manuscript falls into this
category.

3. Not having a sense of organic…ness.

I try to describe this to my authors regularly.
The timing should make sense, one scene or revelation should naturally build to another, the
dialogue should flow, the characters should feel real, the whole story needs to have a realistic
cohesiveness.

Readers need to be able to slip into your world. That means we have to iron out all
the little bumps that take away from that feeling. However, it’s great to work with an author who
has recognized these areas and started working on them.

Placing yourself actively in your main characters’ shoes, picturing your story playing through on the movie screen of your mind, reading your dialogue out loud might help, enlisting the help of beta readers who enjoy reading your genre – these are all tips that can help write a cohesive, organic story.

4. Not balancing your storylines.

There are primary storylines and secondary storylines.
A finished manuscript should have a balance of both types of storylines. However, the primary
storylines, the ones that involve your main characters and the main themes of your book should
get top billing.

One of the number one complaints that I’ve heard from readers is that there were
too many storylines. The storylines got complicated. There were unfinished storylines because
there just wasn’t enough time to see them all through. These are serious problems.

Don’t depend too heavily on sequels to save you from dropped storylines. If you’re having a problem keeping your storylines cohesive or finding time to organically bring them all to a resolution at the end of your manuscript, you may sit down and decide which ones are necessary to your story and which ones simply aren’t.

5. Not knowing how to describe your work.

I’ve been in the same boat where you’re in the middle of writing something, or you’ve just written something, and you can’t quite figure out how to describe your work. By the time you hand your manuscript over to an editor – and even before during your pitch – you need to know how to describe your work. This is really advice for marketing your book rather than writing advice.

When you’re getting ready to pitch and/or market your book, you need to have a few different summaries jotted down. You need a page- long summary, a half a page summary, a paragraph summary, and a summary that’s only a sentence or two long.

You need to know what your major themes and messages are and what your reading demographic is. I’m always confused when authors leave this question blank or write down something that doesn’t make any sense. Know who you’re writing for and what it is you’re writing.

2. What makes you pick a manuscript, out of the many you receive at TPP?

The manuscripts that I often get the most excited about are ones that catch my attention from the beginning. Not necessarily the first page but the first chapter or two. That’s the first thing I look for, but a promising manuscript will hold some surprises in reserve.

I don’t often work with mystery novels, but you don’t have to be a mystery writer to space out your revelations and clues. I like to feel that I’m growing with the character, whether they’re learning more about themselves or someone else or the world around them. Plus, you won’t keep my interest as a reader if you spell everything out for me too early.

3. How can authors work better with editors?

I think that authors and editors both need to keep in mind that the process of manuscript editing
is a collaboration. Authors need to be willing to let go of a little bit of control over their
“manuscript children,” and editors need to remain respectful of the author’s work.
Communication, respect, an open mind – these are the keys to a smooth editing process. It’s that simple.

4. Your pet peeve as an editor?

I have a few. I’ve been asked this question before, and it’s hard to just pick one.

1. Authors who don’t follow the Oxford comma rule.

I understand that this rule is not universally followed, but Chicago Manual Style does recognize the Oxford comma rule and, almost more importantly, so do your editors. I think this one bothers me so much because I always follow the Oxford comma rule. It just makes sense to me. It takes a lot of time to go through and make sure that all the Oxford commas have been placed in a manuscript that was devoid of them. Learn your editors preferences!

2. block paragraphs

Another one is block paragraphs that take up half a page or more. You’d be surprised how often I work with first drafts that are full of long paragraphs. It’s a common occurrence, and it annoys me to no end. There is a reason we use paragraphs. Shorter paragraphs are easier to read and they create a more aesthetic page layout. If you’re looking at a paragraph that covers more than ten lines in a fiction novel, you probably need to take another look at it.

3. Hyphens

Lastly, I have this “thing” with hyphens. One of the first authors I worked with
during my college internship (not TouchPoint Press) hyphenated every other word that had multiple syllables, i.e. stop-light, air-conditioner, wrist-watch. I could never understand why he
insisted that that was how he wanted it to look in the final draft.

It just wasn’t necessary. Now I have to stop every time I see a hyphen in manuscripts and calm down that part of myself that still wants to shout, “Why?!” Some things need to be hyphenated, some things can be hyphenated according to preference, and some things really don’t need to be. We all need to be refreshed on these rules from time to time.

5. Your favorite book, that you would tell authors to read as a masterclass.

I have such a hard time answering “favorite book” questions. I’ve so many favorite books. I
also work with authors who write a variety of genres and I wouldn’t give them all the same
recommendation.
When working with middle-grade writers, I would recommend Gail Carson’s Levine unique
storytelling techniques.
I might recommend J.K. Rowling or L.M. Montgomery to my YA authors. They have a special
knack for getting into young character’s minds.
If I’m talking to an adult mystery or romance author, I’d mention Agatha Christie or F. Scott
Fitzgerald respectively. They are giants in their genres and their books are classics that never fail
to impress a new generation.
I wouldn’t fail to mention Anne McCaffery if I sat down for a powwow with TPP fantasy
authors. Another classic novelist who caused ripples in her genre that have yet to die down.
These are all authors whose books are listed on my five-star list on Goodreads, but it would
depend on the author which one I would recommend.

6. Your five star advice to any author.

You can only write your story. Read as many books as possible, add fuel to your imagination, go
out and experience different things, and then write your story. Don’t pay too much attention to
what’s popular or what’s selling while you’re writing your first drafts, especially if you’re a new
writer. Then when you begin to work with your editor, get excited about the collaboration
process.

Remember that it’s still your story and while your editor has a lot of say what your final
draft will look like, you have the right to make sure that your vision for your book remains intact.
If you start feeling overwhelmed with all the changes, be honest and let your editor know. We
can help. Write your story. Publish your story…with a little help from your creative collaborator.

7. A question no one has asked you before, but you’re dying to tell the world.

I’m hesitant to talk about my writing during work when the focus is not supposed to be on me as
an editor but on the actual writer. But I am a writer. That’s why I enjoy collaborating with
authors on content edits so much. I enjoy being able to stretch those writing muscles.

I’m inspired daily by the manuscripts that appear in my inbox. That’s my secret. I truly love
what I do and I believe that my career path is a blessing. While I spend a lot of time editing, a
good portion of my free time is spending writing my own pieces. I am working on several
manuscript-length inspirational books that aren’t ready for publication yet.

In the meantime, I write articles for my faith blog and other Christian websites. I have found my calling in using the written word – in work and in life – to encourage others, share others’ testimonies, and spread the Word of God.
So…yeah, now you know a little more about me not just as an editor but as a writer. Thank you for allowing me this chance to say hello!