Never make work for your editor

Ever since his mother died, David Sinclair, a tenth grader, can’t seem to finish anything he starts. After his alcoholic father gripes about all the money he’s blown on Karate lessons, tennis lessons, and several other things that came to nothing, David decides to try out for the Heather Heights High School football team as a placekicker.

For that, at the very least, he'll need a practice field. Although he’s never kicked a football in his life, David decides to find a way to practice and to keep trying until he gets it right.


Question from the e-mail:  I sent you a a sample of my latest novel, and you sent it back. Can you give me any advice after having read it?

Answer: I do want you to know your writing is going well. You have wonderful images and you sometimes use all the senses. That’s good writing. But your  book still needs work, especially on the  "reader cues." People start talking without the reader having any idea of who is speaking, who else is there to listen, or where they are located. You may take half a page, before letting anyone know they are in the boss's office. Or at the corner bar. In Editor-speak, this means. "It's not well enough grounded in time and space."

Just like a newspaper reporter is told to include who? where? and why? in the first sentence of an article, it's a good idea for the writer to get that info across as quickly as they can as well.

When the scene is not set, the reader feels disoriented, and a little confused. Most teachers hand out advice such as "show don't tell," and "write what you know."

My two basic rules are "I do want you to know your writing is going well. You have wonderful images and you use all the senses. That’s good writing. But work on the cues. When they’re not there, the reader feels disoriented, and a little confused. Most teachers hand out advice such as "show don't tell," and "write what you know."

My two basic rules are: "Never confuse the reader." And "Never make work for your editor."

They have served me well for years. I hope you will find them helpful.