Guide to Literary Agents is running an occasional series called “Why Your Manuscript Can Get Rejected.” Parts 1, 2, and 3 are up. Some of the advice seems really basic, but look at it this way: If you’re not making the mistakes these experts are talking about, you’re way ahead of the pack!
Profligate use of adverbs. For instance, saying “She looked at me and smiled happily.” That’s telling, not showing. Instead of using adverbs, use action to show the characters’ feelings and emotions. -Hallie Ephron, author
Spending too much time at the beginning of a story on a character who seems to be the protagonist, but isn’t. -Donna Bagdarsarian, agent
Early overpopulation—too many characters at the beginning of a story, especially when they’re introduced quickly. She said she received one submission that had 40 names in the first chapter. If the reader has to flip back pages to clarify who’s who, the writer is in trouble. -Maryglenn McCombs, publicist
Filed under: writing
This is my first post
just saying HI