What are the issues that turn manuscript down?

by Isoje David
13th November 2012

What are the issues that can debar a writer from getting publisher by Independent Publishers? Can English or the writing stop an Agent or a Publisher from pursuing your manuscript? What do you think please?

Replies

Yes, a poor standard of English or poor quality writing will automatically get your manuscript turned down by publishers. If your grammar isn't up to scratch, you need to spend some time learning how to make it. It is a writer's job to write well.

Other problems which abound in MSS:

Starting in the wrong place - a book should begin where the story starts. You don't need to spend a chapter (or two, or three ...) introducing your character and explaining all the things which will be important later, if a reader is compelled by the story, they will carry on reading and that sort of information can be brought in naturally as it crops up. The most typical cliche is the main character waking up (often from a dream or nightmare) and we go through their morning routine with them, looking in the mirror to see what they look like etc.

Telling, not showing - don't tell me your character is angry, show me how that anger manifests itself. Do they throw furniture around? Or punch the walls? Or shout? Does their speech become clipped? Do they make pointed remarks? Do they bring up old grievances? How quickly do they calm down again?

Technical problems with Point of View, especially over filtering in 1st person (I saw, I felt, I heard etc - if it's 1st person, nobody else is going to hear it) and confusion between 3rd limited and 3rd omniscient.

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Dor
Armitage
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Short stories
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Dor Armitage
13/11/2012