10 Mistakes Writers Make That Editors Hate
The relationship between writers and editors can be harmonious—until writers unknowingly commit some common missteps that make their editors' job much harder. Your editor wants your manuscript to shine, but these bad habits authors tend to get into make an editor’s job harder than it needs to be.
If you’re a writer looking to polish your work and keep your editor happy, this list is for you.
But it’s not just about keeping your editor happy. You’ll also save yourself time and money (if you pay your editor hourly), that would otherwise be lost in the editing process. The more you can self-edit and prepare your manuscript before your editor sees it, the better.
Here are 10 things writers do that editors hate, along with practical advice to steer clear of these pitfalls. By the end, you’ll have the tools to create a manuscript that editors will love working with.
1. Ignoring Spell Check
Typos, grammar mistakes, and stray punctuation marks—these basic errors distract editors from focusing on the more important aspects of your writing, like plot or character development. Worse, they create a poor first impression and suggest a lack of effort.
To avoid unnecessary grammar errors, be sure to do your own rounds of spell checking. You should also incorporate tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid into your writing process.
These advanced applications offer real-time feedback, identifying issues in syntax, style, and clarity, helping you produce cleaner and more professional manuscripts before they reach your editor's desk.
Additionally, leverage your own skills by reading the manuscript aloud—you'll be surprised at how many mistakes you can spot. You should also consider printing an editing edition and doing a round of editing yourself to catch as many mistakes as possible.
This way, editors can concentrate on addressing the bigger issues in your work.
2. Plot and Character Inconsistencies
Nothing frustrates an editor more than encountering plot holes or characters who act out of sync with their established traits. Did your protagonist miraculously heal from a broken arm without explanation? Has an event been skipped over entirely? These mistakes diminish the reader’s trust.
Nonfiction writers are not exempt from the pitfalls of inconsistency. Discrepancies in data, misquoted sources, or contradictory arguments can severely undermine the credibility of a nonfiction piece. Maintaining consistency in facts, figures, and cited references is crucial for fostering trust and ensuring the integrity of your manuscript.
One way to avoid inconsistencies is to create a timeline for your story before you start writing. Additionally, use beta readers—someone else can spot inconsistencies you may have missed due to overfamiliarity with the story.
Another solid idea is to create a style guide for your own writing. This allows you to set and follow consistent guidelines for all your writing projects.
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3. Overwriting and Inflated Sentences
Some writers believe long, complex sentences make their work sound intellectual. But in reality, overly wordy writing can bog down the reader’s experience. Why take 50 words to say something you can say in 10?
It's important to vary your sentence length—this is a proven way to engage your readers and hold their interest. By working on your sentence structure before sending it to your editor, you'll help them better see the style and tone you're aiming for.
Plus, you'll save them time they would otherwise spend restructuring and shortening long, sprawling sentences.
Trim unnecessary words during your rewrite. Look for phrases like "in order to" (replace it with "to") or excessive adverbs like "very quickly" (replace with "rapidly"). Always aim to get to the heart of your sentence without filler.
4. Repetitive Word Choices
It’s easy to fall into the trap of using your favorite words or phrases repeatedly throughout your work. However, too much repetition can fatigue your reader and make the writing feel lazy.
Luckily, this is one of the best ways to use AI when you're editing.
Platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Jasper can quickly scan your text and highlight instances where words are overused, providing you an opportunity to replace them with synonyms, or restructure the sentences entirely.
Software such as ProWritingAid and Grammarly have built-in AI algorithms that do just this, allowing writers to iterate their drafts with ease and efficiency. You can ensure your writing remains fresh and engaging by varying the word choice, allowing your editor to focus on refining the more nuanced elements of your manuscript.
5. Relying on Clichés
Editors dread clichés—they're predictable and uninspired. Phrases like "a diamond in the rough" or characters that perfectly fit stereotypes steal the uniqueness of your writing.
If you're working with a beta reader, it's a good idea to ask them to be on the lookout for clichés. That's one of the easier ways to catch them before your manuscript heads over to your editor.
Once you've spotted one, you need to take the time to cut the cliché and turn it into something original. For example, instead of describing someone as "a diamond in the rough," try painting a metaphor unique to your story setting, like "a wildflower sprouting from the cracks of concrete."
The meaning is the same, but unique language helps pull your reader into your story and keep them interested.
6. Writing Cardboard Characters
Flat, one-dimensional characters ruin your story. Readers want depth—characters that feel like real people with motivations, flaws, and growth. Descriptions like “She was kind” offer no real substance or relatability.
This is the opposite of inconsistent characters—instead, you've created such boring, predictable characters that they aren't fun to read.
To avoid boring, flat characters, you really have to get to know your cast. Develop detailed backstories, even if much of it doesn’t make it into the manuscript. Show their emotions and growth through their actions and decisions, not just dialogue.
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7. Telling Instead of Showing
You know this one. It kind of has to go without saying. But here we are.
Editors WILL say, “Show, don’t tell.” Period. That advice is so ingrained in our ways of writing that it has to be addressed during the editing process.
You just cannot expect people to be excited to read your book if the entire thing is exposition. If your characters are always talking about things that happen, rather than experiencing them.
For example, instead of saying “the room was loud,” immerse the reader in the scene. Describe the clinking glasses, laughter, and sharp sound of a chair scraping against the floor. Active, descriptive words draw in your readers and will make your story more fun to read.
But if you riddle your manuscript with dry explanations, your editor is going to get bogged down with suggestions to liven up your story.
Focus on sensory details—what your character sees, hears, feels, tastes, and smells. Create scenes where readers experience the environment through the character, rather than being told about it.
8. Writing Dialogue Like a Monologue
Some writers fall into the trap of making their characters speak in long, unrealistic paragraphs, while others offer little more than “he said” and “she replied.” Neither is effective—dialogue should feel natural and purposeful.
This can be difficult to do in a first draft—and it's one of the many important reasons to work with an editor.
But the more you can keep dialogue conversational, the easier it will be for your editor to refine and improve your content.
Remember, real people speak in short bursts and often interrupt each other. Balance speaking with actions or reactions, such as a raised eyebrow or a pause before answering. Even if some of your 'active' speaking doesn't 100% work, it will give your editor something to build on.
9. Forcing Events Without Motivation
Plot twists or character decisions should serve the story, not happen randomly. For example, if a character suddenly betrays a friend, your reader needs to understand their motivation through prior development.
This is another big reason to hire an editor, so you shouldn't expect to catch and correct all motivation issues in your first draft.
It can be just as important to know your character's motivation and goals, so you're ready when your editor calls out inconsistencies or confusing choices.
Revisit your character motivations after you finish that first draft, and review your story to see how your characters may have acted out of character. Every event in your story should align with the character’s personality and goals. If something feels forced, step back and reconsider its setup.
10. Including Irrelevant Scenes
Editors call this “hangnail writing”—adding unnecessary subplots, scenes, or details that don’t advance the story. These distractions make the manuscript feel bloated and will frustrate your readers.
After finishing your draft, ruthlessly assess every scene. If it doesn’t move the story forward, or reveal something integral about a character, cut or rewrite it. Keep the story tightly focused on its core.
If you don't, your editor will spend a lot of time just trying to establish what your theme or plot is—that's valuable time they could be using to assess your writing, refine your plot, and help make your story the best it can be.
Final Thoughts
Avoiding these pitfalls will not only make your editor happier but also enhance your chances of creating a polished, captivating manuscript. Writing is a process, and editing is essential to taking your work from good to great.
