 For Authors: May 18, 2022 Issue [#11362] |
This week: What Happens When our Heroes Leave? Edited by: Vivian  
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2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
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I had an editorial planned and ready until I received a notice that one of my long-time friends and fellow author passed away yesterday. She was a mentor as well as a friend. A warrior given four to six weeks to live about a year and a half ago, she decided to give each day her all. Here's to you Carolyn Leonard. You will never be forgotten.
Therefore, this editorial is for all our writing heroes who have gone on before.
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What Happens When Our Heroes Leave?
I remember reading books by authors and anxiously awaiting his or her next one. The shock when that author no longer was with us not only left my mind wanting more but left a hole in my mind where all my favorite authors live.
Since I grew up on Nancy Drew, mysteries dominated my reading lists, and Agatha Christie became one of my favorite authors. When she left us in 1976, she left many fans mourning. Many of her books became movies, and her characters will live forever.
I read every Travis McGee novel written by John D. McDonald, and I wanted to read the next one, the one he never finished because his life ended too soon. I will always wonder if Travis McGee ever found contentment.
I may not have been a horse racing enthusiast, but Dick Francis changed that. He was a British steeplechase jockey who became a crime writer centering his stories on horse racing in England. But, he, too, is now gone.
Mary Stewart, also British, introduced me to romantic mystery and historical fiction. C.S. Lewis, from Ireland, Louie L'Amour from the United States, Tony Hillerman, and many others left us too early for our thirst for their books.
What happens to us when our heroes leave? If we are writers, we follow their examples and work to provide good books for readers. If we're readers, we find other authors and purchase their books, review the books, help fill the holes left by the late authors. And, we never forget the many authors who have gone before us.
When my time is gone, I hope someone remembers me fondly and is left wanting at least one more book from me.
Salute to all the authors who have led us forward. May we work and toil and learn until we are as good.
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Words from Our Readers
My last newsletter discussed what editors hate.
Nobody’s Home 
Thanks so much for putting all of this info in one newsletter! I wish we could get everyone at WDC to read it (not just newbies!) There have been many stories that I've seen being suggested for review that have punctuation and even wording errors in the very short description following the title that make me cringe. As a newbie myself, I find it very difficult to review items that have been submitted after being written straight through without a re-read for comprehension or mechanics.
"Far Beyond the Basics" gave some really great tips and reminders that I also appreciated and made notes on - I might post them on my wall to keep them visible while I'm working, at least until they're more firmly in my head!
Thanks for all you do!
Jtpete 1986 
This quote is in line with "What Editors and Publishers Hate" "The first draft of everything is shit." Ernest Hemingway
I apologize if this offends anyone.
s 
This is fantastic. I've done initial reading for a small publisher (and have had a few books published by small to mid sized publishers), and everything here rings so very true. The sheer volume of people here on WdC who say they don;t need to know grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. because that's what editors are for is horrifying.
However, to Hampson's point 8, this is what more and more publishers ask for. "Tell me what works your book is like" appears in a lot of guidelines for cover letters, and it is encouraged in Twitter #pit events. So while older publishers/editors may not like it, it is becoming more and more accepted, even expected. This does go to the modern movie mantra of "what movie is your movie like", which results in lack of new ideas. It's unfortunate, but that's modern pop culture.
Still, this is a good newsletter and one I think all writers should not just read but take note of!
I'm not sure what publishers you found asking for comparisons, but while some do or used to, not all of today's publishers do. In fact, the older publishers are the ones who started that idea, not "modern" ones. However, I wanted to discuss what editors and publishers hate about submission manuscripts, and I didn't cover cover letters (yep, pun intended).
LinnAnn -Book writer 
well done. I would recommend a couple more edits. lol I've done 11 on Dragons in the Attic. I always seem to find more things to correct.
Elfin Dragon-finally published
Thank you for this particular Newsletter about "What Editors Hate." It certainly brings to light the most important things we need to be aware of before we send manuscripts in.
Thank you for your comments. All the information about what editors and publishers hate also ties in with how to edit.
Thank you for joining me again. I hope your summer begins with sunshine and showers, flowers and fun.
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