- Use AI to write your book. (Please, for the love of all that is holy, DON’T.)
- Skip a first pass for grammar, spelling, and inconsistencies. After all, that’s what editors are for, right?
- Take all critical feedback personally. It’s not about your story; it’s about YOU.
- Write a book based on what you think will be successful—without knowing the genre.
- Write about cops, detectives, reporters, psychiatrists, etc. without ever talking to one.
- Head hop in almost every scene, because hey, famous authors get away with it.
- Never let a verb stand alone. Always dress it up with an adjective or three.
- Get super creative with dialogue tags. Why have a character say something when they can spat, snarl, or cough it?
- Decide mid-process that you’ve changed your mind.
- Know, deep down in your heart of hearts, that you’ve written a near-perfect book. This whole editing thing? Just a formality.
How to be a dream client? Do the reverse of everything above. Any editor will thank you.
PS: Want to take your manuscript or career to the next level? Currently accepting clients for developmental editing and a limited-availability 1:1 mentorship package.