As the owner of a popular manuscript critique service, I regularly read manuscripts by newbies to the publishing game. Following is a list I’ve compiled of the top ten mistakes I see newbies making. The first few are related to format and process; the next few, to the actual writing:

1) Don’t include supplementary material unless requested by the agent or editor. Such material includes dedication/acknowledgment pages. Sending these at the beginning of the process marks you as a rank amateur with no understanding of the biz, not to mention a presumptuous git. This material also includes resumes and marketing plans, etc., unless you’re writing a non-fiction book.

2) Don’t single-space your manuscript. Double-space it. And indent at new paragraphs. And don’t put extra space between paragraphs.

3) Don’t send anybody a manuscript with a crazy word count. Only Stephen King can get away with a thousand-page manuscript. And only Francesca Lia Block can get away with a young adult novel the size of a short story (unless you’re writing for a line specifically geared to reluctant readers).

4) Don’t send anybody a manuscript littered with spelling and grammar errors. Run Spellcheck before you send your manuscript anywhere. Please.

5) Don’t send anybody a book without a story. By that I mean you should avoid episodic plots. Create a strong central storyline and properly build it up in a suspenseful manner to a climax. (It’s worth taking the time to outline; this is where ‘pantsers’ fall down.) Sending your fantasy hero and heroine on a journey? It’s not enough to keep putting them in a series of unrelated dangerous situations. Create a bad guy (or gal) who gives them grief from the very beginning and build suplots from there (e.g. bad guy blackmails hero and heroine’s friend, who ends up betraying hero and heroine). Similarly, don’t write a book about somebody’s year at high school. Write about one particular incident and its repercussions.

6) Don’t write a book until you have something to say. Your book needs to have a theme. What’s the *point* of your story? What are you trying to *say*? If you have nothing to say, why are you writing a book? Oh, and make sure your theme and plot work together to form a cohesive whole.

7) Don’t send anybody a book without a unique voice. Voice is what makes a manuscript sparkle, and in today’s publishing climate, your manu has to really sparkle to get anywhere.

Somewhat related to point #5, don’t forget to surprise. You must continually surprise the reader and create new twists in your story. Avoid the saggy middle.

9) Show, don’t tell. Scenes should consist largely of action and dialogue, not narrative.

10) Don’t include purposeless scenes. Each and every scene and chapter in your book should somehow forward your plot.

Oh, also (okay, it’s my top eleven newbie mistakes), remember to go deep with your characterization. Show us your main character’s thoughts. Know your characters inside and out before you begin writing and apprise the reader of their backgrounds (but not using long info dumps) so your reader can know them, too.

Best of luck, all!