Rookie mistakes for magazine writers

Magazine editing: I've done some editing for a magazine aimed at college students, and the collegiate writers often make the same mistakes. They don't put a comma before an end-quote in a direct quotation; they use acronyms without writing them out; they cite "experts" without saying who they are; they quote students but don't name their schools (or give their age or class).

They constantly begin a quote this way: Joe Schmoe, owner of so-and-so restaurant, says, "Blah de blah de blah." I change that to this: "Blah de blah de blah," says Joe Schmoe, owner of so-and-so restaurant.

The other big rookie mistake is NOT CHECKING FOR ERRORS. And, yes, veterans make this mistake, too. Yesterday, I re-read one of my stories and found two factual errors. I would have been embarrassed if I hadn't doublechecked.
 

Like rookies, veteran writers sometimes assume that "everyone" knows a bit of information, and sometimes we insert misinformation in an article without looking it up first. 

They're all rookie mistakes, and I point them out when I'm editing. My goal is to educate them in the ways of professional publications. On the other hand, those writers do some things I like, and I need to mention that, too. 

Editorial group: If you're a writer, editor or general freelancer, you might check out my Freelance Writers and Editors group on Yahoo.

Blogs: If you have an editing or writing blog (or if you have a particular entry you're proud of), let me hear about it. It doesn't even have to be a writing or editing blog. I just like good writing. Thanks.

Contact: I can be reached at tgilli52@gmail.com or nc3022@yahoo.com. Also, my Twitter handle is EDITORatWORK.

More EDITOR@WORK blog entries

• You really DO need an editor

• Reminders for would-be novelists

• What I do when I'm editing

• What I charge (it's a deal) and what I edit

• Slogging through the Internet

• J-school: More eyes on your stories

• J-school: Go out and learn

• Rookie mistakes for magazine writers

Entries from The Dog Blog

• Katie cried

• Growl and pull

• 10 years with Lady

• ... said the spider to ...

• The Dog Diary (2014)

• YIP! YIP! The stereo-sound huskies

• What Lady and Michael Jackson had in common

Blog entries from The Auto Racing Journal

• Angel in Black: Remembering Dale Earnhardt Sr.

(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)

• Then Junior Said to Jeff...

(the book of great NASCAR stories)

• My best day as a sports writer

• Jeff Gordon's milk toast to Dale Earnhardt

• Wayne Auton: A life in racing

More blog entries by Tom Gillispie

• Resume for a writer and editor

• An editor's views on powerful writing

• Advice for be and would-be novelists

• Links to TG's stories online

• Favorite quotes

• What I do when I'm editing

Anecdotes by Tom Gillispie

• Wipeout at Death Valley

• Days with rainbows

• A desperate writer working in the dark

• Yer outta there!