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On behalf of all editors, writing contest judges, and English teachers everywhere, I write this post.

I just finished copy editing a middle grade manuscript, and though the concept and plot are fantastic, I kept asking myself, "Did this person bother proofing?" Look, I know that we aren't perfect and, as a writer, a missing period or improper use of an adverb is the last thing on your mind. I get it, trust me. I'm a writer, too, and when I'm in writer mode, the overwhelming sense of staying true to character far outweighs the teeny little details of proper grammar.

That being said, after the madness of getting all the brilliant ideas, scenes, and dialogue down on paper is through, I try to proof read. One, it's a courtesy to the poor editor on the other side of this article/ piece/ manuscript that I am submitting. Two, I know what editors (and English teachers) think when they come across a blatantly unproofed text: this person is dumb, and wasting my time. Recycling bin!

As a teacher, I almost get a sick sense of pleasure handing a D or lower to the sucker who didn't bother proofing. (Hey, when it's the final paper and the student has known about it for three weeks, and I specifically mentioned the errors when handing back the first draft, and they STILL go uncorrected, the kid is just asking for it).

At any rate, here is a little checklist of wisdom to go by before submitting your next manuscript or class essay. If you follow it, the editor will be far more eager to work with you in the future, and the teacher will be more apt to bump that 88% to a 90% come semester's end.

1. Freakin' proofread! Do it! Take the ten minutes to re-read your work before submitting it. Reading it aloud is a tried and true trick that really helps.
2. Make sure comas go inside of the end quotes. For example: "Lucy has a crush on Schroeder," Charlie Brown said.
3. Check to make sure all sentences end in some sort of punctuation.
4. Don't abbreviate words that normally are not abbreviated. In the manuscript I just edited, the author kept writing "min" for "minute." Annoying!
5. While we're at it, use real English, and not text speak or IM talk. TTYL, LOL, and the rest have their place. A thesis paper is not it, unless you are analyzing the digression of the English language in modern American written communication.
6. Times New Roman, 12 PT Font is the industry norm. And though I am usually one who likes to snub her nose at convention, this is a rule one should really stick with.
7. Don't abuse conjunctions. "Schroeder liked Lucy, but he didn't have a crush on her. But, he didn't know how to tell her. They were good friends, but not so close that she wouldn't take offense to his unreciprocated feelings. He could try and get Charlie Brown to intervene, but Lucy usually lost her patience with him. But, maybe this time things would be different." See how tedious that can be?
8. ACTIVE VOICE. It keeps things clean, clear, and more alive. "Lucy pulled the football away from Charlie Brown" is much more direct than "The football was pulled away from Charlie Brown by Lucy." Think of it like Feng Shui for your writing. It removes the clutter and keeps the essential energy of your voice.
9. Conjugate infinitives. This is a great tip for cutting down word count, and also smoothing out the text. Plus, the less times an editor trips up, the better they think your writing is. So, slash out the "to" before a verb and add an  "-ing," "-ed," or "-s" wherever possible.
10. Use spell and grammar check, but don't assume it catches everything. Yes, "peace" is a word, but "I'll take a peace of cake" doesn't quite work.

Hope this helps you in your writing endeavors. I know it will certainly help me and my fellow colleagues. And if our sanity and happiness isn't reason enough for you to take this to heart, hopefully the fact you might actually get published or snag the "A" will be.

For more tips on polishing your writing, check out the book Eats, Shoots, and Leaves or those two, old, wonderful stand-bys The MLA Manual or The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition. They are worth every penny or can be found at your local library :)