Six Tips for Getting Published

Editors see a lot of common errors or problems in manuscripts. I thought I'd post a few tips for those of you new to submitting to a 'zine; all of these things will apply equally to print or the web.
Proofread your work. This is probably my #1 complaint. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to get a manuscript with multiple spelling or punctuation errors, changes in tense from one sentence to another, or just a completely incomprehensible plot (especially when I can tell there's a decent - or better yet, a great - idea underneath all the errors). In my case, I review a story once I've finished it, then hand it over to someone I know is a reliable editor. If you don't have someone like that (and no, friends and family generally don't count because they won't want to hurt your feelings) go to your local community college and see if one of the instructors there will be willing to review your work for you. Or, if you're still in school, talk to one of your instructors/professors. Chances are they'll be willing to help you out.
Don't rely on your spellchecker. Spellcheckers are wonderful, absolutely wonderful. I rely on mine, to a certain extent, because I have a tendency to misspell certain words (flourescent for fluorescent, for example). However, if you've misspelled a homonym (their for there, for example) or misused a word (hollow for hallow), the spellchecker won't catch it. See my point about proofreading above. If you're not sure if you're using the right word, check the dictionary.
Get a good grammar manual. Rules may be made to be broken, but only if you know the rules in the first place and understand why you're breaking them. Don't rely on what "looks right" - a good manual, like the Random House Handbook or Strunk and. White's Elements of Grammar are excellent resources. Need to know if you should use a semi-colon, a colon or a comma? Check your grammar manual. Not sure whether you should use "a while" or "awhile"? Your grammar manual will help with that, too, without needing to refer to the dictionary.
Do something original. We all know the cliches, be they serial killer horror or Tolkienesque fantasy. Avoid these subjects at all costs, unless you've thought up a truly novel way of approaching the subject. Often, I find myself rejecting stories simply because I'm bored with the subject - it's been done and overdone. (Worse, I find myself writing something, then on final review realize I'm boring myself because I've fallen into one of these cliches.)
Create characters that we love, or love to hate. Remember that your reader has to empathize to some extent with your main character. Even if you want to write the autobiography of Freddy Krueger, you still need to find some hook to make him understandable to your characters. Your reader has to care about what happens to your character(s) - even if it's just waiting to make sure that said character gets what he or she deserves!
Show us, don't tell us. This may become a column all its own, but for now just remember that it's easier to characterize a person by what they say, how they say it, and what they notice than it is if you tell us what they're feeling. Showing: Raven walked through the forest, jumping at the slightest sound. She gripped her cloak tightly around her, shivering though the midsummer's night was balmy. Telling: Raven walked through the forest, afraid of everything she heard. She was cold, even though the night was warm. That's it for now!

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