help

[audrabianca]

...

[Ed]

Audra,

Authors are asked to slow down, carefully consider every sentence, and wait awhile before submission or resubmission.

I do not think numbered lists are the problem if they are structured properly. (For new writers reading: we do not accept lists when no explanation accompanies each list item.) The major problem is that ideas are not thoroughly expanded for the reader and do not always logically relate to other ideas within the paragraph. You tend to skip important ideas that should be stated. A piece of information is not useful unless the reasons why it is useful are made clear through supporting statements. The reader should not be expected to use her imagination. The writer should clearly state the intended message in a way that can be followed without effort on the reader's part. Sentence two should logically follow sentence one. Each list item should logically follow the introductory statement in that list. Examples should be used where the description is not clear.

[Ed]

(cont'd)

All technical aspects of writing should be observed. Pronouns should always refer to identifiable antecendents, prepositions should be carefully chosen, parts of speech and sentences should agree, and words should be used the way they were intended within the context of a sentence. If the writer is unsure about something, he or she can always rewrite the sentence or do a web search for the answer to the question. Because you rarely make basic errors (typos, punctuation), I would like to stress that it is clarity that you must strive for.

There is a lot of good advice on these forums. Mantras about clarity and about writers taking their time are repeated regularly, and many authors have contributed their ideas about how to improve clarity. They may be able to repeat/point you in the direction of that advice here. Some authors outline first. Some authors read their work aloud.

Because authors who write for Constant Content must find their own errors, when your articles are rejected for awkward wording or clarity in the future, it will be up to you to determine where those errors are and fix them before resubmission. If you are still having problems identifying problems, please have someone else look at your articles.

Constant Content's standards are always on the rise. The quality of writing that Constant Content in the past is not the same as what is expected today.
Some additional resources for clear writing:
http://www.wheaton.edu/learnres/writect ... larity.htm
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/ ... tclar.html

Does anyone else want to share a particularly good reference or a technique they use for proofreading and improvement?

Thanks,
Ed

[audrabianca]

Thanks, Ed. Hmmmm.......

[Celeste Stewart]

Audra,
If you want a second set of eyes, send me a draft along with the rejection text and I'll be happy to look it over with clarity/awkward word issues in mind.