How Overwriting, Underwriting, and Hangnail Writing Affect a Manuscript

When it comes time to edit a manuscript, there are common mistakes a writer and an editor need to watch for. Editor Helga Schier discusses three of these mistakes and how to correct them. Overwriting, she explains, is just like it sounds - it tries to do too much. Schier gives examples of overwriting, which can be found at the sentence level or in entire pages of dialogue. Writers who are trying to prove themselves or their sophistication often fall into the trap of overwriting. Underwriting is...