It's Easier to Avoid Sin Than Practice Virtue

And no one is quicker to find fault than a publisher. So while you write your book, watch out for these mistakes:

1. You have no knowledge of other books in the genre. (Yes, I've heard that you can make money writing romance novels, but if you don't love to read them you'll have a hard time pulling it off. Write what you love to read. Anyhow, it gives you a great excuse to sit around reading your favorite books. You're doing "market research"!)

2. You have no experience writing, but refuse all advice. Creativity is a gift, but it won't get your plot untangled. Obviously, this can't apply to anyone reading this.

3. You don't pay attention to other people's speech so all your characters sound alike. Don't let your 3 year olds sound like thirty year olds. Or visa versa.

4. You don't really care about your characters, so you allow gruesome and tragic things to happen to them that aren't necessary to the plot. This sometimes happens to good writers with wildly creative imaginations. No brakes. Rule of thumb: Think twice before adding maggots. (See Neil Gaimon's American Gods ) If you write horror, then those gruesome scenes are necessary to your plot.
   

5. You love a writer so much that you try to write exactly the same way. It's okay to be slightly under the influence, but value your own voice. Then down the road, other writers will want to imitate you.