Category Archives: Putrid Prose

Real-life examples of prose so awful, you can’t help but laugh.

Passed vs. Past

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Laura Christianson

I was helping an author revise the bio that would appear on his book’s back cover. Here’s the copy he sent me: I have been a widower since 1978, when my wife pasted away from cancer, we had 11 children… more >

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Idle Hands are the Buzzard’s Tools

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Laura Christianson

Enjoy these bloopers from book manuscripts I’ve edited: The buzzard sounded and the basketball game commenced. If the game gets out of hand, the buzzard can referee, too! Standing at her kitchen sink, Lisa’s idle hands rested in the warm… more >

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How to Write Back Cover Copy

Posted on March 16, 2009 by Laura Christianson

Many editors advise authors: “Don’t write the back cover copy for your own book.” Why? Because you’re too close to your content, and it’s hard for you to write objectively. Case in point (from actual, unretouched back cover copy I… more >

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