Con't

OK, other things that the novice writer thinks is OK:

1. "I'm writing a series" as a defense.  If the first book has flaws, it doesn't matter how many you're cranking out.
2. "It's X genre" as a defense.  It doesn't matter what genre it is, character and plot are universal.  Don't tell me because I haven't read X genre, I don't know what I'm talking about.  You have no idea what I've read.  You have never seen my personal library.  Or been a member of the numerous writing groups that I have.
3. Listless questions.  "What was she going to do?"  I answer these in my head.  And I'm a smart &^%$.  You don't want me answering these.
4. Don't e-mail three times in one day.  Definitely don't rant, rave or insinuate I don't know my job.
5. Do not introduce 20 characters in the first five pages.  If you're book is 60,000 wds. long, you shouldn't have more than 15 characters.  And you can introduce them gradually.  If you're writing a short story, it's less.
6. Naming everyone with the same letter.  Ricky, Rita and Rhonda might be cutesie in real life, but it doesn't read that way.  Also, Jane, Elizabeth and Darcy are archetypal characters in literature.  Unless there is a symbolic reason, don't name your lead female Elizabeth, her sister Jane and the cute guy Darcy.

This list is by no means complete, but these are the biggies I see when I'm editing.

Anyway, I'm gonna shut up--or rather, stop typing now.