Hanging It Up.........

It was a tough decision, but I had to do it because of my health. I can no longer take on any editing jobs.
Nothing caused me to make this decision, other than I realized editing manuscripts is one of the most stressful jobs around, and my poor lupus body won't take much more stress without sending me into a huge flare.
So, now that I'm out of the editing business, I feel like I can unload on a few issues I've encountered over the years.....
Some authors think I hung the moon, and are profusely grateful, sending me gushing emails and even putting me in the acknowledgement sections of their books. They have taken my critiques in the spirit in which they were intended, that of taking an ordinary manuscript and making it shine. These authors agree with my "slash and burn" editing, where I eliminate redundancies, unnecessary "stage directions" (i.e. "he got up from his chair, crossed the room, turned the doorknob and exited the room.") Sheesh. That may be what the author envisions, but it's so much simpler to state, "he left the room." Or just not mention his departure at all, unless it's integral to the plot.
Other authors --- well, let's just say they don't take criticism well. I changed one author's line from "He asked loudly?!" to "he asked." No apostrophe. No exclamation mark. I realize when we were in elementary school, the exclamation mark heralded something momentous, exciting, or dangerous. "It was the missing man!" But for today's adults, it is more effective to be sublte, letting the reader feel the astonishment instead of being ordered to feel a certain way...."It was the missing man." And, looking back on the phrase, " He asked loudly" I'm reminded of a fellow in a writing group years ago, who stated emphatically that the first thing he would do to a manuscript is go through and remove all the "ly" words: Quickly, Silently, Hastily, Mournfully.... you get the idea.
And that reminds me of another boo-boo many writers make, completely unaware they are doing it...."He sauntered rapidly." You can't do both. You can either saunter, or you can walk rapidly.
Well, that's all I have for today. More later, I'm sure. I have reams of manuscripts I could quote from. Maybe that will help somebody out there who wants to become a published author, but who knows his writing needs some help. Now, that's a writer!