Margaret's Pet Peeve # 5746

I have a lot of pet peeves. Usually they don't bother me other than to irritate me for a second and then I get over myself.

But this week, it's different.

Why? you ask.

Well, due to my miscalculations, I have two packets of contest entries to judge. One packet consists of four historical romances of 50 pages and a synopsis, BUT the contest requires only one score. Comments are expected on the entries along with responding to two questions on the score sheets. Though these entries are long, they aren't as time consuming as contest #2.

Segueing nicely into . . .

Contest #2 sent me a packet, consisting of four paranormal romances of 25 pages and an unjudged one-page synopsis. BUT this contest's score sheet is very, very detailed requiring a huge time investment.

Though these contests are run differently, judged differently, and are totally different genres, I have seen one serious issue pop up OFTEN in both of them. Yes, this problem is becoming more and more prevalent in ALL contest entries and it is the result of the dreaded disease known as 'lazy writing'. And as a judge it isn't my job to 'fix' your boo-boos, you should find them and fix them yourself or find critique partners who will beat some sense into you.

This problem has become one of my biggest pet peeves . . . at least for this week. 

What is it?

The lack of appropriate punctuation.

Yes, I know I'm comma challenged. And I have been known to make up words--boobage happens to be a favorite of mine. And I have been known to make nouns into verbs to suit my purposes.

But one thing I learned in the fourth grade-and a lesson that I will never forget--is to place a comma after the word in front of  or behind a proper noun, especially when addressing someone.

For example: What did he want Billy?  Sally can you come here?

This is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

It should be: What did he want, Billy? Sally, can you come here?

See that little comma?  The one after the 't' in want. Yeah, that one. That comma belongs there. And the one after Sally? Yep, you got it. It should be there.

I know in this age of instant messaging, texting, and instantaneous gratification, blah, blah, blah, writers tend to forget the simple stuff that sets them apart from the masses--the ability to write well.

This is pure lazy writing, and it is as irritating as a mosquito bite.

STOP DOING IT!!

Public Service announcement is over for the day.

Later, Peeps!  --By the way . . . notice the comma?  Yeah, that one. The one after 'later'. You got it. It's supposed to be there.