Are you tired of feeling like your writing is falling short of its potential? Like your stories are missing that certain spark you need to captivate readers? Here, we look at some common writing mistakes that novice writers make and suggest some easy fixes.
1. Sloppy spelling and grammar
Nothing says amateur hour more than writing riddled with typos, bad grammar, and misplaced punctuation. So, before you share or publish your writing, take the time to proofread it with a keen eye. Better yet, take advantage of one of the many online grammar-checking tools (note: we use Grammarly), or have an editor or writing friend complete a proofread.
2. Overdoing adverbs and adjectives
Modifiers like adverbs and adjectives can season the flavour of your writing. But just like in cooking, overdoing it can spoil the dish. Novice writers often overload their prose with unnecessary modifiers, diluting the impact of their words. So, use them strategically and with purpose. Also, beware the dangling modifier! (Aka, when a word modifies the wrong part of a sentence, giving it the wrong meaning).
3. Lack of variety
Many aspiring authors fall into the sticky trap of using predictable sentence structures, which can make your words feel stilted and robotic. So, mix things up! Experiment with sentence length, structure and syntax to keep your readers on their toes and your writing fresh. Reading your work aloud can help here, as it helps you work out where things are getting stagnant and might need to change the pace.
4. Too much exposition
"Show, don't tell" is one of the cardinal rules of writing, yet many novice writers struggle to master it. Instead of immersing readers in sensory details and striking imagery, expository writing explains what is happening. To better engage readers, paint your scenes in 3-D technicolour, cook up spicy dialogue and leave room for your readers to connect the dots.
As Anton Chekov so aptly put it:
"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass."
5. Inconsistent tone and voice
One of the most critical aspects of storytelling is maintaining a consistent narrative voice. This makes your story easier to follow and your characters more believable. Unless you are writing in a omniscient point of view, in which case your narrator can have God-like powers in terms of whose perspective they adopt, you'll need to stick with either first, second or third person narration.
Within voice, a common error novice writers make is head hopping. This is where the POV shifts mid-scene from one character to another. If you are writing as one character and wish to change to another, end the chapter and begin a new one before starting the other character's POV.
6. Straying from the central idea
Have you ever read or written a story that feels lost in the wilderness, meandering from point to point with no clear sense of direction? We've all been there. Yet, failing to hone in on a central theme or idea or straying too far from where you started distracts readers, making it hard for them to remain invested.
Before you begin writing, craft an elevator pitch summarising the big idea in a few sentences, or flesh this out into a one-page synopsis. Doing this upfront will give you a valuable reference point to come back to. Even if the story changes, you will have the original idea in front of you to redraw.
7. Giving up too soon
Most aspiring authors will experience the sting of rejection at some point. It hurts and, at times, will test your resilience. But don't give up at the first obstacle! In the publishing world, rejection isn't a sign of failure; it's part of the process. So pick yourself up and keep writing. Success rarely comes overnight, but with perseverance, passion and lots of practice, it will come.
Trying to write a novel is a journey of twists and turns, triumphs and tribulations. But by following these simple tips, you can avoid the most common writing mistakes and allow your work to shine.