It’s impossible to achieve writing success without making a few (or many) mistakes in the process. Mistakes are a necessary part of improving your writing. However, many new writers will often make the same mistakes repeatedly when starting out. With that in mind, here are some common mistakes made by new (and experienced) writers. Read on to see if they apply to you!
No Hook
A story hook is a statement or question designed to grab the attention of your reader and ignite their curiosity. Stories that lack a hook can seem boring or pointless. Instead of engaging readers, the story meanders around leaving your readers wondering when the action will begin. Surprise readers with an unexpected opening line, create a contrast they weren’t expecting or drop them in the middle of the action. Pose an intriguing question and set the mood for the story to follow.
Info Dumping
Ever read a book where the story was paused to give you an overload of information? This is what is known as the info dump. Info dumps are common in science fiction and fantasy, where readers may need to understand a complex world, technology, or magic system, but they can occur in any genre. Info dumps pull the reader out of the story. They kill the suspense and explain away any mystery. Avoid breaking up your story with info dumps by giving your readers small nuggets of information as they progress through the narrative. Reveal to them only the information they need at any given point in the story. Adopt a policy of 'show don't tell' by having your characters respond to their environment rather than explaining their behavior. Give your readers the chance to slowly piece together what you want them to know.
White Room Syndrome
Have you ever read a story that is packed with action and dialogue but fails to give you a picture of where the events are taking place? This is known as ‘white room syndrome’. It happens when a writer neglects the setting, making it appear as if the action is occurring in a ‘white room’ with no grounding details. Allow your reader to paint a picture of the setting in their head by adding in specific details. Engage your reader's senses. Are there any smells wafting through a scene? Are there background noises that create a sense of atmosphere? Add in a few sensory details and you can bring a scene to life.
Perfect characters
It’s tempting to make your characters flawless but perfect characters make for boring reading. Giving your characters a flaw or two creates realism and depth. Without a weakness your character has nothing to overcome. There is no internal struggle to achieve their goals. There is no room for them to change and grow. For your story to be interesting there needs to be conflict. Your character needs to struggle to achieve their goals.
Including mundane details
I recently read a memoir by a writer that spent a month walking a world-famous pilgrimage route. This route has a fascinating history but the story was yawn-worthy. The writer had included the most mundane details, including every bite he ate and all the toilet stops along the way. These details are to be expected in a first draft but they should be edited out in subsequent drafts. Mundane details are like mud in the gears of your story’s machinery. They slow things down and get in the way of the action. Every word you write should move the story along in some way. As Stephen King said ‘When your story is ready for rewrite, cut it to the bone. Get rid of every ounce of excess fat. This is going to hurt; revising a story down to the bare essentials is always a little like murdering children, but it must be done.’
Bad Dialogue
Dialogue is a key ingredient for good storytelling. When written well, dialogue breathes life into your characters and setting. It allows your characters to reveal their motivations and backstory and adds atmosphere to scenes. Most importantly, dialogue propels the plot forwards. Excessive, expository dialogue has the opposite effect, slowing down your story and making your characters appear stilted and unnatural.
Well-written dialogue follows the natural flow of conversation but, unlike everyday chatter, it has a clear purpose. It should sound realistic and natural and move the story along.
Overuse of the thesaurus
So, you have a fabulous vocabulary and you’re not afraid to use it. Many writers fall into the trap of trying to impress readers with fancy words and elaborate settings. There is a time and place for showing off your lexicon, but the hallmark of good writing is conciseness. Spend too much time swapping out your simple words for complicated ones and your writing will come across as forced and false. Use longer words only when they feel like a natural fit. Put your story first and make each word count.
Multiple Viewpoints
Multiple points of view (POV) can be an effective narration device if done well. Having multiple perspectives allows you to show the reader what different characters are thinking and feeling. It allows readers to see your story and setting in a different light. The danger lies in not having distinctive voices for each character. Make the viewpoints too similar and your story risks becoming a confusing mess. Before you begin writing think about what each POV character will bring to the story. Are these viewpoints necessary? How do they differ? Use a minimal number of viewpoints and give each a unique voice, so your readers won’t be confused by a multitude of character narrations.
Being afraid to make mistakes
We’ve looked at some common mistakes that new writers often make but don’t let these guidelines hold you back. The biggest mistake you can make is to make none at all. Making mistakes is part of getting out of your comfort zone and growing as a writer so don’t let your quest for perfection hold you back from writing and sharing your story.
