4 Beginner Writing Mistakes to Avoid - article

Writing a book is tough. You have a long journey ahead and to help you on that journey, here’s a road map of the common pitfalls. Avoid the beginner mistakes and you will reach your destination much more quickly and easily than you would have otherwise.

Meaningless Phrases

Clichés are common phrases that are hackneyed and tired. They infuse your work with these same qualities. Awareness is the key here. Cut the clichés and replace the overused phrases with fresh language. Clichesite offers a long list of common clichés to help you identify and ferret out these phrases. They make your writing seem bland and leave it devoid of feeling. Your readers will thank you.

Author Intrusion

Many beginning writers make this common mistake. Characters need to stand apart from you. Don't create a bunch of clones of you that think your thoughts, have your habits, and spout your sayings. You need to create characters different from you. Try a character chart to flesh out a character with original ideas and thoughts. Here is a link to a character survey at Eclectics that will help you create an original character. Your readers will itch to turn the next page of your story.

Preaching and Teaching

Preaching is for the pulpit and teaching is for the classroom. Many writers want to preach and teach in their stories. No reader likes to be told the moral of the story. No one wants a lesson in virtue. Morals and lessons need to be shown to the readers. Readers want to experience the writer’s created world for themselves. You, as the writer, may have something important to say, but you must learn to trust your readers. Readers can figure things out. Get heavy handed with the preaching and teaching, and your readers will bristle fiercely at your sermonizing and yawn at your lessons.

Word abuse

Many writers use pet phrases over and over throughout a manuscript. Make a list of the words you use too much and perform a special edit of your work to “clean up” your personal word abuse. Another common form of word abuse is too many "to be" verbs (is, am, are, was, were, been, be, being), and not enough active verbs. Search out “to be” verbs and replace. Finally, a few words have lost meaning from overuse. Here is a list of common overused words: bad, good, big, fine, amazing, awesome, happy, nice, interesting, well, and just. Be kind to your readers and cut or replace overused words.

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  • I won't say I understand what you are going through or went through, but Jesus loves you and wants you to get to know God through Him. He's "the" Way. He heals. He gives peace. He protects. He makes sure that everything that happens to you will turn out to be for your good eventually. He goes outright to say He does not guarantee that your life won't go through storms, but He'll hold your hand all the way and help you come out stronger. Personally, He's my guide, friend, protector, Saviour and Lord. I realize that Jesus came to die for sinners of whom I'm chief, and yet He still loves me and assures me of His love for me every day. I've learned to trust Him even when I go through pain. Why don't you send me an email to steveregs@gmail.com. I would really love to have the opportunity to tell you more about my King who is alive and exists, watches over us, speaks to us "if" we believe He exists and "if" we seek Him diligently.
  • Thank you for this valuable information. It has really enlightend me in my writing skills also. Peace and be blessed.
  • Hi Cheryl, how far into your book have you written? I wrote a book on my spiritual journey, you are welcome to look and see, and let me know if you like it. I am not a writer, I just had a story that I felt needed to be shared for the Lord's Glory. http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/Products/SKU-001009493/Where-Will-You-Plant-Your-Seed.aspx
  • Hi Mentor, I have tried to pray for law-enforcement when ever I see them, within the last couple months started praying Psalm 91 asking for their protection, that they might become workers for God's Kingdom and divine blessings.
  • I hope that you are successful in helping others change their lives.