Common Mistakes New Writers Make

It's impossible to improve as a writer without making a mistake or two or ten along the way, but many new writers tend to make the same mistakes over and over. If you're a new (or even experienced) writer, keep on the lookout for these eleven common writing mistakes in your work.
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:43 - Trying to do too much
1:46 - A weak opening
2:23 - Focusing on complexity rather than clarity
3:30 - Too many flashbacks
4:25 - Prioritizing theme
5:40 - No inciting incident
6:20 - Characters not having goals
7:07 - Characters not having flaws
7:56 - Not understanding POV
9:10 - Redundant scenes
10:37 - Thinking you're the exception to the rule
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[@ImaginaryMdA]

I'm writing a self insert at the moment. So I have plenty of character flaws to choose from.

[@maikenzupancicdanko9377]

Underrated comment, made me laugh. And remember, if you were a fictional character, readers would love you for your flaws exactly :)

[@resistancepublishing]

When I first started writing, I was so worried about “The Theme” but as I wrote more scripts and rewrite, I realized that theme can come naturally if you constantly add conflict for your main character to overcome, interesting character flaws, knowing your main character’s goals, what lessons your main character needs to learn by the end. All these added together naturally creates theme. Let the writing flow without overthinking too much and keep these things in mind and your writing will be fine.

[@ButterCookie1984]

Completely agree. And it makes the them more natural and genuine.

[@resistancepublishing]

@@ButterCookie1984 yes so true

[@lyndatyrrell176]

Did so Eew,c No I ihoyihyiyyiyihihihihihihi- P to

[@____uncompetative]

Figure out what the two main themes are when you come to write the second draft and emphasise them in strategic scenes.

[@gailasprey7787]

Exactly. The theme comes to you. For example, my book was about a mermaid. Easily I found the theme as I wrote. The theme of accepting change and trusting those around you to keep your secrets.

[@Skinniest_Kween]

Time to watch a 13 minute video of me being described by Shaelin from Reedsy.

[@TotallyNormalbruv]

My friend do these mistakes

[@camrozenovels]

Lol about to watch and think ima be seeing some ive done lol

[@kanden27]

I think I’ve worked my way out on a lot of these things. But hearing it out loud from someone else is comforting.

[@apb4981]

3 things to never experience a writer's BLOCK: 1) READ READ REAd a lot of books: this will give you perspective 2) Write something that you REALLY REALLY care about: this would help you to not give up 3)STORY first, language latter: Don't worry about words, picking the right language, it's you, your way of talking that you are selling & Your Story that you want to tell.

[@alimushtaq2367]

I'm having trouble at expressing my imagination through words. I'm bad at choosing words and creating good sentences.

[@ediphany]

I'm having this issue right now and I don't know what to do about it.

[@RaymondHulha]

I would recommend to finish your first draft regardless of how good the sentences are. Then go over it on the second draft and polish it. Also read a lot of good books.

[@IsabelA-hp9yt]

Don’t worry about it. Focus on writing first and edit for style (Shaelin has a video for that as well). Chances are, you may not have a very lyrical prose but one that is clear and concise. If you do want to employ a certain kind of language, read that kind of book more. You might be able to „upload“ the language and use it to improve your draft in editing. Also, the more you write, the more your own voice will develop. You‘ll naturally get better at it with time.

[@lucihushabaii2307]

I watched a video earlier today and it mentioned this problem, I have it too. The first time you tell a story it is not the best and it can take MANY times to get it right. This is because each time you tell it or write it you adapt it as you go. So don't worry it is a common problem. If you're interested I think the guy was Steve Sommin he's only just starting up but some great points posted already so I'm excited see what else he comes out with.

[@skaetur1]

In order to fly, and to bring the reader too, you’ve got to be bold. The entire sky is your home. The mundane earth below us blurs as we soar. Higher now. Bigger, the energy of the stars engorges our magic selves. The world we left is a speck as we gain enough speed to get to the hive-nest.

[@amy-suewisniewski6451]

I think I've seen every "common writing mistakes" video on KZbin, but you've hit points I've never seen mentioned. Number 1 was definitely a huge problem I struggled with.

[@alphalamda545]

Characters with goals. Seems obvious, but I needed to hear that.

[@clairewatson857]

Theme yes! I realised to just grab hold of random ideas and brainstorm a story, then soon a theme would come from that and embed itself in the story without having to do much work myself

[@AMartinstitute]

I'm 35 and only now discovering the meaning of "show, don't tell" 😆😭

[@cladivostoc]

I also really love how your videos are organized ... So accessible and pragmatic ... Just what I love to see. THANKS.

[@zayahwrights8857]

The way I feel attacked by most of these points lmao

[@thinkandsea]

You're great, I'm literally hooked up on to your videos and the way you explain stuff like this is really precise and I basically understand it really well. You're doing great, Shaelin. Keep up the good work 👍👍👍

[@JRTProds28]

Yes, easy to fall into these traps even for the seasoned writer! Thanks!

[@karen_tendo09xd17]

There's no right way of writing to be honest. If there was a fixed form of story telling then there wouldn't be any difference between books. Don't focus on being perfect. Being perfect isn't real, its just how majority of the people look at your artwork as preferable to their taste. Just write what your imagination creates, its your world. Keep writing! (Just my opinion)

[@willbesoon6601]

You've given the best advice here.

[@patriciajrs46]

Great opinion, and point. Thank you for this encouragement.

[@irisr2904]

Thank you so much for always clearing my confusions and improving my writing skills.

[@blackhawksfan2525]

I think we learn in school that theme is far more important than it actually is. Theme is for third and fourth drafts, if you feel like clarifying it. Writing a fictional story with "theme" at the forefront, it's sort of crippling. If you know your characters, and why they do and say what they do, themes will sort of naturally come out.

[@firstlast-oo1he]

Egh, I really think that school is SHIT at teaching you what these things actually mean from a writer's standpoint. If your story doesn't have any theme, then you're denying the _reason_ we tell stories. Fun fact: *we are the only species on earth who tell stories instead of straight facts. * _Why do you think that is?_ We fight bears, and tell everyone it was fifty feet tall. We exaggerate all the time. If our heart's broken, our "life is over". Not trying to be a dick, I just hate how much misinformation there is on what this actually is. Gotta love the school system. I find it hard to enjoy a story that doesn't have any sort of truth, because then it kinda just feels pointless. This is _why_ we tell stories to begin with! All stories are fundamentally about survival. Be it mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical. That's what theme is. A lesson about survival. And no, you probably won't be able to nail it until a couple drafts in, and even then it can totally change. Some might disagree, but sometimes what we think we "need" to write about isn't actually what we "need" to write about.

[@____uncompetative]

James Joyce's _Ulysses_ had a spreadsheet of allusions, symbols, and themes for each episode echoing Homer's _Odyssey._ I've bought the annotated edition to see just how pretentious it is. Should arrive tomorrow.

[@____uncompetative]

@@firstlast-oo1he You seem very angry and didn't explain what theme was. Do you know the main two themes of _Dune?_

[@cladivostoc]

I just started writing a short story today after having gotten lost trying to cram too many elements into a small story line - this video is just what I needed to refresh my writing spirit.

[@timespace8753]

This happened to me, I'm a new writer, and I just wrote 20 1000 word pages, and there is so much going on with 20 characters that I can't focus on just 1 anymore, and now I have to give everyone backstory. and now on page 20 the flashbacks have started, and now the them or the plot is controlling the story instead of just allowing the story to unfold for itself. I made like 50% of the mistakes that she mentioned.

[@catherineebunilo4915]

As always, I keep learning so much. This was insightful, thank you

[@sumayyahkhan8897]

Im a new writer but i dont do most of the things you mentioned Maybe because i watched your videos first Im a child, but to be honest i kinda do focus on theme, so thanks for pointing it out To me the inciding incedebt is the hardest part of the story

[@ImaginaryMdA]

Do I detect that you may think of yourself as a bit of the exception?

[@sumayyahkhan8897]

@@ImaginaryMdA no i dont, i was just saying

[@kistatucker]

Quite helpful, especially since I'm now ready to hear and digest the information. Thank you.

[@2BlackQQeyes]

Love your coaching and I found this one as your top three vids for insightful advice.

[@Reedsy]

Happy it helped!

[@madelinemonde2778]

Really well done presentation! Excellent points and delivery.

[@pauline_f328]

I've mostly had the 'too many subplots and characters in one story' problem. I'm currently writing fanfiction, and recently started outlining for the first time (or at least, I'd tried outlining before, but it hadn't worked out. I've spent several days on it and now it works better). I realised that, firstly, I had one part of the story that could be entirely dissociated from the rest, and decided to write it separately, even if it happens within the same 'iteration of that universe'. As for the other part, I've been flowing with whatever POV made sense for the scene, and started too many character arcs at once. I am still planning on having many characters in the story, but I'm planning rather on having the character arc happen one after the other - like a series of mini stories - instead of having them happen all at once (which was so easy to do because it's a fanfiction and I already have a whole cast of characters to work with, plus my own). This was also brought about by an excess in trying to foreshadow stuff - I've been trying to introduce characters way too early in the story

[@patriciajrs46]

I, too have too many things for the character to do, to appear real.

[@ArtsyAme]

I agree with what you said about prioritizing theme. In my opinion, character arcs and development always come first, because, as a writer, you already are subconsciously pouring the theme through the characters arc. Recently, I tried writing the theme first, despite many years of experience in writing and not doing so, because it’s on every YT video I’ve watched about outlining a novel. I thought I should give it a try, and I failed. The arcs always come to my mind first, then comes the theme.

[@ArtsyAme]

And my mistake as a beginner years ago was definitely not having an outline. I know there are pantsters out there, but not having an outline in my experience really meant my characters had no goals, or there were plot holes in the story.

[@kaylaburrell4637]

Thank you, this was very helpful!

[@atzel5143]

I think my biggest mistake when I made my first attempt to complete a novel was making it too complicated which ended up leaving me with a lot of redundant scenes and beats. I'm glad to have watched this video to reassure myself that it's a common mistake and I'm not stupid lol

[@krismoller6433]

I made them all and am still making some (or rather too many) of them. Thank you for this.

[@drmmr561]

Thank you, this really helped!

[@rien9265]

Thank you These are some things that I really needed to hear from someone else

[@AxleBoost]

Great content, as always!

[@karenmckenzie5931]

Thank you, so much, for your advice.

[@ErinsAaron]

Thank you for this helpful video.

[@ADPerry-music]

Excellent tips, as always!

[@maggiescarbrough5778]

I started writing my WIP over quarantine and starting outlining around chapter 3, aka way too late. It's videos like these that give me clarity over my novel and know what to improve. I also have cut out a bunch of flowery language since then. For example, my protagonist was "pondering about worldwide theories and the universe" lol

[@paristhalheimer]

I find that if you're writing a story that takes place over 100s years, is to write the timeline as a collection of short stories.

[@____uncompetative]

Check out Italo Calvino's _Cosmicomics_

[@waningbloom]

So in a nutshell. Be quick, relevant, clear, and interesting. Don’t try to create a lush world from the start of your career.

[@marienbad2]

"Too many flashbacks" - L'année dernière à Marienbad intensifies! Nice video and good advice delivered well too!

[@rickderwent]

A few years ago some friends encouraged me to write an autobiography. Though I am happy to have written some interesting stories when I read it again I am embarrassed to notice the overuse of adjectives and redundant terms. However I have learned much about the strengths and weakness about my writing style. Thanks for sharing.

[@lamb4726]

I’m looking at all these videos so I can impress my english teacher, my first language isn’t english therefore the teacher doesn’t expect much descriptiveness from me or any of my school mates. I remember the first story she asked us to write. I wrote mine is such an edgy way and stretched out the sentences to he word count, mostly focusing on noise, ex: “the crackling of his ribs”, “the beat of his heart”, “the train rumble”, etc., not to mention being extremely bland and overly angsty, sure the whole story was about suic*de, something I was thinking a lot about at the time but even then I should have tried to use more immersive language instead of: “he ran”, “i jumped down the stairs”, “i opened my eyes”. I want to show her that I have improved, I don’t particularily love this teacher but i long for her approval, she was the first teacher I started feeling comfortable talking to at my school. Another reason for trying to amaze her is my competitiveness, I used to be outstanding in comparison to my class but now, over the years of me thinking I’m oh so better than everyone else.. I realise I’m falling behind. I noticed it when the teacher started praising other students, my grades gradually going down from a perfect 10. If I feel like I’m good at something and I’m known for excelling at it it absolutely ruins me when others out grow me, trust me, I do realise it isn’t a great trait but I can’t control it, I boil when ever someone starts outshining me in something im passionate about. That was long but felt nice to say, overall I’m just a dickhead who wants to get better at writing for better grades and status.

[@austinseagrave9406]

It is hard to believe english isn't your first language. That was all well said. I had a teacher in 10th grade that absolutely crushed my soul when she said the story I wrote was trite and cliche. I'm telling you it had some pretty big good stuff in it. What a shit she was! I carried this feeling around well into adulthood. Forget trying to impress anyone. Our inner critic is bad enough on us - be easy on yourself. Sounds like you have a lot to say!

[@____uncompetative]

@@austinseagrave9406 She sounds like a very bad teacher. Probably bitter about something. You should have written about her in a story with a veiled description and made out she was sexually frustrated or something.

[@johnbeckett8028]

Excellent informative content for the new writer. In my first a temp at writing a novel I made the first mistake you were telling us about. After months of working on the project I realized I had too much plot and too many characters. I then took a few weeks in dividing the the one plot into two plots placing the second plot in a storage folder. I then finished the first one knowing I had book two in the series already started. The second thing was getting into the action as soon as possible. I did the very first scene in an ambulance racing to the hospital while the star detective is flat lining. Then flash back to Monday morning in his office as the new client walks in. I suppose I should have mentioned I write private detective stories. I enjoyed your video. Thanks J. C. Beckett AKA J. B. REMINGTON.

[@polimana]

Definitely #8 is my biggest issue. I tend to fall in love with the complexity of a character and it's hard for me to put them in situations where they are less than likeable

[@ABUZARBINWASI]

You are a good teacher....... I learn more things from you... Thanks

[@euroconsulting6039]

Great advice for any writers and wannabes! Thanks!

[@benmiller1057]

This is so helpful and well presented. Thank you! Do you have any sources or references for POV that you would recommend?

[@AndyZach]

Accurate help. Thank you. I avoided POV issues by picking 3rd person limited in my first book, but I had some omniscient narrator blended in. My weakest point is character motivation. I had it for my main characters, but less so for lesser characters. Also, I tend to overcomplicate the plot and this adds characters.

[@williamhgould1583]

Great Video. Love it.

[@justcallmemarcus]

Characters without flaws. That's one of my biggest challenges. It's one of the many things I'm working on in my second draft of a horror novel, particularly with the protagonist. One thing I have done is he's now an alcoholic in denial who can put up a lot of bravado but really has very low self-esteem. I'm just not sure if that shows through enough, but I also don't want to overdo it to the point where the reader will get frustrated with the point. I'm also working on info dumps and showing rather than telling.

[@deannaslamans9181]

Excellent advice!

[@brendawilliams7626]

I can hear you now. I had my speakers on, so it blocked the sound, lol. A blond moment or a senior moment. love your advice columns.

[@shinaniganz4453]

My first time writing (just a homemade comicbook), i was so worked up on making a fight scene as a hook for an insteresting first chapter to the point the actual main character actually just showed up in the last page of chapter 2

[@lil_tari]

The last one got me real good. Omigosh i felt that way

[@agniflame9812]

The complicated story, i still did it till now 😞 Anyway thank you for the video ^^

[@umarasad4141]

You rock. The advice you give is so valuable. How much experience do you have?

[@Reedsy]

Thank you! I have been writing for 16 years, have completed ten manuscripts, have a degree in writing, and have published nine short stories in literary magazines.

[@robinsprung207]

Great advice!

[@atheistapostate7019]

I’m glad she mentions not focusing on back stories too much. I don’t give a care about my characters back stories outside a 2-3 short sentence reasoning to invest my reader. As I see it; I want to tell the story happening in the present of the world I am in, not tell its past. A lot of that is fluff imo to fill pages and word counts higher

[@StuartHeading]

Man, the bit about new writers justifying that they're the exception to the rule really hit home😂 BUT, in my defence, it's only occasionally, and I'm trying to work on it😁

[@drazlet]

Excellent video, I feel like another pit beginner writers (…me) fall into is not giving *every* character goals and flaws. Treat every character as if they are the primary protagonist. Not in the sense that they need the same amount of appearances or effect on the plot, but they need to have the same amount of dimension, goals and flaws as your most important character. Think about it like real life. No human being experiences their life as a secondary thing to someone else. No one lives vicariously through someone else. They are the main characters of their life, so to speak, so you need to reflect that in your characters without exception.

[@____uncompetative]

Brandon Sanderson said this in his Sci-Fi/Fantasy lectures.

[@grimlear7299]

I think the thing for me with flashbacks is that there are some veryyyyy good novels that include flashbacks into story like Bad Romeo & Broken Juliet, loved that one. Tbh I learned in the meanwhile that I am not ready to get that right so I take a step back and try to write a book where I can focus on the foundation of the craft of writing. :)

[@marieseltenrych]

This is so true. My first book was about twice as long as necessary. I had drama after drama instead of getting into the guts of the issue. It was a kid's romp but supposed to be a detective style kid's chapter book. It was hard to cut it to ribbons, but I knew in my heart and soul it was too much. Of course, I could have turned it into 3 book set but I just cut the dialogue off entirely. I did publish back then (before internet). I still have some copies of that book and it is a beautifully prepared manuscript, printed in Brisbane (now in flood). The burst-bound is so excellent. Also, I have seen copies of it in school libraries (thanks to grandkids Grandparent days!) However, it was great exercise in story telling for me. You are such a gem. Thank you for your kindness and help straight from your soul.

[@festusvictor985]

I love the truth you bring people to .

[@I-Dophler]

Spelling, grammar and punctuation are always important.

[@sosomweendo]

Well presented and as an older writer, I identify with the issue of themes! They can be an impediment to my writing. I carry them with, me even where they are not necessary. I have to learn how to explain my story from a character point of view and not from the IMPOSED theme! Thank you for the learning journey.

[@ButterCookie1984]

Agreed. Social commentary (as a theme) is best when its infused within the characters.

[@monasukkar4259]

Thank you.

[@jimmygable569]

A great book to study Point of View is Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King

[@Reedsy]

Sounds interesting, thanks for the recommendation!

[@tayo_95]

I got very wrapped up in theme, I was hyper-focused but a theme is more organic if you allow it to emerge.

[@just_jxrge_8397]

Honestly, im starting to feel like i started writing with a handicap. I never learned basic thing like pro nouns and the such but just the fact of having my ideas written down and expressed rather then me thinking them and doing nothing about them feels good. Ive improved since i started writing but i still feel like im missing some key things

[@madseb7746]

So far... I am not making any of the things you mentioned. Hummm strange. I debated flashbacks in my novel, but I only have three. One for each of the 4 main characters. As for flaws, they all have one. As for the POV for the story, I'm using the main character's oldest friend for the narration. But I have been writing since 15 years old. Add 30 years on it and I finally have my style. As for rule breaking, not attempting it. 😊 Kudos for the video.

[@MrSmuggypussPlays]

I was writing this one novel about a group of friends stuck in a cabin with this Wendigo type thing and it suffered from stuff happening for no reason. Like I went into detail about the style of a character that lasted like 2 pages and I reread it a couple years later and it was just...not good. The whole story was an incohesive piece of garbage

[@andrewhirschhorn660]

In writing romance , I am having difficulty creating a antagonist. Two lovers are the protagonists. The antagonists: life-Murphy’s law, exes, life circumstance, can self sabotage be an antagonist, distance between the lovers, over possessive family , emotional flaws. The presence of a rival lover is an nice clean antagonist but not every romance has one I.e. a love triangle , etc Your thoughts

[@lakeshagadson357]

I love to have talk about flashback on writing and stories

[@RocketJo86]

There were so much. The biggest one was believing in talent and not rules, I guess. It took me far too long to realize that some rules (or better guidelines) are there for a reason. The second biggest mistake was rushing. Believing, a thing is finished, after one put "The End" on the last page. Plus I tend to be very direct and not much descriptive. I had to learn all these things, too. And wow, now that I know them I can't understand why I ever believed to be the next Tolkien *lol*

[@hadarsnorlax]

Most of the mistakes here definitely happened to me this year

[@sima4162]

A fun way to help you get into the skin of your character is to play them in an RPG. This could be for D&D or Vampire: Masquerade or any other game you're playing. Just make sure it's a system that mandates your character has both positive and negative attributes. This will help you figure out their personality in an organic setting and help you figure out if the traits you have the character will be well received by the average reader based on the feedback of your party.

[@peterwillis4956]

Great advice but there was one mistake omitted: Starting the book. How do you start a book? How to get past the anxieties? At my ripe old age, this has been the biggest mistake I've made.

[@briandoeslife7182]

Honestly, there's no better way then just doing it. There's no way to fix a blank paper. When you write, you're going to either write something terrible or something awesome. The terrible one is still good to have cause it teaches you what to do next time. Cheers!

[@____uncompetative]

1. try writing a journal - even keep a calendar "ate toast", something 2. keep a notepad by your bed to write down any dreams you have in the night - write three sentences not just a single isolated word 3. make a list of what you know well enough to be confident talking about at a party - any other new topics will require extra research 4. start at the end, the final dramatic scene, and work backwards, scene by scene, outlining what plot points have to happen in reverse 5. use this outline (say three sentences per chapter/scene) to let your characters (now known how they were at the start and changing through the course of the narrative to the dramatic end) to rush through writing a scene per session, again in reverse scene order starting at the end, trying to write every day, if only for an hour (just skip some TV news as much of it gets repeated anyway), this is the first draft, and because you wrote it backwards, you will see every flaw when you come to read it all the way through from the start to the end after leaving it for one month, so take notes as to what you notice is wrong with it, but change nothing as you read it, until you have read it, and can go onto the second draft, punch up the themes, motifs, set ups and pay offs - do not worry too much about style or spelling or grammar (print your work as you go if using a computer)

[@patscorner7183]

@@____uncompetative tqsm

[@Asparky2011]

Right on

[@seiwarriors]

KZbin honestly loves to recommend this channel and especially her. Why KZbin what are you implying, do you want me to become a writer or what?

[@Storyideas81]

Wow your accent really came out this video. Great video.

[@Julia-lk8jn]

Oh yep, too much fluff is probably my non-favorite writing mistake. Thanks for the great video!

[@Ignasimp]

What does it mean the word theme in this context exactly?

[@skeletorment]

Repetition, or over-explaining the same plot device twice over as a means of reminding the reader of what's happening. If they're paying attention, the reader doesn't need a constant reminder and you should only explain things once, unless there's an element of change involved.

[@robertcanada5106]

So I'm working on a story, and it starts with a daily routine and it has flash backs.

[@koryleonard8147]

I think I may be guilty for 1:46. However, I do believe in gradually developing my story into something suspenseful.

[@isparshmehta]

would you recommend "The Night Circus" lying on the shelf behind you ?

[@Reedsy]

It's not a personal favourite of mine, but I know lots of people love it so if it interests you I'd say it's a fun read!

[@jaysgeronca]

Hi @reedsy and @shaelinbishop. RE protagonist's goals. What if your protagonist is a typical high school student who just want a normal high school life, it's just that "things" happen at the school? (I'm writing horror) Is that enough of a goal?

[@RaymondHulha]

No, in my opinion, it is more enticing to have an outer and an inner journey. Michael Hauge talks about this in detail on youtube. If your hero has to overcome not only the monster but also an inner character flaw to achieve victory it is much more captivating to an audience.

[@jaysgeronca]

@@RaymondHulha Thanks. I completely agree with you.

[@socialanxiety9153]

Is there anyway to be interested in making characters? I always get so bored making them and end up procrastinating on my story

[@melz266]

Personally I will write backgrounds on my more nebulous characters. These backgrounds never make it to the story itself but they help me flesh out a character. That way they don't end up being talking heads that just walk around saying things to one another. For example say you have a hero that everyone thinks is a saint but you know (from the background you wrote about him) he stole things from other kids as a boy. He ate a whole plate cookies and blamed it on his brother. Then he never admitted it even when his mom spanked his brother. He kissed another girl when he was engaged to his wife...You get the point, he has impulse control problems that can get him into trouble. So how is that going to play out? A saint with impulse control problems. It makes the reader is curious, "Why does this dude always sabotage himself?!" Anyway, that's just what I do.

[@haileyhurley9173]

We homeschool our kids, and my husband explains language and writing to my kids like this. We have a plethora of words to use because they add clarity. You wouldn't use starved or famished interchangeably because they often bring forth quite a different image in your head. We don't choose words to be flashy, we choose words to be specific and clear. If the words you are choosing aren't painting a very specific image not just to you but to those reading your writing, you should probably change it. When we say simplify, we don't mean use elementary-level grammar (which, is actually appropriate given my kids are elementary-level), we just mean pulling away some of the more elaborate word vomit. Avid readers shouldn't have to read something ten times to figure out what just happened. We're not doing acrobats, here, guys. Read it, read it again. Read it out loud. If you're still unsure, have a friend read it.

[@haileyhurley9173]

To answer your question, though, my biggest mistake was not writing. I wrote through middle school and high school. I experimented with a wide variety of genres. Poetry, fantasy, romance, sci-fi. Whenever I got an idea in my head, I'd just write. Reading through some of my stuff from back then, it was cringe-worthy, but at the time, I was winning awards and contests, my essays were being selected for presentation regularly, and I had real potential. Then, I just stopped. I got so afraid to put myself out there, that I stopped writing altogether. Lets be honest, what's the point in writing if no one's going to ever read it? So lets consider this for a moment. I'm just shy of 30 years old, and I'm barely even qualified to be called an amateur writer. Words do not come naturally to me as they did before. I still have the same desire I did when I was younger to write. The process has always been relaxing to me. But had I spent the last ten+ years honing my skill, I probably could have been a published author by now, and have more than enough confidence to carry through writing the SEVEN stories I currently have outlined beginning-to-end on my laptop. And by outlined, I mean, I know what I want to happen in each and every chapter already. It's been well planned. My characters are fluffed out, and I'm proud of them. But for the life of me, I can't make words appear. GUYS. JUST WRITE. You cannot move past the "this looks like crap" stage, without actually working through it. *She says as she deletes the first paragraph, again* I know this may sound hypocritical, don't be me. Don't let fear stop you.

[@bazmurphy7792]

I have started writing film scipts and that is a very good example. You never see the first 10 minutes where the protagonist is just getting up. Dressing. Making breakfast. Imagine your watching a film when writing your book. If its boring. You would walk out of the cinema.

[@BKPrice]

All of those tips pertain to me except #11.

[@Ignasimp]

Do you have any video on points of view? I think it's something I rearily see discused.

[@eirynkatherine9858]

#8 - Characters with no flaws. A trick I learned when I was dealing with this problem was to figure out some of the things I liked most about the character/ what made them totally awesome. Then I made those a part of their character ark instead of starting them there. For example, I like my characters to have complex and nuanced views of the world and people around them but it works better for my story if they start off closer to the status quo and learn about those complexities as they go.

[@byfer1176]

Question (also to everyone else in here): How do you feel about the idea of a character's goal to be to find a goal?

[@____uncompetative]

Put them in conflict with other characters to tell them they need to have a goal. I want the cake

[@grimeydanny4214]

yeah, kinda like the comment above - it's fine! but also, that's the surface of the goal, right? like, /why/ do they want to find a goal? are they bored with their current life? are they scared of the future / what would happen if they didn't find a goal? are they discovering their identity? &c. that said, I think it can definitely be interesting

[@lindajohnson4204]

Some people want to say something about life, so they will be looking for a way to convey that, hence, they are going to be working on that theme, bringing it into focus, even if it doesn't correspond to any academic requirements. It isn't wrong to want a story, or a life, to be meaningful. If a story is even interesting, it's going to command the interest of the kinds of people who would respond to what you are trying to say, and to no one else. Some of us love meaning, even when we're children. Other people strip life, and art, of meaning, and feel like they are doing the world a big favor: that everyone should be liberated from meaning, free of it. If stories illustrate truths about life for you--analogies, parables, etc--and that's where the excitement is, the core of the character, the drama of the moment, then being cut free from meaning feels too zero-gravity for you to ever want to live in that state. It isn't worth writing about, if you feel that way.

[@jkalim5640]

I have a question. Does your main character need to be aware of their goal?

[@RaymondHulha]

I think it helps, because it gives the character motivation to do things. I recommend to study the inner and outer journey from Michael Hauge.

[@Asive_6y]

If I’m ever making it I will never forget you

[@lakeshagadson357]

I don't know how long you have been writing or when was the first time you started writing

[@karakurie]

Actually the show don't tell thing has anothrr side of the spectrum. The most common citique I've had of my work is zero telling. Sometimes, especially magic systems, need an explanation, even just one sentence. I kept doing the 'audience is dropped into the world' kind of story, but never told exposition or any info for them to understand the world. Telling is also very important. It feels more like music. Telling is the rhythm, showing is the melody. Without rhythm its confusing, without a melody its boring.

[@oldgittess]

I think if you worry about all these things you would be paralysed and not write a word. Write from your heart, and write what you know about or have researched. Just do it. Pretend nobody is ever going to read it. I have an agent interested in my first book, and I didn't even know the rules, let alone abide by them! Be yourself, be different. Trust your instincts.Good luck!

[@spectre5766]

Heads up, the ads work lol

[@sctt5071]

What do you all think about brushing up on rusty grammar? Can it help? Is investing time in a grammar class worth the time?