The Top Four Mistakes New Writers Make (And Why You're Not Alone)

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Do you remember your first book? I do! It was terrible, with every single trope a book could have. My characters pontificated their views ad nauseum, with long, convoluted speeches that went on for paragraph after paragraph. I created beautiful plot points that went nowhere. And, my villains twirled their mustaches. I just didn’t know my craft.

But, like most writers, I learned. I took classes. I wrote lots of words, I was lucky to have brilliant and supportive critique partners and lots of great craft books. And, I shifted from being a newbie to an award-winning writer, with two Golden Heart finals to my name. Doesn’t make me an expert. And, I am still making mistakes. But I’m certainly a better writer than I was before.

So, let me share four of the writing mistakes I’ve made and what I needed to know to correct them.

1. Trying to Write Like Someone Else

We all have writers we love and want to be like. Which is not at all a bad thing. But why can’t you be you? You have a voice of your own, a style that is very specific to you. That style is so recognizable that even J. K. Rowling was outed on her non-Harry Potter books by an AI from several years ago. Someone recognized her way of writing, plugged it into a computer program, and found that she was the author of a completely different style of books. Voice is that exclusive to us.

I wanted to write like one of my favorite authors. And, unfortunately, I did. People even recognized her style in my writing. It took me a while to break myself from that habit and find “me,” but I finally did.

Because we are distinct and unique, our writing must follow suit. 

My best advice? Write how you think. Really—your natural cadence has power. Remember, your voice is the soul of your writing. It evolves best through authenticity.

2. Obsessing Over Perfection 

There is no perfection. And chasing the illusion that you can achieve it can make you doubt everything you write. We all want to find that perfect word or sentence or story. That isn’t going to happen. I know a whole bunch of people who write amazing books that never get out from under their bed, because they don’t think they’re good enough. 

My best advice? Be creative when you’re writing and be analytical when you’re editing. But remember that, even if you’re not ever completely happy with your story, it doesn’t mean it’s not good. And sellable. Call a halt at some point and go on to the next book, taking the lessons you’ve learned with you. Give yourself permission to write badly. Terribly, even. But don’t give up because you don’t think you’re perfect enough.

3. Skipping the Reading Part

There are so many writers who don’t read other people’s books. Or only read within their genre. This can easily cause us to get stuck in our own head. Market trends should NOT be your only guide, but not keeping up with what is selling today is a mistake if you want to be relevant. 

My best advice? Read. Read extensively. Read the good stuff AND the bad. Evaluate what you read. Why is it bad or good? (And remember, you have a right to your opinion about what that constitutes.) Compare and contrast. It’s really one of the best educations you’ll ever give yourself.

4. Underestimating Structure and Purpose

If you’ll think about the books you love, the ones that made a difference in your life, you may find that most of the most important ones have a distinct theme and/or purpose. The characters go through a journey by knowing what they want, working toward it, learning to deal with obstacles, realizing they need to change, sacrificing their old, stuck ideas, then triumphing in the end and creating a new, improved life (check out The Hero’s Journey, if you haven’t already found it – here’s a link to a video I use in my classes—great example! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhk4N9A0oCA).

Building that structure and purpose helps a writer in three ways:

1. It gives us a road map to help us get from the beginning to the end.
2. It allows us to construct a true character arc. We don’t have to flounder around, getting lost as we scurry down those rabbit trails.
3. It establishes unforgettable characters – ones that our readers keep coming back to.

My best advice? “Sit down” with your characters and ask them questions. Remember, they really are just a tiny slice of your own personality. Give them a voice that will resonate with you and your readers, by understanding who they are.

Bottom line? Never give up. Never surrender! (Quote from Peter Taggart, Galaxy Quest) Very few people were famous writers on the day they were born. Most of us have been slogging through, uh, working our way through the understanding of how stories actually are told for most of our life.

But the good news is that true writing comes from your heart. You may never become famous or rich from it, but finding your own voice is magic.

What have you learned on your writing journey? 

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The Top Four Mistakes New Writers Make (And Why You're Not Alone) from @SarahSallyHamer on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Sarah (Sally) Hamer, B.S., MLA, is a lover of books, a teacher of writers, and a believer in a good story. Most of all, she is eternally fascinated by people and how they 'tick'. She’s passionate about helping people tell their own stories, whether through fiction or through memoir. Writing in many genres—mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, medieval history, non-fiction—she has won awards at both local and national levels, including two Golden Heart finals.

A teacher of memoir, beginning and advanced creative fiction writing, and screenwriting at Louisiana State University in Shreveport for over twenty years, she also teaches online for Margie Lawson at WWW.MARGIELAWSON.COM and atHTTPS://NOSTRESSWRITING.COM/. Sally is a free-lance editor and book coach, with many of her students and clients becoming successful, award-winning authors. You can find her at SALLY@MINDPOTENTIAL.ORG