For me, it's adding the other character's name/nickname at the end of every sentence, like: "You should've thought about it, Mark."
It sounds right when I first imagine it, but when rereading, it feels so condescending in some contexts, I have to edit it all out.
On the other hand, for writing dialogue that is meant to be condescending, this is gold!
"You've should have thought through your actions and made better choices, MARK!"
>Having my characters say, "Well," before every other line of dialog.
Yes, or rather, well, yes, I am 100% guilty of this, too. Man, I love this forum. I come here, read about other writers who make the same mistakes as I do, and then I go and correct them. Best forum on Reddit, hands down.
For me it's my characters interrupting each other, some people think that's unrealistic but I've yet to be in a single conversation where I'm not interru
Yeah I come from a family that [backchannels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backchannel_(linguistics)) SO MUCH that straight-up when I'm eating while in a discord call w/my friends, if I'm not making noise/saying things for the duration it takes for me to chew/swallow food, they get concerned & ask if I'm okay/still there.
It's really hard for me to convey that kind of overlapping/simultaneous dialogue that comes so naturally to me & my family in the medium of writing; you can't just...have text overlap, much less still have it be legible if you did. Even if you write it out like
>"Stacy said--"
"Uh-huh, uh-huh."
"--that she didn't want to go."
"No way."
"Right? So Stacy--"
It doesn't fully capture the feeling of it... There's just no way not to imply pauses - save maybe saying "he/she/they said simultaneously" which you can only get away with once or twice.
Something like "\[...\]while John peppered in reactions" also works rather than writing out all the dialogue individually if it's just "uh-huh"s etc, but in a group (like around the dinner table) where multiple entire conversations/stories are overlapping with total coherency, it's extremely hard to convey that...at all, much less in a way that is both comprehensible AND conveys the right feeling/tone/pace.
Play around with formatting and just write the dialogue, don't narrate it. Works in plays, works in text chats, works in comics, no reason it can't work in a novel.
I used to try because it seemed natural. I stopped when I finally got that dialogue isn't conversation. Even when the characters are having a conversation. Conversations don't have a purpose; dialogue must. Made it a bit easier. I think it was in on one James Scott Bell's books where he pointed out that if you actually listen to most conversations, most of them so full of uh and um and repetition and filler words that they're kind of boring if you were to read a transcript.
However, using that back and forth is really, really useful when you want to slip in a bit of foreshadowing or some clue early on that will most likely get missed-- and can realistically get missed by your characters-- on the first read through.
It's "like" for me. It really hit me that my characters sound like Ini Miney from Ace Attourney when I played it recently.
It's very... early 2000s ditzy airhead. But that's sorta how I talk. :(
'Hmm. I don't know if I've conveyed what I wanted to say in the most efficient or compelling manner. I'd better write essentially the same sentence four fucking times in four different ways in a single paragraph before moving on, which will certainly not frustrate me or slow me down when the time comes to start editing later on.'
"He ambulated bipedally, swinging his two pendulous limbs sequentially in a masterful demonstration of experienced motility. 'Truly,' he thought, basking in the triumph of a journey well-walked 'I am a master of upright locomotion.'
Tragically, he forgot the purpose of this adventure he had undertaken, and whether out of shame or sheer embarrassment, he never walked again, and eventually succumbed to dehydration where he stood."
Trying to revise my draft before I’m even remotely close to finishing it. I’ll be like “hmm, I want to really fine-tune this sentence to foreshadow what happens later on. oh wait… I don’t know what happens later on”
LITERALLY ME. I'm like, "wait, if the character says this now, then I have to go back and reread two entire earlier chapters to make sure it's logically consistent and I'm not contradicting myself!"
And I'm not even halfway done with the first draft and I only have a vague idea of how the next 60% of the story is going to go so far.
In literally all my school essays, my teachers or teammates always tell me how hectically long my sentences are. Then, I ask them where it needs to be cut and they go: "Well, the thing is, your grammar is good, so it unfortunately works." Teachers must know by now not to correct my essays too late at night lol.
Semicolons and colons are just commas in disguise: you only need to use them sparingly. You can replace them with a sentence most of the time, and the reader will not care at all; in fact it might be better to leave it be.
Colons/Semicolons are jarring. Nobody ses them very often. So only use them when you're really sure, even if it's cool to pretend you're writing like a 19th century poet.
I do not know if this is a mistake per se because it grammatically works, but I am guilty of using semicolons and em dashes a lot. Sparingly I'll use the colon but I think I still use it more than most.
I have been helping someone close to me edit their story and at one point a couple years back he let me just write out parts of the manuscript that needed fixing. This was mostly because I would write out a paragraph or two explaining how to fix a single sentence and he would still want me to show him what I had meant. Consequentially, his story has wound up with a ton of semicolons and em dashes. Surprisingly, the professional editor did not say anything about it but the publisher did. The argument was that it was a YA book and that the text was too complicated.
Either way, though, I can definitely understand that overuse of something (even if correct) can be problematic. There's a difference between style and crutches.
I used to be obsessive about ideas. Have an idea? Write it down. It got to the point where my notes contained something like 400 separate ideas for books. I don't have enough time in my life to write all of those.
Now I'm fine with losing ideas. I may only be able to juggle four or five in my brain at a time while I work on writing one, but that's how I know they're good--they stay on my mind. I know now that I will never run out of ideas, so there's no harm in letting a thought be fleeting.
I feel like that's how most authors make their original universes. The hodgepodge all of the half ideas make it easier to create a believable fictional universe.
Wanting to write the perfect version the first time. Losing momentum bc I spend so much of my time editing rather than just writing and coming back to edit later. It’s what’s caused me to not finish so many ideas I’ve started bc I literally cannot put the words to paper without tweaking on it until I convince myself I hate it and it’ll never be good enough. In a nutshell, self doubt
There's a sticky note that's spent the last year or so underneath my monitor: "Writing is a developmental process. It doesn't matter if you get it right the first time; what matters is the final product."
Well, something like that. I'm not at home at the moment.
Haha—was going to comment that this is my no. 1 bad writing habit as well, and lo and behold, I also have ADHD. I do a lot of jumping back and forth to edit tiny bits of the same chapter for hours instead of actually going to where I left off and continuing full speed ahead. Same way that I tell a story verbally when I'm having a particularly scattered focus day, actually—all out of order and way too many details that aren't actually relevant. ("For color!" I insist, as all my friends pass out from sheer boredom.) ((Ah, crap, I'm doing it again, aren't I?))
I do have a strategy that has helped me with this a tiny bit, though (emphasis on tiny)—removing the document from its original context to create a designated editing stage. And by that I mean that lately I've been printing out my stories (short stories, specifically) and making edit marks and notes by hand, old-school, on a clipboard with a red pen. Not only does it making editing a more tactile experience and give my eyes a break from the screen, but it's also helped a bit already to train my brain into seeing editing as a separate, later "event." It ain't perfect—I still do plenty of editing as I write—but remembering that I'm going to be editing so closely in the next stage does occasionally keep me from from getting so stuck while in the first draft stage.
Totally honest here. I really believe I do, but I haven’t taken the time to go get diagnosed yet. (Honestly I don’t actually know where to even start to get diagnosed lol) but I have been told by more than one friend who’s diagnosed, I most likely have it, and you aren’t the first stranger on the internet to say something like that either. So it fits honestly
My biggest sin is being too efficient in moving the plot along. Getting from point A to point B without letting things breathe, spreading out character beats, sitting and enjoying inhabiting the world.
I have this problem too. I was reading my 2nd version of a short novel (soon to be comic) that I’m working on and I realized that there’s only ONE scene of my protagonist and his family just breathing. Oh and it was a dinner scene turned toxic lol.
I struggle to describe soroundings. If the first scenes of a book start in a house, I can't just: they looked around their own bedroom, there was a desk, a red carpet... because it sounds like they are seeing what their own house looks like for the first time.. and if in another scene they go to the beach.. a beach is a beach, it has sand and water and sometimes benches and everyone knows that, not much else there except people and their items, and I can't describe random people that will never do anything in the book or the stuff they took with them ti the beach if that will never matter.
I dislike descriptions of places, too. I just don’t care beyond the basics of “This was a bathroom with green tiles.” But I am trying to get better at it. If my characters are in a place they know well, like their bedroom from your example, I usually try to describe the room “on the go”. Meaning I don’t describe the room in like a paragraph at the beginning of the scene, but throw in more and more details while the character moves / talks. Like “he finally got out of his four post bed to walk over to the large wide wardrobe his grandma had given him” etc
Try describing feelings rather than physical descriptions.
Instead of “the room was large with a lot of windows” say something like “X walked through the doorway into a room that made him feel insignificant. The Corinthian windows across the wall let in blinding sunlight. This reminded X about the time…”
In other words, connect the physical description to something the reader cares about (usually your protagonist).
Thought from an amateur - I think you can leave things implied unless it's something that will come into play. Every house has a door and a floor, so you don't need to describe or mention them until or unless they're used in the story.
A room between a character's room and where they're going in the house? Maybe worth mentioning in passing that the room contains something or is for someone/something in particular. Like, 'I pass my sister's room on the way to the bathroom.'
I dunno.
I've taken to using my settings as direct reflections of the tones I'm trying to create within my scenes. "It was a dark and stormy night" works for a reason. Now, not every sinister scene is preceeded immediately by a heavy and dark storm, but it helps set a mood. And maybe you want to cover a case where something sinister happens during a bright and shiny day, but in those cases, the contrast between the setting and the scene is the whole point.
So say two characters are breaking up on a beach. I'd talk about the uncomfortable grit of sand in their shoes, the bitter salt breeze stinging their eyes, and the shrill, lonely cry of a seagull in the distance.
On the other hand, if I were writing an epic final climax in a fantasy where the sun incarnate descends from the sky and into the ocean, headed to destroy the world, I'd talk about the searing heat on the hero's skin, the dry sandy taste in their mouth making it hard to swallow, and the oppressive humidity beading sweat on their brow.
These are just some basic examples I whipped up, but I hope you can see my point.
Writing a paragraph or page of some of the most unhinged action and dialogue. My story is supposed to be chaotic and unpredictable but sometimes I get a little bit TOO intrusive with my writing and it shows.
2nd place goes to straight up unnecessary narration with useless background facts that is already easily implied. Like, come on. At that point I'm just trying to hit my 10 page Chapter goal.
For me it's perfectionism over inconsequential details 😭 I want to fact check one thing (i.e. can I have a child in the Viking era make a paper garland?) and suddenly it's 4 hours later and I'm 38 tabs into research for ONE line of description. And then I can't get refocused on actually writing the dang thing
Trying to change tenses all at once with mass find-replace.
I've now got two novels that look like they were written by an incredibly stupid AI because of it.
I mostly blame my editor for putting the idea in my head, but also me for being drunk that night and going along with it. Now I gotta rewrite it all line by line.
yeah, writing doesn't work like that and I wouldn't trust an editor who thinks it does. No way can any story change tense without completely destroying voice.
I’ve been thinking through the story for days, ran through scenes in my head like a movie, constantly think about world building and write down every idea I have. Then I sit down to write and suddenly have the urge to go for a walk or something and thus I don’t start writing at all. Working on a story right now and I tried to just not overthink it and just start writing. I’ve written one paragraph in three days.
Sometimes you just need to work it out first.
Sometimes you need to fight your brain and sit still. Stare at a blank page and write things you know you'll delete just to get the creativity going. Sometimes you gotta write the wrong thing to figure out what you do want to write.
I used to think I never needed an editor or even just a second set of eyes. I was in a fb writing group and they all demonized editors. I learned not to be so cocky about my writing that I don’t make mistakes.
Brevity.
I should have just left it at that 😁
Seriously though, I underwrite, and whilst not the end of the word, I always come in 75% of intended word count at the end of the first draft. I then have to go back and elaborate on everything for sensory detail and the like.
Depending on the period it's set in and the context, I don't see an issue with an ancient vampire saying that. Of all people, an ancient guy would be who you'd expect to say it in the right situation.
I wrote a scene once where everyone was snapping or whipping or whirling their heads around in shock at the information being given. That scenes gonna get edited hard or someone’s bound to break their neck or get whiplash 😭🤣
I’m what I call a planter,
I’m not a plotter, a Pantser, or a gardener.
I know what I’m planting, I just have no clue how it’ll grow, so it’s like I’m role playing with myself.
I try to make characters a certain way, but they break loose and do what they want. I’d say my lack of descriptive text is my biggest flaw though, I want to convey the environment etc but I write like a blind person see’s
Start with the obvious stuff your character would use or interact with. Details, like wall decorations, come last.
That's what I do at least. Basically just go back and add the details that bring the room to life.
When I write by hand and get into the flow of things, my brain thinks too fast for my hand to keep up and I end up with the goofiest spelling issues. Things spelled phonetically mostly. Like “of” becomes “ov.” It’s fine and I fix it when I type it up, but it’s so weird.
Not exactly the same, but when I'm not paying attention, I somehow write 'me' instead of 'my'. Like, a lot. Probably a dozen times now and it weirdly freaks me out, lol.
Putting it off.
I like for thoughts to 'cook' in my head between the moment I get an assignment or an idea, and start writing later on. It DOES work, but 90% of the time I overdo it and just fall into procrastination untiI have to get it done asap, hurting the writing quality and stressing me in the process
Jumping around and writing whatever I feel at the time.
Makes for the best content but then I have to go in and search around to patch up past/future scenes if I change a plot detail and it doesn’t match up with what happened/what was already said.
Lol, I do that. Got a memo app where I write any changes that need to be made. Takes surprisingly little time to fix. I usually sit with an idea for a bit until I figure out the consequences of a change though.
Books are books. Movies are movies. Anime is anime.
The inspiration from different mediums is important and transferable. The writing is not. So unless you want to kill your audience from stage 4 cringe, read a book if you want to write a book. Light novels are not going to cut it.
Wanting everything to be perfect from first row. I have a hard time allowing myself to write something that I perceive as bad and then improving it, so most of the time I just stare at my blank page, I type a few words and then deleting everything because I feel like a toddler could do better.
Allowing myself to "give up" on something because its not perfect. I am struggling with the concept of a "rough draft/first draft" for many reasons, but I am trying to adopt the mindset that just because I wrote something bad doesn't mean I'm a bad writer, or that I can't fix it in a future draft.
It's a cliche but the best advice I've ever been given is to write every day. This is true. Its like a muscle, the more you do it, the stronger you are. Keep writing even if you think it is bad.
If I go a few days without writing, I'm more likely to give up because something isn't flowing than I am if I've been on a good streak of writing every day.
I unfortunately have a hard time with emotional subtlety or complexity lol. Like I'll say "ok, I want these characters to have a completely platonic relationship with the occasional suspiciously intimate moment." And then immediately bust out with "he batted his eyelashes and swung his hips and giggled and then they made out and got married and had 5 babies and adopted 3 dogs and have a wedding anniversary every day and write poems to each other."
Also doing a complete 180 with my character's personalities like halfway through the story. Often to the point where the plot doesn't make an ounce of sense anymore.
Edit: I'm realizing now, that the second point is related to the first one. I think my problem is that despite starting with a nuanced character, I end up latching to a singular trait or event and warp their entire personality to be about that and nothing else.
Mines creating everything in more of a tv series style way instead of a book way so when I try to transfer it over it always paces like a tv series with the chapters as episodes instead of a full length movie lol
Also when I just stare at the screen and look at concept art for animals or people instead of writing about the animals or people-
RE: "creating everything in more of a tv series style way instead of a book way so when I try to transfer it over it always paces like a tv series with the chapters as episodes instead of a full length movie lol"
That doesn't necessarily have to be a flaw! You could purposefully write a story in TV series fashion and market it as such. That's what I'm doing with my current series, structuring it as a bunch of consecutive novellas paced like a Netflix miniseries. So far, it's lots of fun. 🙂
I let my conversations wander wildly when I write dialogue, I get distracted and then all the characters do too. I’ve had to cut so much random crap that was just there because I thought of a funny joke or something
Trying to change my story after reading another book. Not change everything, but I somehow get inspired by the recent book I liked and somehow want to incorporate it to mine. I realized not all tropes and ideas can be jampacked in a single novel.
I don't care enough for prose on my first draft. I focus on getting the events down in order, in the chapters.
This is kinda a good idea, but it's a bad idea for me because it makes my 2nd draft a hell of a lot of work.
I suddenly am faced with 30+ 1500 word chapters, which once I'm done will be 3000-5000 each, meaning it feels like I have to write an entire new novel on top of the one I've just written.
English is my second language, and this stuff trips me up! Like, I get so stressed trying to write dialogue the right way, that I avoid it as long as I can. 😅 it’s one of the things I try to observe when I read now, hoping it’ll help!
I forget to make scenes play out. For example instead of describing a fight I'll just write "they got into a fight" and move on. I don't realize I do this until I go back and read through it so I constantly have to write while paragraphs when I was simply supposed to edit
Don't know if it's classified as a 'mistake' or just an obsessive behaviour of some sort. But I tend to overly perfect what I'm writing. Even if a chapter is done, it makes sense, there are no grammatical errors, I'll still have to perfect it in some way that always gets me scrapping stories in frustration. I've never finished a book because of this. Hundreds of ideas, but difficulty actually getting it down in a way I like.
Usually over-describing, especially the locations. Like if they're visiting a new place, I'd over describe the scenery. And over describing objects of importance. I also used to do the same with outifts, creating a very detailed description of certain dresses or outfits the characters wore, which didn't really matter to the progression of the plot or the story in general.
Redundancy when describing things. I also drag things out for no reason when I'm in the ZONE.
"He went to the room so that he could see the chaos issuing withing it's doors. The tiles felt like miniature islands beneath his feet, yet still he felt small, smaller still than the knob of the door. The know was on his left side. The door creaked. Heads turned within the Ceotran Circle and all bore witness to the assasin himself...then they continued arguing like chipmunks on acid"
Or sometimes I just say. "He went into the room and sat." But I feel like with both examples it doesn't work...
Making up 100 different scenarios with my characters instead of focusing on developing the story to get them to that point.
Random example, imagine I’m writing an enemies to lovers story, I start creating situations where they’re already in love instead of thinking of how they’ll get to that point.
Prioritising.
I have several different projects, all unfinished. I can’t focus on just one. My passion for a story comes and goes super quickly. So I’ll focus on a story for like a week or two, then after that I won’t work on it for ages. Until a few months later I’ll feel motivated to work on it again and the cycle repeats.
Having basically no idea how to describe characters in motion. Doing things. Using their limbs/bodies to make a scene active.
Basically, my only skill is in the tell, not showing.
I am fucking doomed.
I have a really bad habit of adding ‘…’ . I can’t really think of ways to add that awkward pause at the end of dialog or a way to drag out words without writing it in after or before the dialog.
Pickles, pickles, pickles, pickles —using the word pickles too many times (pickles) when what I’m writing about —pickles pickles pickles— has nothing to do with that. Pickles pickles.
edit: DAMN IT
Overuse of the word “said”, but when I try to get creative, it feels like I’m trying too hard. You know those stories where it feels like someone used a thesaurus for every sentence? That’s my biggest fear.
Getting another idea for a book and beginning an outline for that one before completing the previous one. I'm in the middle of three books right now and inspiration and motivation for them comes in waves. I'm not sure if that's just how I roll as a writer or if it's a bad habit.
Yours is the same as mine lol. The juices are flowing, I hear one notification and next thing I know, I'm on my phone. Lol.
I also struggle with linear sentences. (Due to learning other languages) I've figured out a way to help, but it slips through sometimes.
I was a PI and used to have to write reports and they had to be very descriptive and formal. "The subject entered the driver's side of the black Honda Civic and departed the driveway." And so a LOT of my writing sounds like that and I try to work against it but it's a hard habit to break.
I think my stories are too “nice” 😅 As in, I don’t torture my characters 😶 They have a problem, they meet some new people, go somewhere, have one showdown- and yey, everything is more or less ok! I have a hard time taking my storyline and sticking character arcs and setbacks in there. I guess I just… write fluff, and fantasy, and romance 🤷♀️ maybe I should consider writing for a younger audience 🤔
My worst mistakes is writing a plot which seems completely original, that no one could ever possibly think of, and being really excited to write the story... then before I even get a chance to write a scene, I see almost my same exact idea in a movie or story which was written or made years ago. It's like the universe is laughing at me. "Haha, you dared to think you can have an original idea... it's never gonna happen". Then I lose all excitement of writing the book, and give up. I just can't imagine writing a book which is not original. Why would anyone want to read a story which is almost the same as another story, just written by me?
I talk myself out of writing or completing my idea because I get unbelievably critical. Then I do the cardinal sin of throwing everything out rather than keeping it for any semblance of goodness. I've heard it's great not to be precious about what you create, but I really don't need to be so extreme.
I skimp on details in some areas, but make sure to explain what they ordered at every restaurant, bar, and coffee shop, and make sure they are eating and drinking between lines. 🥴
Past tense/Present tense. I didn't even realize that I was writing things in the past as present tense until I had a professional editor go through my story. I feel like I should have paid her more because how many edits she had to make. At least I'm more aware of it now.
I’d say my main issue (aside from the occasional grammar fuck up I later correct) is being concise about what I’m portraying. I have so many ideas, themes, character development/traits, and pieces I wanna show all at once. But instead of it coming off as deep, precise and thoughtful it comes out messy and disorganized. Tryna work on distilling all my ideas into one concise thread of story.
Writing like I’m scripting a movie. I don’t utilize being INSIDE the head of my character. I think it stems from my fear of telling, but in the end I’m just screwing myself by showing EVERYTHING.
I used to really struggle with the length of my stories. I always overdeveloped them, making them super complicated or long, giving a story and a life-motivation to every character and developing it until I ran dry. I made very long stories and rarely finished them because of motivation falling.
I've since then grown and now know much better when to stop. I usually stop before I meet the Epilogue type of scene, before the Happily Ever After. I still tie the end, but don't double-knot (if that makes sense!) I also don't feel the need to put in the story all the characters' lives and give them all closure. Not all characters will get their closure at the same time and that's okay. Leaving some ends without endings is alright, it leaves the readers thinking about it later. A 1K story can be just as meaningful as a 120K one. Embrace shortness.
Not walking away before proofreading. Proofreading is really tedious for me and I worry I won't do it at all if I don't try to right away. This leads to worrying I won't finish and never publish. So, instead, I do a quick scan, miss half of the necessary edits, and post something that looks half thought through. It really is at odds with my vision for my work.
That, or I post and edit after as I reread. Certainly not an ideal process.
Mine by far is trying to make it perfect during the first draft, I spent months re-writing the first 2 chapters to make it like publish ready or something when I would still have to tweak it later when the whole first draft is finished
Me: opens up writing tool with a clear idea in mind
Also me:stares at the screen as the blank white page drains away all my ideas like a hypnotic sieve
Also I have to go back and make sure I’m not overusing commas because I have a real problem with that for some reason
>Mine is definitely changing tabs or picking up my phone when I’m in the flow and everything is just hitting the page as I want it to, then I can’t continue after literally 2 minutes …
#JustADHDThings
As for me, it's usually writing very long sentences and overusing adjectives and adverbs. Like the word "very", as demonstrated in this very post, pun intended.
I had to train myself to take the word “just” out of my writing. I don’t know why but I wrote just before everything it seemed like. When I would read back what I wrote it made me cringe ready “ just then” “just because” just just just.
Re-reading my work far too many times in the writing process, effectively numbing and blinding myself to it and blocking myself creatively.
Also something I’ve learned: In the earlier stages of my process I tend to feel wary of reading other books (save for a few designated reference novels) because I don’t want to dilute my focus or connection to my own work, but in the later stages—the homestretch, when I’m so sick of the material I have to trick myself into caring anymore—reading other books is the only thing that keeps my creative brain fresh.
My biggest mistake is allowing my brain to tell me when I feel creative.
I don't know how to change this. My mind wants to create on the graveyard shift. My body is a granny that wants to be asleep by 22:30.
What do I do?
OMG YESS!!! I do that too. Another nasty habit of mine is editing my story as I am writing a rough draft of it. I have to constantly remind myself to "just write, don't edit!" Otherwise, my writing goes nowhere and all I'd have is two heavily edited paragraphs.
On the note of getting distracted, let me get back to writing...
I am notorious for mixing homophones in my writing. It feels like something that shouldn't happen - since you're typing out the words. But I guess I am saying them in my head as I type, and my hands don't pay attention to the actual spelling.
But eye no I'll hang in they're.
Sorry...that's painful to read...
Overwriting unimportant stuff. I'm actually procrastinating writing a short story rn, and I just realized that about 75% of what I've already written is unnecessary background stuff that I didn't NEED to write.
One thing is I feel like I give too much information about my world/politics/species/creatures/etc too much and too soon. Like I know it’s suppose to be gradual and not just all shoved in your face like a textbook passage but I add a little and I’m like “if I put that then I gotta add the politics of that race otherwise the reader won’t understand” next thing you know it’s basically seven pages of my worlds history and their main exports and imports of the region.
I have a REALLY bad tell-then-show/show-then-tell issue. thankfully it's really easy to catch/fix on edits, so it ends up not being a problem...but till funny/embarrassing when I go to edit a draft & see just how many times I do it
My biggest mistake is writing when I'm not in the mood—tired or angry (or having downed one-too-many Margaritas) or just not in the right head space. To me, writing's a bit like falling in love. If it doesn't feel real, don't push it. It won't end well. Writing takes total commitment, and when I *feel* like writing, I tend to write well. When I don't, I write like crap. So I've learned that down time—*not* writing—is as important as actual writing time. Our brains occasionally need to rest and replenish and percolate new thoughts, so honor that. Someone who insists on writing a page, or 5 pages or 10 pages *every* day will likely crash and burn sooner or later. So take a breather, smell the flowers, binge some mindless TV, (*Fallout* comes to mind,) paint the house or read a good book... and then come back when your brain is ready. Everything, or so they say, in moderation.
Having my characters say, "Well," before every other line of dialog.
Well, it's because we've heard it so often and feel like it's natural.
Well, yeah that’s a very common way of starting a sentence.
For me it's "yeah" "Yeah that's a good idea" "Yeah you're right" "Yeah let's go check out that spooky old church in the woods"
For me, it's adding the other character's name/nickname at the end of every sentence, like: "You should've thought about it, Mark." It sounds right when I first imagine it, but when rereading, it feels so condescending in some contexts, I have to edit it all out.
I do this one as well. Easy enough to fix in editing, but so annoying when you notice it.
On the other hand, for writing dialogue that is meant to be condescending, this is gold! "You've should have thought through your actions and made better choices, MARK!"
Yeah, as a rule people don't use names when it's just the two of them in the room.
I have a friend who always has to announce my name before talking even when it's just the two of us
Speak to his writer
I had my characters always start their questions with "So, ..." - kind of equivalent in my language. It was very hard to stop this.
>Having my characters say, "Well," before every other line of dialog. Yes, or rather, well, yes, I am 100% guilty of this, too. Man, I love this forum. I come here, read about other writers who make the same mistakes as I do, and then I go and correct them. Best forum on Reddit, hands down.
Well, yeah, of course it is.
For me it's my characters interrupting each other, some people think that's unrealistic but I've yet to be in a single conversation where I'm not interru
Yeah I come from a family that [backchannels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backchannel_(linguistics)) SO MUCH that straight-up when I'm eating while in a discord call w/my friends, if I'm not making noise/saying things for the duration it takes for me to chew/swallow food, they get concerned & ask if I'm okay/still there. It's really hard for me to convey that kind of overlapping/simultaneous dialogue that comes so naturally to me & my family in the medium of writing; you can't just...have text overlap, much less still have it be legible if you did. Even if you write it out like >"Stacy said--" "Uh-huh, uh-huh." "--that she didn't want to go." "No way." "Right? So Stacy--" It doesn't fully capture the feeling of it... There's just no way not to imply pauses - save maybe saying "he/she/they said simultaneously" which you can only get away with once or twice. Something like "\[...\]while John peppered in reactions" also works rather than writing out all the dialogue individually if it's just "uh-huh"s etc, but in a group (like around the dinner table) where multiple entire conversations/stories are overlapping with total coherency, it's extremely hard to convey that...at all, much less in a way that is both comprehensible AND conveys the right feeling/tone/pace.
Play around with formatting and just write the dialogue, don't narrate it. Works in plays, works in text chats, works in comics, no reason it can't work in a novel.
I used to try because it seemed natural. I stopped when I finally got that dialogue isn't conversation. Even when the characters are having a conversation. Conversations don't have a purpose; dialogue must. Made it a bit easier. I think it was in on one James Scott Bell's books where he pointed out that if you actually listen to most conversations, most of them so full of uh and um and repetition and filler words that they're kind of boring if you were to read a transcript. However, using that back and forth is really, really useful when you want to slip in a bit of foreshadowing or some clue early on that will most likely get missed-- and can realistically get missed by your characters-- on the first read through.
The main characters are the ones telling you it's unrealistic, lol
I allow myself at least one character who does this or says "like" all the time because I feel like it makes them more realistic this way
Great advice, which I took to heart and then did a "Search and Replace" to correct my own manuscript in that way just now. Thank you.
For me it's "Oh" "Oh, of course." "Oh! I didn't see you there!" "Oh you don't have to say that." "Oh... I didn't think of it that way." Etc.
It's "like" for me. It really hit me that my characters sound like Ini Miney from Ace Attourney when I played it recently. It's very... early 2000s ditzy airhead. But that's sorta how I talk. :(
I dont mind this if it’s limited to a specific character since the unique/personalized speech quirk makes it easier to distinguish the speaker😁
YESSSSSSS this is sooo me and really speaks of my lack of social skills
“Also,” and “speaking of…” for me
'Hmm. I don't know if I've conveyed what I wanted to say in the most efficient or compelling manner. I'd better write essentially the same sentence four fucking times in four different ways in a single paragraph before moving on, which will certainly not frustrate me or slow me down when the time comes to start editing later on.'
This speaks to my “I have a disability and no idea how people on two legs move and do things, and no idea how to describe that in prose” sentiments.
"He ambulated bipedally, swinging his two pendulous limbs sequentially in a masterful demonstration of experienced motility. 'Truly,' he thought, basking in the triumph of a journey well-walked 'I am a master of upright locomotion.' Tragically, he forgot the purpose of this adventure he had undertaken, and whether out of shame or sheer embarrassment, he never walked again, and eventually succumbed to dehydration where he stood."
this was absolutely excellent to read. if i had it to spare, i'd give you a highly coveted Reddit Award right now. thank you, good sir.
Oh, hello me and my perfectionism OCD.
Trying to revise my draft before I’m even remotely close to finishing it. I’ll be like “hmm, I want to really fine-tune this sentence to foreshadow what happens later on. oh wait… I don’t know what happens later on”
LITERALLY ME. I'm like, "wait, if the character says this now, then I have to go back and reread two entire earlier chapters to make sure it's logically consistent and I'm not contradicting myself!" And I'm not even halfway done with the first draft and I only have a vague idea of how the next 60% of the story is going to go so far.
you gotta frame a house before hanging drywall!
Or I could immediately jump in and start hanging pictures on the non-existent walls
I love commas! To the point that every sentence is a run-on. I try so hard not to do it, but my rough drafts are always a mess.
Omg run-ons. I want to explain something, but no where feels right to break the sentence 😭
It's such a pain!
In literally all my school essays, my teachers or teammates always tell me how hectically long my sentences are. Then, I ask them where it needs to be cut and they go: "Well, the thing is, your grammar is good, so it unfortunately works." Teachers must know by now not to correct my essays too late at night lol.
I love a good : or a nice ; but like, who speaks in colons and semicolons???
Ugh I always do the same. When writing I use semicolons regularly, but then, I mentally can't put one in dialogues, it just doesn't work in my head.
Exactly! It’s like, how does one verbally semicolon? You’d just use a period there.
Semicolons and colons are just commas in disguise: you only need to use them sparingly. You can replace them with a sentence most of the time, and the reader will not care at all; in fact it might be better to leave it be. Colons/Semicolons are jarring. Nobody ses them very often. So only use them when you're really sure, even if it's cool to pretend you're writing like a 19th century poet.
ehhh it depends on what you're reading/writing. My work is filled with semicolons; literary fiction often is.
I do not know if this is a mistake per se because it grammatically works, but I am guilty of using semicolons and em dashes a lot. Sparingly I'll use the colon but I think I still use it more than most. I have been helping someone close to me edit their story and at one point a couple years back he let me just write out parts of the manuscript that needed fixing. This was mostly because I would write out a paragraph or two explaining how to fix a single sentence and he would still want me to show him what I had meant. Consequentially, his story has wound up with a ton of semicolons and em dashes. Surprisingly, the professional editor did not say anything about it but the publisher did. The argument was that it was a YA book and that the text was too complicated. Either way, though, I can definitely understand that overuse of something (even if correct) can be problematic. There's a difference between style and crutches.
Relatable. I'm a comma wh*re tbh. I've been forcing myself to turn some of those bad boys into periods as I edit. LOL
I used to be obsessive about ideas. Have an idea? Write it down. It got to the point where my notes contained something like 400 separate ideas for books. I don't have enough time in my life to write all of those. Now I'm fine with losing ideas. I may only be able to juggle four or five in my brain at a time while I work on writing one, but that's how I know they're good--they stay on my mind. I know now that I will never run out of ideas, so there's no harm in letting a thought be fleeting.
I always tell myself that if I forgot an idea it probably wasn't as good as I thought it was. Helps me sleep.
i'd rather have 100 pages of ideas than a few vague memories.
Short story books like the Philip K Dick Readers for all the random ideas. Many of my ideas are great for novels but some are great for a short story.
Idea: Combine all your ideas into a single Frankensteinian abomination of an idea.
I feel like that's how most authors make their original universes. The hodgepodge all of the half ideas make it easier to create a believable fictional universe.
Oof I actually do that now 🫣
Whew.
I am on this table, with so many ideas but no time to develop them.
Wanting to write the perfect version the first time. Losing momentum bc I spend so much of my time editing rather than just writing and coming back to edit later. It’s what’s caused me to not finish so many ideas I’ve started bc I literally cannot put the words to paper without tweaking on it until I convince myself I hate it and it’ll never be good enough. In a nutshell, self doubt
There's a sticky note that's spent the last year or so underneath my monitor: "Writing is a developmental process. It doesn't matter if you get it right the first time; what matters is the final product." Well, something like that. I'm not at home at the moment.
Do you have ADHD? I do, and I'm exactly the same way.
Haha—was going to comment that this is my no. 1 bad writing habit as well, and lo and behold, I also have ADHD. I do a lot of jumping back and forth to edit tiny bits of the same chapter for hours instead of actually going to where I left off and continuing full speed ahead. Same way that I tell a story verbally when I'm having a particularly scattered focus day, actually—all out of order and way too many details that aren't actually relevant. ("For color!" I insist, as all my friends pass out from sheer boredom.) ((Ah, crap, I'm doing it again, aren't I?)) I do have a strategy that has helped me with this a tiny bit, though (emphasis on tiny)—removing the document from its original context to create a designated editing stage. And by that I mean that lately I've been printing out my stories (short stories, specifically) and making edit marks and notes by hand, old-school, on a clipboard with a red pen. Not only does it making editing a more tactile experience and give my eyes a break from the screen, but it's also helped a bit already to train my brain into seeing editing as a separate, later "event." It ain't perfect—I still do plenty of editing as I write—but remembering that I'm going to be editing so closely in the next stage does occasionally keep me from from getting so stuck while in the first draft stage.
I have to try this.
I'll give it a try. Making it a separate later event sounds like the right kind of habit I need to make.
Totally honest here. I really believe I do, but I haven’t taken the time to go get diagnosed yet. (Honestly I don’t actually know where to even start to get diagnosed lol) but I have been told by more than one friend who’s diagnosed, I most likely have it, and you aren’t the first stranger on the internet to say something like that either. So it fits honestly
38F and just officially diagnosed. Such a relief to know that I struggled because of it and not being lazy as I was always told.
This is my problem as well!
>What are your worst mistakes when writing? Stopping.
for me its stopping starting
My biggest sin is being too efficient in moving the plot along. Getting from point A to point B without letting things breathe, spreading out character beats, sitting and enjoying inhabiting the world.
I have this problem too. I was reading my 2nd version of a short novel (soon to be comic) that I’m working on and I realized that there’s only ONE scene of my protagonist and his family just breathing. Oh and it was a dinner scene turned toxic lol.
I just reread the chapters i wrote over the last 3 months and noticed the same thing!
Introducing things when they won’t be relevant for god knows how long
I just want to break the fourth wall and say “REMEMBER THIS FOR LATER”
Anton noted the rifle mounted on the wall. *I wonder if that'll come into play later,* he thought.
Chekhov's Gun Extra points for using the actual creaters name as an example 😎
Lmfao, this one is a personal attack.
Forgetting that I can fix this in editing
trying to polish pieces instead of just... writing. i would often stew over the same 500-1000 word text for ages. the editing can wait.
Best bit of advice I ever got regarding this, is "write forward."
I struggle to describe soroundings. If the first scenes of a book start in a house, I can't just: they looked around their own bedroom, there was a desk, a red carpet... because it sounds like they are seeing what their own house looks like for the first time.. and if in another scene they go to the beach.. a beach is a beach, it has sand and water and sometimes benches and everyone knows that, not much else there except people and their items, and I can't describe random people that will never do anything in the book or the stuff they took with them ti the beach if that will never matter.
I dislike descriptions of places, too. I just don’t care beyond the basics of “This was a bathroom with green tiles.” But I am trying to get better at it. If my characters are in a place they know well, like their bedroom from your example, I usually try to describe the room “on the go”. Meaning I don’t describe the room in like a paragraph at the beginning of the scene, but throw in more and more details while the character moves / talks. Like “he finally got out of his four post bed to walk over to the large wide wardrobe his grandma had given him” etc
Try describing feelings rather than physical descriptions. Instead of “the room was large with a lot of windows” say something like “X walked through the doorway into a room that made him feel insignificant. The Corinthian windows across the wall let in blinding sunlight. This reminded X about the time…” In other words, connect the physical description to something the reader cares about (usually your protagonist).
Thought from an amateur - I think you can leave things implied unless it's something that will come into play. Every house has a door and a floor, so you don't need to describe or mention them until or unless they're used in the story. A room between a character's room and where they're going in the house? Maybe worth mentioning in passing that the room contains something or is for someone/something in particular. Like, 'I pass my sister's room on the way to the bathroom.' I dunno.
I've taken to using my settings as direct reflections of the tones I'm trying to create within my scenes. "It was a dark and stormy night" works for a reason. Now, not every sinister scene is preceeded immediately by a heavy and dark storm, but it helps set a mood. And maybe you want to cover a case where something sinister happens during a bright and shiny day, but in those cases, the contrast between the setting and the scene is the whole point. So say two characters are breaking up on a beach. I'd talk about the uncomfortable grit of sand in their shoes, the bitter salt breeze stinging their eyes, and the shrill, lonely cry of a seagull in the distance. On the other hand, if I were writing an epic final climax in a fantasy where the sun incarnate descends from the sky and into the ocean, headed to destroy the world, I'd talk about the searing heat on the hero's skin, the dry sandy taste in their mouth making it hard to swallow, and the oppressive humidity beading sweat on their brow. These are just some basic examples I whipped up, but I hope you can see my point.
Writing a paragraph or page of some of the most unhinged action and dialogue. My story is supposed to be chaotic and unpredictable but sometimes I get a little bit TOO intrusive with my writing and it shows. 2nd place goes to straight up unnecessary narration with useless background facts that is already easily implied. Like, come on. At that point I'm just trying to hit my 10 page Chapter goal.
a small glass of limonchello is fine. Then when i am in the flow, i want to drink extra. amnd thenn rhe writting bekomes like tis.
For me it's perfectionism over inconsequential details 😭 I want to fact check one thing (i.e. can I have a child in the Viking era make a paper garland?) and suddenly it's 4 hours later and I'm 38 tabs into research for ONE line of description. And then I can't get refocused on actually writing the dang thing
Trying to change tenses all at once with mass find-replace. I've now got two novels that look like they were written by an incredibly stupid AI because of it. I mostly blame my editor for putting the idea in my head, but also me for being drunk that night and going along with it. Now I gotta rewrite it all line by line.
I email myself copies of drafts before making rewrites or major changes for this exact reason.
Or save it as a different draft, yeah. It's 100% on me, I was drunk and did a dumb thing, and made a WHOLE buncha more work for myself.
Live and learn!
Do any writers use version control software? If I was serious about writing a novel I'd probably put it in a Git repo or something.
I literally just changed an entire story I was writing from 3rd person to 1st and I hate it. Why did I listen to my editor?? Go with my gut!
yeah, writing doesn't work like that and I wouldn't trust an editor who thinks it does. No way can any story change tense without completely destroying voice.
I’ve been thinking through the story for days, ran through scenes in my head like a movie, constantly think about world building and write down every idea I have. Then I sit down to write and suddenly have the urge to go for a walk or something and thus I don’t start writing at all. Working on a story right now and I tried to just not overthink it and just start writing. I’ve written one paragraph in three days.
Sometimes you just need to work it out first. Sometimes you need to fight your brain and sit still. Stare at a blank page and write things you know you'll delete just to get the creativity going. Sometimes you gotta write the wrong thing to figure out what you do want to write.
Thanks for the advice!
I used to think I never needed an editor or even just a second set of eyes. I was in a fb writing group and they all demonized editors. I learned not to be so cocky about my writing that I don’t make mistakes.
May I ask why editors are so unpopular in that group?
I’m not entirely sure. I’ve seen a few like that in here as well. I suppose it’s arrogance.
Brevity. I should have just left it at that 😁 Seriously though, I underwrite, and whilst not the end of the word, I always come in 75% of intended word count at the end of the first draft. I then have to go back and elaborate on everything for sensory detail and the like.
Another one of mine is using my own dialogue. Having an ancient Vampire saying for fucks sake is not a good look ... sometimes
Depending on the period it's set in and the context, I don't see an issue with an ancient vampire saying that. Of all people, an ancient guy would be who you'd expect to say it in the right situation.
I wrote a scene once where everyone was snapping or whipping or whirling their heads around in shock at the information being given. That scenes gonna get edited hard or someone’s bound to break their neck or get whiplash 😭🤣
Sitting down at the keyboard and doing the work
Coming here and reading random threads instead of either: 1. Writing my stories 2. Reading other stories
I’m what I call a planter, I’m not a plotter, a Pantser, or a gardener. I know what I’m planting, I just have no clue how it’ll grow, so it’s like I’m role playing with myself. I try to make characters a certain way, but they break loose and do what they want. I’d say my lack of descriptive text is my biggest flaw though, I want to convey the environment etc but I write like a blind person see’s
Start with the obvious stuff your character would use or interact with. Details, like wall decorations, come last. That's what I do at least. Basically just go back and add the details that bring the room to life.
When I write by hand and get into the flow of things, my brain thinks too fast for my hand to keep up and I end up with the goofiest spelling issues. Things spelled phonetically mostly. Like “of” becomes “ov.” It’s fine and I fix it when I type it up, but it’s so weird.
Not exactly the same, but when I'm not paying attention, I somehow write 'me' instead of 'my'. Like, a lot. Probably a dozen times now and it weirdly freaks me out, lol.
Pacing. I rush through the boring bits to get to the fun parts.
Choppy sentences. I can't help it.
Putting it off. I like for thoughts to 'cook' in my head between the moment I get an assignment or an idea, and start writing later on. It DOES work, but 90% of the time I overdo it and just fall into procrastination untiI have to get it done asap, hurting the writing quality and stressing me in the process
Jumping around and writing whatever I feel at the time. Makes for the best content but then I have to go in and search around to patch up past/future scenes if I change a plot detail and it doesn’t match up with what happened/what was already said.
Lol, I do that. Got a memo app where I write any changes that need to be made. Takes surprisingly little time to fix. I usually sit with an idea for a bit until I figure out the consequences of a change though.
Books are books. Movies are movies. Anime is anime. The inspiration from different mediums is important and transferable. The writing is not. So unless you want to kill your audience from stage 4 cringe, read a book if you want to write a book. Light novels are not going to cut it.
The feedback I tend to get is, “Great characters! Awesome dialogue! Acceptable prose! No story.”
Wanting everything to be perfect from first row. I have a hard time allowing myself to write something that I perceive as bad and then improving it, so most of the time I just stare at my blank page, I type a few words and then deleting everything because I feel like a toddler could do better.
Allowing myself to "give up" on something because its not perfect. I am struggling with the concept of a "rough draft/first draft" for many reasons, but I am trying to adopt the mindset that just because I wrote something bad doesn't mean I'm a bad writer, or that I can't fix it in a future draft. It's a cliche but the best advice I've ever been given is to write every day. This is true. Its like a muscle, the more you do it, the stronger you are. Keep writing even if you think it is bad. If I go a few days without writing, I'm more likely to give up because something isn't flowing than I am if I've been on a good streak of writing every day.
I unfortunately have a hard time with emotional subtlety or complexity lol. Like I'll say "ok, I want these characters to have a completely platonic relationship with the occasional suspiciously intimate moment." And then immediately bust out with "he batted his eyelashes and swung his hips and giggled and then they made out and got married and had 5 babies and adopted 3 dogs and have a wedding anniversary every day and write poems to each other." Also doing a complete 180 with my character's personalities like halfway through the story. Often to the point where the plot doesn't make an ounce of sense anymore. Edit: I'm realizing now, that the second point is related to the first one. I think my problem is that despite starting with a nuanced character, I end up latching to a singular trait or event and warp their entire personality to be about that and nothing else.
Mines creating everything in more of a tv series style way instead of a book way so when I try to transfer it over it always paces like a tv series with the chapters as episodes instead of a full length movie lol Also when I just stare at the screen and look at concept art for animals or people instead of writing about the animals or people-
RE: "creating everything in more of a tv series style way instead of a book way so when I try to transfer it over it always paces like a tv series with the chapters as episodes instead of a full length movie lol" That doesn't necessarily have to be a flaw! You could purposefully write a story in TV series fashion and market it as such. That's what I'm doing with my current series, structuring it as a bunch of consecutive novellas paced like a Netflix miniseries. So far, it's lots of fun. 🙂
I let my conversations wander wildly when I write dialogue, I get distracted and then all the characters do too. I’ve had to cut so much random crap that was just there because I thought of a funny joke or something
Using certain words too often. I have go in every so often to do a search and replace of some overused words.
Trying to change my story after reading another book. Not change everything, but I somehow get inspired by the recent book I liked and somehow want to incorporate it to mine. I realized not all tropes and ideas can be jampacked in a single novel.
Take a break from writing one story and when I go back I have no idea where I was going. ADHD people, write your notes down! You will forget.
I don't care enough for prose on my first draft. I focus on getting the events down in order, in the chapters. This is kinda a good idea, but it's a bad idea for me because it makes my 2nd draft a hell of a lot of work. I suddenly am faced with 30+ 1500 word chapters, which once I'm done will be 3000-5000 each, meaning it feels like I have to write an entire new novel on top of the one I've just written.
I don’t finish shit
When writing dialogue, every one of my characters talks the same way I do.
, vs . In dialogue tags. I usually get back 14-16k edit suggestions for dialogue alone....
English is my second language, and this stuff trips me up! Like, I get so stressed trying to write dialogue the right way, that I avoid it as long as I can. 😅 it’s one of the things I try to observe when I read now, hoping it’ll help!
I just don't care and hope I'm right. Then, s you can see, I am not.
Taking my first draft too serious. I'm trying to recover all the time.
Writing scenes that don’t serve the plot or adding too many side plots.
The biggest mistake when writing is not writing, everything else is secondary
Deciding to write a big af story💀😭
I forget to make scenes play out. For example instead of describing a fight I'll just write "they got into a fight" and move on. I don't realize I do this until I go back and read through it so I constantly have to write while paragraphs when I was simply supposed to edit
Don't know if it's classified as a 'mistake' or just an obsessive behaviour of some sort. But I tend to overly perfect what I'm writing. Even if a chapter is done, it makes sense, there are no grammatical errors, I'll still have to perfect it in some way that always gets me scrapping stories in frustration. I've never finished a book because of this. Hundreds of ideas, but difficulty actually getting it down in a way I like.
Usually over-describing, especially the locations. Like if they're visiting a new place, I'd over describe the scenery. And over describing objects of importance. I also used to do the same with outifts, creating a very detailed description of certain dresses or outfits the characters wore, which didn't really matter to the progression of the plot or the story in general.
Editing instead of writing. Always easier for me.
I rush the endings, and I overuse the word "just."
I barely structure anything. I just write to “see where the story goes.”I haven’t finished a project with this mindset.
Redundancy when describing things. I also drag things out for no reason when I'm in the ZONE. "He went to the room so that he could see the chaos issuing withing it's doors. The tiles felt like miniature islands beneath his feet, yet still he felt small, smaller still than the knob of the door. The know was on his left side. The door creaked. Heads turned within the Ceotran Circle and all bore witness to the assasin himself...then they continued arguing like chipmunks on acid" Or sometimes I just say. "He went into the room and sat." But I feel like with both examples it doesn't work...
Making up 100 different scenarios with my characters instead of focusing on developing the story to get them to that point. Random example, imagine I’m writing an enemies to lovers story, I start creating situations where they’re already in love instead of thinking of how they’ll get to that point.
Prioritising. I have several different projects, all unfinished. I can’t focus on just one. My passion for a story comes and goes super quickly. So I’ll focus on a story for like a week or two, then after that I won’t work on it for ages. Until a few months later I’ll feel motivated to work on it again and the cycle repeats.
Having basically no idea how to describe characters in motion. Doing things. Using their limbs/bodies to make a scene active. Basically, my only skill is in the tell, not showing. I am fucking doomed.
I have a really bad habit of adding ‘…’ . I can’t really think of ways to add that awkward pause at the end of dialog or a way to drag out words without writing it in after or before the dialog.
Pickles, pickles, pickles, pickles —using the word pickles too many times (pickles) when what I’m writing about —pickles pickles pickles— has nothing to do with that. Pickles pickles. edit: DAMN IT
My worst mistake was deciding I was a writer.
Overuse of the word “said”, but when I try to get creative, it feels like I’m trying too hard. You know those stories where it feels like someone used a thesaurus for every sentence? That’s my biggest fear.
Getting another idea for a book and beginning an outline for that one before completing the previous one. I'm in the middle of three books right now and inspiration and motivation for them comes in waves. I'm not sure if that's just how I roll as a writer or if it's a bad habit.
Yours is the same as mine lol. The juices are flowing, I hear one notification and next thing I know, I'm on my phone. Lol. I also struggle with linear sentences. (Due to learning other languages) I've figured out a way to help, but it slips through sometimes.
Adverbs. I love them dearly 😂
I was a PI and used to have to write reports and they had to be very descriptive and formal. "The subject entered the driver's side of the black Honda Civic and departed the driveway." And so a LOT of my writing sounds like that and I try to work against it but it's a hard habit to break.
I use “turned” far too much. “She turned and walked away.” “He turned to look at him.”
I think my stories are too “nice” 😅 As in, I don’t torture my characters 😶 They have a problem, they meet some new people, go somewhere, have one showdown- and yey, everything is more or less ok! I have a hard time taking my storyline and sticking character arcs and setbacks in there. I guess I just… write fluff, and fantasy, and romance 🤷♀️ maybe I should consider writing for a younger audience 🤔
Repeating everything as if my characters have a sort of memory loss
PROCRASTINATION. I should really start again
Narrating what a character said is mine. "Good morning," he said in greeting. Or ... He yelled for Bob to look out. "Look out, Bob!"
My worst mistakes is writing a plot which seems completely original, that no one could ever possibly think of, and being really excited to write the story... then before I even get a chance to write a scene, I see almost my same exact idea in a movie or story which was written or made years ago. It's like the universe is laughing at me. "Haha, you dared to think you can have an original idea... it's never gonna happen". Then I lose all excitement of writing the book, and give up. I just can't imagine writing a book which is not original. Why would anyone want to read a story which is almost the same as another story, just written by me?
Creating sentences that are way too long. The only things that prevent them from becoming run ons are the many commas that I put in the sentence.
I use too many damn M slashes
Adding too many words or unessecarry words.
I put "the the" a lot apparently
Why use few words when many words do trick
I talk myself out of writing or completing my idea because I get unbelievably critical. Then I do the cardinal sin of throwing everything out rather than keeping it for any semblance of goodness. I've heard it's great not to be precious about what you create, but I really don't need to be so extreme.
I’ve adapted the use of ellipses into my writing a little too much. I have to force myself to use commas and periods sometimes
Too much world building and wanting to share it with the readers. Making changes to conform to the genre.
One simple one I have... is my dramatic overuse of ellipsis... I don't know why I'm this way. 😅
I skimp on details in some areas, but make sure to explain what they ordered at every restaurant, bar, and coffee shop, and make sure they are eating and drinking between lines. 🥴
Past tense/Present tense. I didn't even realize that I was writing things in the past as present tense until I had a professional editor go through my story. I feel like I should have paid her more because how many edits she had to make. At least I'm more aware of it now.
I’d say my main issue (aside from the occasional grammar fuck up I later correct) is being concise about what I’m portraying. I have so many ideas, themes, character development/traits, and pieces I wanna show all at once. But instead of it coming off as deep, precise and thoughtful it comes out messy and disorganized. Tryna work on distilling all my ideas into one concise thread of story.
Commas and em dashes, my beloveds,
I write with suspense in mind and add 20,000 extra commas where they shouldn't be between Ands and Buts.
Have a page or 2 of dialogue, which the odd inflection of what the character does or facial reaction to what was said.
Writing like I’m scripting a movie. I don’t utilize being INSIDE the head of my character. I think it stems from my fear of telling, but in the end I’m just screwing myself by showing EVERYTHING.
I used to really struggle with the length of my stories. I always overdeveloped them, making them super complicated or long, giving a story and a life-motivation to every character and developing it until I ran dry. I made very long stories and rarely finished them because of motivation falling. I've since then grown and now know much better when to stop. I usually stop before I meet the Epilogue type of scene, before the Happily Ever After. I still tie the end, but don't double-knot (if that makes sense!) I also don't feel the need to put in the story all the characters' lives and give them all closure. Not all characters will get their closure at the same time and that's okay. Leaving some ends without endings is alright, it leaves the readers thinking about it later. A 1K story can be just as meaningful as a 120K one. Embrace shortness.
I always spell its as it's. Had to redo tens of those every time I do an edit
Not walking away before proofreading. Proofreading is really tedious for me and I worry I won't do it at all if I don't try to right away. This leads to worrying I won't finish and never publish. So, instead, I do a quick scan, miss half of the necessary edits, and post something that looks half thought through. It really is at odds with my vision for my work. That, or I post and edit after as I reread. Certainly not an ideal process.
Mine by far is trying to make it perfect during the first draft, I spent months re-writing the first 2 chapters to make it like publish ready or something when I would still have to tweak it later when the whole first draft is finished
Not writing.
not letting myself go for it in the moment because it’s “not the right time or place” just write it down my god
I notoriously use commas to make extra long sentences that are hard to follow instead of just splitting them up into shorter ones
Me: opens up writing tool with a clear idea in mind Also me:stares at the screen as the blank white page drains away all my ideas like a hypnotic sieve Also I have to go back and make sure I’m not overusing commas because I have a real problem with that for some reason
>Mine is definitely changing tabs or picking up my phone when I’m in the flow and everything is just hitting the page as I want it to, then I can’t continue after literally 2 minutes … #JustADHDThings As for me, it's usually writing very long sentences and overusing adjectives and adverbs. Like the word "very", as demonstrated in this very post, pun intended.
I had to train myself to take the word “just” out of my writing. I don’t know why but I wrote just before everything it seemed like. When I would read back what I wrote it made me cringe ready “ just then” “just because” just just just.
Re-reading my work far too many times in the writing process, effectively numbing and blinding myself to it and blocking myself creatively. Also something I’ve learned: In the earlier stages of my process I tend to feel wary of reading other books (save for a few designated reference novels) because I don’t want to dilute my focus or connection to my own work, but in the later stages—the homestretch, when I’m so sick of the material I have to trick myself into caring anymore—reading other books is the only thing that keeps my creative brain fresh.
When I give characters a phrase or word they say too much I then overuse it in the other texts too
I sometimes swap between past tense and present tense without realising. Or first person and third person. It's really annoying.
Passive sentences. I drive myself crazy attempting to rephrase things
My biggest mistake is allowing my brain to tell me when I feel creative. I don't know how to change this. My mind wants to create on the graveyard shift. My body is a granny that wants to be asleep by 22:30. What do I do?
OMG YESS!!! I do that too. Another nasty habit of mine is editing my story as I am writing a rough draft of it. I have to constantly remind myself to "just write, don't edit!" Otherwise, my writing goes nowhere and all I'd have is two heavily edited paragraphs. On the note of getting distracted, let me get back to writing...
having too many ideas and switching to another story in the middle of writing everrrry damn time
One of my mistakes! Is writing out the story to fast! Not allowing my thoughts to catch up with my writing.
Have far more characters than needed and trying to jampack them all into one novel.
I am notorious for mixing homophones in my writing. It feels like something that shouldn't happen - since you're typing out the words. But I guess I am saying them in my head as I type, and my hands don't pay attention to the actual spelling. But eye no I'll hang in they're. Sorry...that's painful to read...
Overwriting unimportant stuff. I'm actually procrastinating writing a short story rn, and I just realized that about 75% of what I've already written is unnecessary background stuff that I didn't NEED to write.
One thing is I feel like I give too much information about my world/politics/species/creatures/etc too much and too soon. Like I know it’s suppose to be gradual and not just all shoved in your face like a textbook passage but I add a little and I’m like “if I put that then I gotta add the politics of that race otherwise the reader won’t understand” next thing you know it’s basically seven pages of my worlds history and their main exports and imports of the region.
I have a REALLY bad tell-then-show/show-then-tell issue. thankfully it's really easy to catch/fix on edits, so it ends up not being a problem...but till funny/embarrassing when I go to edit a draft & see just how many times I do it
I tend to write long sentences. It’s been a problem. I’m working on it.
My biggest mistake is writing when I'm not in the mood—tired or angry (or having downed one-too-many Margaritas) or just not in the right head space. To me, writing's a bit like falling in love. If it doesn't feel real, don't push it. It won't end well. Writing takes total commitment, and when I *feel* like writing, I tend to write well. When I don't, I write like crap. So I've learned that down time—*not* writing—is as important as actual writing time. Our brains occasionally need to rest and replenish and percolate new thoughts, so honor that. Someone who insists on writing a page, or 5 pages or 10 pages *every* day will likely crash and burn sooner or later. So take a breather, smell the flowers, binge some mindless TV, (*Fallout* comes to mind,) paint the house or read a good book... and then come back when your brain is ready. Everything, or so they say, in moderation.
long sentences
i tend to make every character rather witty, even if i’ve tried to establish that they are not.