4 Mistakes New Writers Make

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I mainly work with new authors, and I've seen some mistakes that are easy to make. But not a lot of authors realize they are making them, so I've put together a list of 4 mistakes I see and why you should avoid them. 

1. Getting Too Attached

   Your book is your baby—you've put everything into creating your story. While inserting yourself into the story or getting too attached can make it easier to write, it becomes harder to revise. 

   You've probably heard the phrase "kill your darlings," and often the things that hurt the most are the best for the story. Love your characters, but be willing to sacrifice them for the good of the story. Be passionate and ruthless. The best stories stand on their own. It might be hard to do, but letting your story grow is going to make it better. Revision is often more difficult than writing the story, but your story will be the better for it. In order to create the best story possible, you need to separate yourself from the story for revision.

2. Too Much Exposition

   Exposition, or the background information, is important in establishing the setting and characters. But it's easy to put too much information, especially at the beginning of a story. Also called info dumping, too much exposition at the beginning slows the story down and can overwhelm the reader. Think about what the reader needs to know and what you can explain later. Space out the backstory, giving the reader what they need to know in order to understand what's happening. 

3. Head-hopping

   This is something I've come across a few times while working with newer authors. Every character has something to say, but think about what is best for the story. Too many POVs can make things confusing, and often gets in the way of a compelling story. Readers can lose track of what is happening, and it makes it hard for them to know what to expect. If the reader isn't engaged, they're less likely to keep reading. Multiple POVs can work, but you need to do it intentionally and with a specific purpose. You need to know the rules of creative writing before you can break them successfully. 

4. Too Much Going On

   Sometimes authors try to fit too much into one book. Too much going on means that you can't devote as much to the core of the story. Each story should have 1 main plot, and there must be resolution. Focus on what moves the story forward and don't get sidetracked. Think about what scenes serve the story and which ones don't. Put those scenes into a different document, and keep them in mind for future books.