Some may write for fun or as a hobby, others are focused on becoming a published author, while others still are writing content marketing pieces and depend on it entirely for their livelihoods. Regardless of why you write and which form you prefer, it’s not always easy to do it just right. The good news is, there are some simple yet effective tips you should consider, that can be applicable to a wide arrange of writing, so let’s take a look at some common writing mistakes that you should avoid making.
1. Using The Wrong Literary Form
Any literary form has its own inherent sets of benefits as well as limits. As the established UK poetry publishers point out, above all else, writing is a form of communication. While it can be tempting to play around with different literary forms and push their limits – countless authors have done that throughout history, some being extremely successful at that – you need to first be aware of why the limits exist. For example, since ancient Greece – Aristotel to be more specific – it was thought that a play should span the course of a single day. Of course, as literature has progressed in time, the rule did as well, and many great plays were written that spanned much longer periods of time. However, the underlining rule remained the same – a play should be cover a period short enough that it doesn’t require more character development than the form is capable of giving, and that it can easily be followed in one sitting. A novel, on the other hand, can cover decades of time, which allows for much deeper character development. In a similar manner, unless writing a very elaborate anthology, you don’t want to use world-building in your poetry. The form you choose for your writing has to be able to carry out your ideas and intent without it overclouding the essence of what was said.
2. Not Deciding On Your Audience
Of course, if you’re writing as a means to express your thoughts or just have fun, you can write for yourself. But if you’re looking to publish anything, whether that’s a novel or a content writing job, you have to think about who you’re writing for. Knowing your audience can help you decide on the tone and style of your writing, making it easier to be understood. Are you writing something targeted at young adults, people over 50, or what about a very specific group, such as doctors? Knowing exactly who is going to read your work will enable you to decide on the proper form, writing style, and even things like vocabulary and phrasing. Sometimes people feel like, because they have something important to say, they don’t have to focus on how they’re saying it. However, nothing clouds the essence of what was written more than not knowing who you’re talking to and adjusting your style accordingly.
3. Overthinking The First Draft
Because most writers are very passionate about what they do, they sometimes tend to have trouble accepting anything other than perfection. However, writing the first draft of a story, article, or anything else is a trial and error process. The first draft isn’t there to be perfect and ready for publishing. It’s about providing you with a guideline on how to develop your story further. A way to remember the just of what you wanted to say without having to focus too much on the technicalities regarding your style. As a matter of fact, many authors agree that they tend to do more rewriting than actual writing when it comes to their pieces. In that sense, when writing your first draft, give yourself permission to be messy. You can fix it later, just focus on getting the words to flow while you’re writing your first draft.
4. Trying To Do It All At Once
Whatever you’re writing, it’s important to break it up into smaller segments. You’ll find that creating an outline is extremely helpful with that. Not only does it help you decide on the main points you want to cover, but it also helps you from getting lost in your work and being able to set a proper direction for where you’re going with it. In short, don’t try to tackle everything at once. Instead, start with one section and then move on from there until you’re satisfied with your work. That way, if there’s a specific part that’s giving you trouble, you can put it aside and work on something else until inspiration strikes, because you’ll know exactly what the different components of your story are.
5. Off-Putting Sentence Structure
Sentences that are too long or too short are considered bad writing, no matter the form you’re working on. For example, a long sentence means that you probably have too many ideas packed together and it’s difficult to follow them all at once. And a short sentence might make your work come across as simple, uninteresting, or just plain boring. Following rules such as these is important because it helps you create a smooth flow of ideas. And they’ll help your work sound more professional and engaging, no matter the form it’s written in. That said, it is possible to use sentences that are long. However, if you decide to do so, you need to work on them closely so that the length is justified. In a similar manner, short sentences can create a dynamic atmosphere, but only if they’re not overdone. If a sentence is incomplete – you need to have a good reason for choosing to leave a certain part out.
6. Making It Too Complex
Many authors find inspiration from great works such as Ulysses by James Joyce. However, trying to recreate a piece that’s as complex as Ulysses is not recommended. There are certain styles that work for specific genres and others that are better suited to fit various writing forms. The broader context in which a work is created needs to be taken into account as well. Chances are, that if Joyce wrote Ulysses today, it wouldn’t have been such as success. In general, today’s writing is much more targeted towards an average reader that won’t have time to explore all the parallels between the book they’re reading, and the literature the author is alluding to. If you try to create something too complex, it might end up being too overwhelming. That’s why it’s important for writers to set their own boundaries based on what they do best, and find ways to make their writing easy-to-read while still remaining interesting.
To give your writing the best chances of being published or to be read, it’s important to focus on having a clear direction. Good writing is not solely a matter of talent, but a matter of following the right guidelines and perfecting your style. Remember that even if you make any of these mistakes, you can always fix them in the editing process.
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