Common Fiction Mistakes

Over the last few months, as I prepare to write my first novel, I have done a ton of research on fiction, thrillers, writing, suspense, and the like. My hope is that through this blog, in addition to sharing writing samples, I can share some of what I have learned.

I have read a few interesting articles recently on the Writer's Toolbox, a resource run by Gotham Writers. One of the articles I read was on common mistakes that writers make when tackling fiction, particularly for the first time. Gotham Writers runs quite a few classes, and they have seen the same issues pop up over and over again. Here is an overview of the nine mistakes that Susan Breen outlines in her article, "Nine Common Fiction Writing Mistakes," with some additional thoughts thrown in from other research I've done.

1. Beginning the story too early.

Many writers start their stories before things start to get interesting. It's common that during the editing process, the first few paragraphs, or even chapters, may get scraped, so that the reader can start right in the middle of the action. Starting in the middle of the action amps up the pacing and causes the reader to want to keep moving forward with you. Take a look at some of the books you read recently that you couldn't put down. How did they start? Did they take a while to get into or were you hooked right away?

2. Leaving out the plot.

Sometimes, you read a story, and it seems as if nothing really happens. This may take place for a paragraph, a page, or a whole story. Stories need to have some sort of plot to keep the reader interested and to get the story going. Something has to happen, otherwise, why bother?

3. Letting the characters off to easily.

People show who they really are when they are put under some sort of stress. Don't just give your character all the tools they need. Don't make it easy for them to get what they want! Put challenges in their way. Would you read a book where the main character just happens to have all the right skills and never has to deal with anything physically or emotionally difficult? No, neither would I.

4. Being unwilling to make things up.

Everyone has heard of the phrase, "write what you know." We all draw on our own experiences and the people we know when we write, but we have to be willing to make changes. Focus your character too specifically on someone you know and you risk not giving them the space to grow and evolve as the story requires. You need to have the flexibility to make stuff up. Just because someone you know might usually do something a certain way, doesn't mean the story should progress that way. Often times the story is much more interesting if things don't happen how they normally would.

5. Muddying point of view.

Pick a point of view and stick to it. First, second. third. Single or multiple. Unreliable, omniscient, objective. Whatever POV you choose to use, stick to it consistently to avoid causing confusion and pulling the reader out of the story. When writing, if you aren't sure which perspective to choose, start with whichever one feels natural. Then, try a few others. After trying out a few options, it will be easier to see which one lends itself best to the story you are trying to tell.

6. Rushing.

Pacing is extremely important to a story. Many people will move the story too slowly, but it's also common to rush, particularly at the end of the story. Have you ever read a book where it felt like nothing happened in the first half of the book and then a million things happened in the last three chapters? Even though you may be eager to finish things up after working for months or years on a story, don't rush. Do the story justice and give it the time it needs. Focus on writing the story, not on getting it published. Write multiple drafts, edit, spend time with it.

7. Using incorrect format.

Many authors recently, especially in the thriller genre, have been playing around with formatting recently, often in surprising and highly conducive ways. But, when preparing a manuscript, it is possible to format some things incorrectly. Don't let an amazing story be ignored because you send it to a publisher in the wrong format. Format the pages properly: Don’t put an extra space between your paragraphs. Don’t justify your right margins.. Use 12-point font. Double space your lines. You can play around with the overall format of the story--using letters, tweets, flashbacks--but don't mess around with the format of the pages.

8. Playing it safe.

Go out on a limb. Put yourself out there. There is nothing worse than reading a story that is boring and has nothing to it. Be yourself, stand behind yourself, and let yourself shine through. The best story will happen when your aren't afraid to show the world who you are. This can be scary!

9. Leaving out the joy.

You chose to write because you have fun doing it--don't lose that! If you find that you aren't enjoying writing a certain piece, then don't be afraid to move on. If you aren't having fun writing it, then other people won't have fun reading it. Per Dan Brown, "Write a story you would want to read." Other readers will follow. If you want to do this as a career, make sure you are having fun. Let yourself get excited.

Any other common mistakes that you make or that you have seen in stories you have read recently? Have you seen yourself make any of these mistakes lately? Let me know in the comments!