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Common Writing Mistakes

What are some common writing mistakes that you see writers do, specially new writers, that you wish they didn't?

Mistakes Writing Common

First and foremost are grammar and spelling mistakes. Mostly homophones or using punctuation incorrectly or inconsistently. I guess I am a bit of grammar snob, but I really struggle to read things when the punctuation and spelling are not correct. These mistakes stand out to me like glaring beacons and I have to physically force myself to move on.

Another common mistake is contradicting yourself in your writing. It is hard creating a full sense of story for your reader and it involves a lot of detail. Most people probably won't notice tiny mistakes like characters' heights changing slightly (Towering over one scene and looking eye to eye in another), but enough mistakes can really throw a story off and make it hard to read.

Common Writing Mistakes UFO & Writing Art Education Sciences

I have a problem with writers that just lean heavily on other author's work. There is one popular author who wrote a fantasy trilogy that basically just meshes several classic fantasies together. Lord of the Rings. Check. Narnia. Check. Etc. Borrowing some of the ideas is okay. Almost duplicating some plot aspects is not.

Mistakes Writing Common

This is a reason I do not write much. I have a lot of ideas and can talk about them but when it comes to writing them down I struggle. I am not very good at writing. I would need a substitute writer someone I can give my ideas to and the characters and let them write them down and get it all on paper so it works out in the end.

Mistakes Writing Common

There are two writing mistakes that drive me crazy. The first is someone who doesn't know where to put a period and ends up with a run on sentence or with a period in the middle of a thought. The second is someone who doesn't know when it's time to start a new paragraph. These two things make it very difficult for me to read someone's writing.

Common Writing Mistakes

I am sure that you would hate to read my writing then as I have no idea where to put a period most of the time and I do tend to ramble on and on. But that is common with me I think and that is why I stated that I need a substitute writer or even a good speech to writing software that I can afford *smile*.

Common Writing Mistakes

I would say the main mistake is not writing at all. Personally, I have a tendency to over-edit. This means that I'll write a paragraph, then read it before moving on. A lot of times, I find errors and spend hours staring at a single sentence. In some situations, I delete the whole paragraph. Don't do this. Leave it and come back later, with a fresh mind.