CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 24: Common Writing Mistakes

Writers, particularly early in their careers, make mistakes. Often the same ones over and over. Here are a few pitfalls to avoid.

 

OVERWRITING:

Too many words

Too cute by far

Strained Metaphors

Purple prose

 

DIALOG:

Tag alert

Characters all sound the same

Inane conversations

“As you know” chatting

 

SHOW VS TELL:

 

DESCRIPTION:

Not too much

Not too little

Just enough—the telling details

 

SCENES:

In and Out quickly—in medias res

Leave question/tension at end

 

POV:

Stay in one at a time

Except Omniscient—hard to do

 

PACING:

Fast but not too fast

Vary pace

 

BACKSTORY:

How much?

When?

 

ENTERTAIN:

The one cardinal rule