He arriving at the beach with setting the sun.

I hope none of you have a sentence like that in your writing. If you do, please read it back to yourself or let me proofread for you.

As writers, we wage war against ourselves. Typos are arguably the easiest mistakes to fix. But many other writing faux pas are far more serious, and harder to correct, than a misspelled word or using the incorrect form of a verb.

Here we’ll discuss some of my mistakes, and how you can avoid or fix them in your writing.

1. Overcomplicating Your Writing

It’s easy to think “good writing” means elaborate sentences and verbose descriptions, but this can confuse or bore readers. You don’t need to specify the number of wrinkles on someone’s forehead. Example from my novel:

A trail of bubbles marked their location, rising to the surface and erupting like volcanic silver pearls.

I mean, it’s a pretty cool description in my opinion. Objectively speaking though, it’s overcomplicated. I ended up going with:

Bubbles erupted to the surface like silver pearls, marking their location.

Sometimes less is more.

Why It Happens:

• Trying to prove your skill with complex vocabulary.
• You learned a new word you want to use without the story calling for it.
• Overexplaining to ensure the reader “gets it.”

How to Fix It:

• Use Precision Over Length: Instead of “The blazing, fiery orb of the sun peeked cautiously over the horizon, bathing the jagged cliffs in hues of gold, orange, and crimson,” try “The sun rose, gilding the cliffs in gold.”
• Cut Unnecessary Words: After writing a scene, reread it and try to cut down on purposeless filler words. Aim for a 5% reduction if you tend to overwrite.
• Assume Your Reader Is Invested: If the reader made it past chapter 1, chances are they are interested in the story. They don’t need constant bombardment with superfluous descriptions and frivolous fluff.

2. Neglecting Character Consistency and Depth

A great plot is nothing without relatable, believable characters. In The Winds of the Wild Coast, Jacques’ backstory was rich, but his motivations sometimes felt inconsistent or weren’t immediately evident. I described his emotional makeup as such and such in one place but contradicted myself later. When introducing a character, make sure you know them better than yourself. Give them relatable flaws to balance strengths. Make them fail at times too. That is realism.

Why It Happens:

• Not fully understanding your character’s goals, flaws, and growth.
• Forgetting that characters, like real people, should act consistently unless there’s a reason not to.

How to Fix It:

• Create a Character Blueprint: List each character’s desires, fears, habits, and speech patterns. Refer to this as you write.
• Show Growth Through Action: Instead of having a character say what he wants, show him failing or being indecisive at the outset. At a later opportunity, have him follow through or succeed.
• Eliminate Plot-Driven Behavior: Ask yourself, “Does this action serve the character or just the plot?” If it’s only the plot, revise. The main character needs to move the plot forward, not the other way around.
• Don’t Craft a Perfect Hero: They aren't relatable and unrealistic.

3. Overloading the Reader with Information

One might tend to dump everything about your world or characters into the first few chapters, but this can overwhelm readers. This was tempting for me. I wanted readers to fully envision the atmosphere and setting of the town in my novel. But I was revealing too much too soon. Info dumping is not the way to captivate readers.

Why It Happens:

• You’re excited about your world or characters and want readers to know everything immediately.
• Fear that leaving details out will confuse readers.
• Fear of not doing your idea justice.

How to Fix It:

• Start in the Middle of Action: Instead of opening with a description of the town, or explaining Jacques’ backstory, I rewrote the first chapter to show him in the pub after a tense day, hinting at his, and the town’s, mysterious past. Sprinkle in breadcrumbs, make readers hungry for more, and make them guess what will happen next. Speculation foments immersion.
• Sprinkle Details Naturally: Let readers learn through context. Show don’t tell.
• Ask “Does the Reader Need This Now?” If the answer is no, save it for later or cut it entirely.

Exceptions:

• There are times the story will benefit from a vivid description of the scenery or world. If you truly believe your story needs it, start with the description.
• An example of this is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. The novel starts with the narrator describing a dream where she explores the Manderley estate, vividly depicting the environment.

4. Rushing Through Key Moments

Big moments—emotional revelations, epic scenes, and dramatic endings—need breathing space. In one of my later chapters, Jacques makes a vital discovery. But when I read it back, it was extremely rushed and breathless. There was no pause. It felt like a panting sprinter wrote it. I interrupted the moment with dialogue. It was lame writing.

Why It Happens:

• Impatience to “get to the good stuff” or finish the story.
• Underestimating the importance of emotional payoff and tension.

How to Fix It:

• Build Anticipation: Before Jacques makes a key discovery, I subtly hint at earlier events, making the reader wonder and speculate. Build suspense and intrigue, let the action build, pause, and then drop your bombshell. Think of it like an epic bass drop in a song you love.
• Add Layers to Reactions: This won’t necessarily apply to all genres, but it is generally good to slow the pace when internal thoughts are at play. Make your story like an onion. As the reader peels back the layers, make them feel the feels. Emotions take time to be felt.
• Check Pacing in Edits: Ask beta readers if any scenes feel rushed or unsatisfying and adjust accordingly.

5. Avoiding Feedback

Your story is your baby but keeping it to yourself too long can blind you to its flaws. Early feedback on The Winds of the Wild Coast helped me fix inconsistencies and glaring plot holes, slow down rushed scenes, and allow more time for readers to soak in emotion.

Why It Happens:

• Fear of criticism.
• Thinking you’ll catch all the issues yourself.
• Pride.
• You feel it needs to be perfect before sharing it with anyone.

How to Fix It:

• Share with Trusted Readers: Start with people who enjoy your genre and will give honest but constructive feedback. It can be a friend who is a book lover, someone on a subreddit, or a Facebook group.
• Be a Beta Reader for Others: Seeing others being vulnerable and sharing their stories will give you the courage to share yours.
• Ask Specific Questions: “Did you find any part confusing?” “Did the ending feel satisfying?” “Did the dialogue feel natural” “Did it feel rushed?” “Does the story feel complete?”
• Don’t Defend Your Work: Listen, take notes, and decide later what feedback to implement. Not all feedback will be 100% correct all the time. Some feedback will be personal opinions and likes. However, most of the time, you will find something valuable in even the harshest of critiques.

Final Thoughts

Writing is a journey of growth and discovery. Mistakes are inevitable, but each teaches a vital lesson and makes you a better writer. That’s what we all want to be at the end of the day.

Your story is a raw, shapeless piece of steel that needs to be forged. It requires a beating to make it take shape and make it strong.

Thanks for reading!

If you’re a writer, which of these resonates with you? Readers, what do you notice in books that feel “off”? Let’s discuss this in the comments!

Until next time, write stuff down!

Mozzie