what are the most common mistakes writers make? and how do you fix them?

lets-get-fictional:

Thanks for your question, nonny!  This is a very wide topic, so I wasn’t sure how to answer it – but I’ve come to a conclusion.

I think the most common writing mistake is to self-edit, and it’s detrimental to writing time as a whole.  Self-editing is basically editing your story while you’re writing it; going back and correcting mistakes and rewriting sentences while you’re still putting paragraphs on paper.  The worst part about this problem is that it feels like you’re doing the right thing – that by “fixing yourself” and keeping a scrutinizing eye on the page, you’re becoming a better writer.  But you’re not helping yourself.

Think of it this way, because this is how I learned it: I grew up in dance.  I took over a decade of ballet, jazz, and tap classes, and I moved up in the classes at a steady pace.  I was awkward as hell, but I was a fast learner.  I was meticulous and made sure to pay attention, learn all the steps, and master the timing.  I was, in retrospect, one of the most accurate dancers at my level.

But I didn’t get lead roles.  Ever.  No matter how hard I worked, I couldn’t get any of the starring roles in our productions.  And every time I asked for critiques from my mentors, I got the same message, over and over.

“You’re too in your head.  You’re too focused on being perfect to engage with the audience.”

And they were absolutely right.  Going back and watching tapes of myself, I never smiled – even when I was having a good time.  I never showed my own personality; I never messed around between run-throughs. I made fewer mistakes, but I missed out on the personality and fun and interactive aspect of art and performance!

So instead of focusing on getting things right, approach it like this: prepare beforehand – study and revise afterhand.  But let writing be writing.  Let yourself get lost in the scene.  Let yourself make mistakes.  Try turning the font white or closing your eyes; try Write or Die to turn up the heat.  Whatever you do, just do it and don’t think until it’s over.  That is my advice.

Thanks again for your question!  Happy writing 🙂

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If you need advice on general writing or fanfiction, you should maybe ask me!