You’ve always wanted to see your name on a book cover as an author. You have several start-up manuscripts in a file on your PC. You’ve decided it’s time to take the plunge to finish a novel and submit it to a publisher. That’s great if you avoid the mistakes new writers make.
Making mistakes as a novice author isn’t uncommon; in fact, it’s part of the process. Years from now, you’ll be able to look back on your work and notice the progression, improvement, and maturing that has taken place. It’s helpful, however, to understand the mistakes new writers often make because it places you a step ahead when you’re creating your first novel.
Have you made the mistakes new writers make?
As you review the following list, don’t be surprised if you’ve been making more than one of the mistakes new writers make:
- Failure to establish a clear POV
- Incorporating too many ideas, causing clutter in a story
- Writing a story without giving readers a protagonist (hero)
- Mixing genres
Each of these issues can keep your novel from achieving its full potential. In the next section, you can learn more about why it’s important to avoid the mistakes new writers make.
Clarity is the key to a great novel
Think of the POV from which you write a novel as the lens that readers use to experience the story. Failing to establish a clear POV early on in a story creates confusion; readers struggle to determine who is thinking, speaking or acting. If a story contains an overflow of ideas, it adds confusion. One way to determine if you’re cluttering a novel with too many ideas is to ask yourself whether there’s enough content to be separated into multiple books.
Regarding the other two mistakes new writers make (writing without a protagonist and mixing genres), the latter also causes confusion. Mixing genres also poses issues regarding marketing strategies and brand-building. A target audience and genre go hand-in-hand. As for the hero—if your story doesn’t have a protagonist, readers may feel let down because they want someone to cheer for and appreciate.
Working alongside professional proofreaders and editors can help
One of the easiest ways to avoid the mistakes new writers make is to seek a professional review of your manuscript before submitting it to a publisher. Constructive feedback enables you to spot problematic issues that you might overlook or disregard in your own writing. Working alongside professional proofreaders and editors helps identify and resolve mistakes and shape your novel into a story worth publishing.
