Signs of Amateur Writing
In the past five years, I have edited about 140 full-length manuscripts. I noticed a few patterns. Nearly every writer made these same “rookie mistakes.”
We are here to lift and support each other. Never criticize.
Here is a list of Amateur Mistakes that are universal. No one is being targeted or singled out.
· There is a tendency to choose the same name for their main characters. Each writer thought they were original when they produced these names. These names do capture emotion and reveal character. But they have been used so much that they are becoming cliche. Skye, Mystic (or Misty), Jade, Chance, and Hunter. Of those 140 novels, there were twenty-seven uses of the name, “Kat” for a strong heroine.
· New writers, we know, tend to Tell and not Show. One of the most common ways they do this is they Tell the reader that what they are about to write is meant to create tension or surprise.
They love to use phrases like: Suddenly, Just then, Without warning, Before he knew it, etc. A talented writer should be able to communicate tension or surprise without these gimmicks.
· Another common way a writer Tells the reader rather than Shows is when they want to give the reader an idea of the character’s emotions. They simply come right out and Tell the reader… “She had a look of surprise on her face.” “He showed amazement in his eyes.” “They wore fatigue on their faces.”
While it seems like it is literary… it is really no different from just saying…”She was surprised.” “He was amazed.” “They were tired.”
· Directional words. We don't really need directional words. They are just word clutter. It is unnecessary to say: “He stood up.” “She rode the elevator down to the third floor.” “The general got down off his horse.” It is cleaner and easier to read to simply write… “He stood.” “She rode the elevator to the third floor.” “The general got off his horse.”
· The debate continues about using verbs as dialogue tags. While every publisher and literary agent I have ever met absolutely despises them, amateur writers still try to say things like:
“Stop!” he exclaimed.
“I don’t want to,” she argued.
“Why?” he grunted.
“Are you serious?” she gasped.
It adds nothing to the writing. It merely highlights the fact that the writer cannot convey these emotions with narrative description, character action, and direct dialogue.
· The word VERY and the Exclamation Point are very overused!
· Characters calling each other things like Chief, Sport, Dearie, Old Man, Sweetie, My Love, Old Chap, Old Bean, Ace, Bro, Brah, Buddy, Dude, Mate, Jack, Mac, Tiger, Champ, Gramps, Skippy, Sparky, Slick, Hero, and so on…
You might have one character who talks like this… ONE. And it is totally within their character to use one repeatedly…ONE. And they use it once (usually at the beginning of a conversation) …ONCE.
But do not have all your characters, using all the variations, all the time, with nearly every line of dialogue.
Eric Myers
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