More About Solutions to Common Writing Mistakes

Not doing enough work prior to staring the actual writing  -  Too often writers jump into their project before doing the necessary groundwork, and they end up with a mess. Revising can only do so much. Sometimes starting writing too quickly can leave you with a project that can’t be saved and waste a lot of your energy and time. It’s easier to pick the best point of view for your story before you put quill to paper. It’s easier to figure out your characters’ back stories and primary motivators before writing. It’s easier to develop and understand the antagonist’s plans before writing.  In other words: do your research carefully before you start writing.

In our company, OMNI Book Publishing, I personally go over stories when they are submitted to us, and I can tell you horror story after horror story about some of the manuscripts that we receive.

The worst one (and I’ll be brief), is about an author who was not publishing with OMNI but wanted me to take a look at the proof book that she had just received from her chosen publisher.  I read the first chapter and had to email her immediately and place a big URGENT on the email subject line. I could not believe that the publisher had actually printed the manuscript as she sent it without going over at least the first chapter. If they had done that, trust me, the book would had been rejected.

Not only common grammatical errors, but also punctuation and repetitions galore were present. Probably the worst part was the fact that the story was set in 1810 England and the characters “listened to the radio and slowdanced,” “the girl’s parents had died in a car crash,” “the girl also wore black lace panties and tiny bra”... and that was just the beginning. Their language was also very twenty-first century:  “you guys,” “howdy,” “gimme a break!”, and the worst: “omigod!” I was expecting to read that their cell phones started to ring...

I read the entire book and could not believe that a publisher would print a book like that without taking a look at the first chapter at least... or the first page, for that matter! When I sent a three page report to the author telling her that the book needed to be re-written, her answer was that she didn’t realize that one has to check so many things before submitting a story. HER words, not mine.

That is a true story. A true case of someone who had an idea for a story and sat down and started typing. I am telling YOU... please check everything before you start your story, especially if it’s a historical romance, as in these not only the time frame is very different but also the language used.

The solution - Think through what you are going to do before you do it. For every action you plan to take, ask yourself why; make sure you also have a good reason. Make a checklist for everything, like characters and their personalities. Ultimately, and especially, if you are going to write a historical romance, saga, or mystery ... make sure that you read a few before you start your project. You won’t be copying anyone’s style, just studying the way others do it. Pay attention to language, even to the way they say “good morning”... it’s worth it and will save you from embarrassment especially if you go with a publisher who does not check manuscripts before they accept them. Once the book is published and out in the Internet it will be too late to make corrections, unless you want to pull it off the shelves, re-write, and pay another publishing fee for a new book.

For a novel writer, this is a particularly hard thing to hear, but it could happen if you are not careful.

Solutions to Common Writing Mistakes

Not Starting  -   If you don't start you can never finish. Completing any writing project, particularly a novel, is a daunting prospect. Many people become frozen by the prospect; others keep waiting for the right time. Some wait for the spark of inspiration. Even experienced writers find it easier to do anything other than actually write.

I wish I had a dime for every time I've heard people tell me “I've always wanted to write a novel / a how-to book / a short story / an article on...” They're called wannabes. Don't be a wannabe because you won't gain anything except thinking of excuses every time someone asks you “Hey, what happened to that novel you were going to write?”  That gets old.

The Solution   -   Start anywhere. While the opening line, page, and chapter of a book is critical, remember you can always change the opening upon re-writing. So after doing the correct preparations, pick the best possible start point at the moment and just begin writing. The right time is now. This minute. The right time can be while sitting at the airport waiting for your flight, or waiting for the dryer to stop spinning.

If you study successful writers, you will find that many began writing at what appeared to be inopportune times – not when all the stars were lined up according to his personal horoscope. Often they began writing when the timing seemed the absolute worst. This might actually be the best time to write. If you wait for the perfect time, it may never come.

Not Finishing  -   Kind of obvious, isn't it? But starting a project is so much more interesting than slugging through the entire thing. The middle section of any piece of writing, whether it be a novel, nonfiction, article, is almost always kind of hard to work on. The excitement of generating the idea – the lure of the beginning, writing something new – isn't there, and the lure of the finishing line is as far away as the shiver of the beginning.  I just re-read this and I can assure you that I used to be this person I just described.  One day I looked in a file that I have with novels, short stories, and other writing and I found quite a few that were not finished.  That, however, was the old me. Now I make sure that I finish what I started before I start another project. It wasn't easy. But I am doing it, and so far, succeeding... fingers crossed.

It's always easy to get sidetracked by a new idea, but when that happens

The Solution  -   Suck it up.  I suggest that you start a file called:  IDEAS TO BE DEVELOPED, and go from there.  Just write down a few lines about the new idea, mark your calendar, and on that marked date go back to the file and take one of the ideas and start working on it until you see the end.

For the professional writer who is under a contract it's easy because he gets paid for the work he submits. If he keeps procrastinating and leaving things unfinished he gets no paycheck.  The bottom line is simply forcing yourself to sit down and plug away at it. Knocking out words regardless of how you feel. Trust ME, it can be done!

These are just two cases, but we will keep adding more every week.

Come back and read us. Welcome to OMNI Book Publishing.