Discover How to Avoid the 5 Most Common Novel Writing Mistakes

As an aspiring author, you may have noticed that writing a novel is a tough job. You work hard to keep your plot interesting, develop well-defined characters, and bring your story to life. However, even after putting your heart and soul into your work, you might still find that your writing falls short. This could be because you are making some common mistakes that are negatively impacting the quality of your novel. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most common mistakes aspiring authors make in their fiction novels.

Head Hopping: The first mistake that aspiring authors make in their fiction novels is head-hopping. Head-hopping is the process of jumping from one character's perspective to another without proper transition. It can leave readers confused and make your story difficult to follow. It is essential to avoid this mistake by giving each character their own distinct voice from the very beginning of your novel.

Passive Voice: Passive voice is another common mistake that you need to avoid while writing a fiction novel. Passive voice shows that the action is being done to the subject rather than by the subject. For example, "The ball was hit by John" is a passive voice sentence. This type of phrasing can make your writing sound dull and uninteresting. You should incorporate more active voice sentences in your writing to bring more life to your characters and story.

Lack of Conflict: Lack of conflict is one mistake that aspiring authors make frequently in their fiction novels. Conflict is what keeps the story moving, and without it, your novel can become monotonous and boring. In fiction writing, conflict can be emotional, physical, or intellectual; it can be between characters, or it can be within a character themselves. Be sure to include conflict in your story to make it interesting and keep your readers engaged.

Overuse of Adjectives and Adverbs: It's essential to use descriptive words in your writing, but overusing adjectives and adverbs can make your novel seem sloppy and amateurish. Instead of using several adjectives to describe one character, select one that perfectly captures the essence of that particular character. Use adverbs sparingly and instead strengthen your writing with strong verbs.

Information Dumps: Information dumps are long sections of writing where an author dumps a significant amount of backstory or world-building. While it's important to provide context to your readers, doing so with an information dump can leave your readers feeling bored and overwhelmed. Instead, incorporate backstory and world-building into your story naturally without hindering your plot. Show rather than tell.

Writing a novel is no easy feat, and mistakes are likely to be made along the way. However, by being aware of the common mistakes listed above, you can significantly improve your writing and produce a better-quality novel. Keep in mind to avoid head hopping, use active voice, and introduce conflict to your story. Also, strive to use descriptive words effectively, and avoid using information dumps. With these tips, you can create memorable stories that keep your readers engaged and inspired. Keep writing, and don't give up on your dreams of becoming an excellent fiction writer!