Writing Fiction

Friend and accomplished novelist Terri Kraus recently sent me the following list of mistakes which authors typically make when writing fiction. Many of the points may also be applied to other genres. Personally, I’d add two cautions of my own: don’t run out of espresso beans or Italian opera selections.

TOP 38 FICTION WRITING MISTAKES

1. Don’t Make Excuses
2. Don’t Consider Yourself Too Smart
3. Don’t Show Off When You Write
4. Don’t Expect Miracles
5. Don’t Warm Up Your Engines
6. Don’t Describe Sunsets
7. Don’t Use Real People In Your Story
8. Don’t Write About Wimps
9. Don’t Duck Trouble
10. Don’t Have Things Happen for No Reason
11. Don’t Forget Stimulus and Response
12. Don’t Forget Whose Story It Is
13. Don’t Fail to Make the Viewpoint Clear
14. Don’t Lecture Your Reader
15. Don’t Let Your Characters Lecture, Either!
16. Don’t Let Them Be Windbags
17. Don’t Mange Characters’ Speech
18. Don’t Forger Sense Impressions
19. Don’t Be Afraid to Say “Said”
20. Don’t Assume You Know: Look It Up
21. Don’t Ever Stop Observing and Making Notes
22. Don’t Ignore Scene Structure
23. Don’t End Scenes With a Disaster
24. Don’t Forget to Let Your Characters Think
25. Don’t Wander Around in a Fog
26. Don’t Worry About Being Obvious
27. Don’t Criticize Yourself to Death
28. Don’t Worry What Mother Will Think
29. Don’t Hide From Your Feelings
30. Don’t Take It To the Club Meeting
31. Don’t Ignore Professional Advice
32. Don’t Chase the Market
33. Don’t Pose and Posture
34. Don’t Waste Your Plot Ideas
35. Don’t Stop Too Soon
36. Don’t Prejudice Your Editor
37. Don’t Give Up
38. Don’t Just Sit There