20 Common Writing Mistakes Every New Writer Should Avoid

How a New Writer Should Avoid Writing Mistakes

You sit down to write, and your idea feels exciting. You start to type, and the story flows. Your character gives that real feel, and you can see the scenes clearly in your head.

Suddenly, something happens. A sentence feels weird, a scene drags on, and a character says something that doesn’t make sense. You pause and wonder, “Am I doing this right?”

Don’t worry. Every new writer faces these problems, and it’s normal. The difference is to know what you actually want. Once you spot these common mistakes, you can easily fix them before they become your habit.

In this blog, we will see 20 common writing mistakes new writers make. Each one is easy to spot and understand, and will help you make your story smoother and firmer.

Common Pitfalls to Watch Out For: Writing Mistakes

Writing is fun, but it is also tricky. Even small mistakes can make your story feel slow or confusing. These mistakes will help you know them early and save you time and frustration.

These are the mistakes that you will catch in your document, no matter if it’s your Novel First Draft or any other important writing document.

Mistake 1: Writing Everything at Once

We’ve all done this. You sit down, ideas are flying, and suddenly your page is a huge mess. Later, you read it and think What even happened? Just start small and add more later.

Mistake 2: No Plan, No Clue

Some days you type and hope it works. It does sometimes. But mostly you end up confused. Even a tiny outline helps. Just a few notes about your characters or what happens first, that’s it.

Mistake 3: Boring Characters

If everyone talks the same or does the same stuff, the story is flat. Give those little quirks, silly habits, weird things. Something that makes them feel real.

Mistake 4: Explaining Everything

We want the reader to get it. So we describe too much. But leaving some mystery is better. Let them imagine, and that’s what makes it fun.

Mistake 5: Forgetting the Existence of Others

It’s easy to write for yourself. You know what you mean, so you forget the reader might be lost. Read it like someone else. If it’s confusing, fix a tiny bit and move on.

Mistake 6: Too Much Backstory at Once

We all want people to “get” everything fast. So we dump all the past in the first few pages. It just slows things down and gives little bits at a time. Let the reader discover stuff.

Mistake 7: Too Many Fancy Words

Adjectives are fun, like shiny, red, sparkling, but too many make the story drag. Pick one good word and move on.

Mistake 8: No Problems for Your Characters

If everything goes perfectly, nothing is interesting. Even minor problems, little fights, or awkward moments make the story alive.

Mistake 9: Jumping All Over

You write a scene, then skip back, then forward, and it gets messy. Keep things roughly in order. You can fix it later, but don’t confuse yourself now.

Mistake 10: Talking Doesn’t Sound Real

People don’t speak perfectly. They pause, repeat, and say silly stuff. Read your dialogue out loud. If it sounds weird, fix it a bit. At this stage, if you’re thinking about sharing your story with kids one day, understanding a little about children’s book marketing early on can help you write with a more explicit focus and audience in mind. to avoid Writing Mistakes

Mistake 11: Rushing Through the Story

Sometimes you want to finish, and you type fast and don’t think too much. Later, it feels messy, so take your time because it is okay to go slow.

Mistake 12: Saying the Same Thing More Than Once

We all make these Writing Mistakes. You explain something, then a few pages later, you explain it again. The reader notices, cuts it, and keeps it moving.

Mistake 13: Weird Pacing

Some parts drag, some go too fast, and it feels off. Mix slow and quick moments. It keeps people reading and keeps the story alive.

Mistake 14: Using Old Phrases

“Her heart skipped a beat,” or “he was a shadow in the night.” We’ve all read them. Try to say things in your own way. Even small changes help.

Mistake 15: Getting Stuck on Words

You stare at one sentence for ages. Don’t get stuck, just one, because you can fix it later. The story matters more than perfect words right now.

Mistake 16: Skipping Editing

Some people finish their draft and close the file. Don’t do that, go back and reread it. Fix a few things here and there. Even tiny changes make it feel way better.

Mistake 17: Saying “She Was Sad”

No one likes that you need to show it instead. Maybe she chews her nails or stares at the floor. Little actions make it real.

Mistake 18: Slow Start

The beginning matters. If it’s boring, people might stop reading. Start with something small that makes the reader curious, like a question, a funny line, anything.

Mistake 19: Ignoring Other People

Friends, family, and other writers notice stuff you don’t. Listen to them because even small advice can help a lot.

Mistake 20: Thinking you’re Alone

Writing feels lonely sometimes, but you’re not. Ask for help if you need it. Even checking out children’s book publishers near me or getting advice online makes a difference.

How These Mistakes Usually Show Up While Writing

Most of these mistakes don’t feel like “mistakes” when you are writing. They show up later quietly, and you notice them later when something feels off, and you are unable to explain why.

Here is an easy way to spot Writing Mistakes:

If you have felt any of these when you are writing, then you are not alone. Almost every writer hits these moments that cause Writing Mistakes. The good news is that when you spot the problem, the fixing becomes simpler.

Conclusion on Avoiding Writing Mistakes

If you see these errors in your writing, then don’t panic. It doesn’t mean you’re bad at this; it just means that you are learning. Every writer starts here, even the ones you admire now made the same mistakes at the beginning. They just kept writing and gradually fixing things.

You don’t have to correct everything to avoid Writing Mistakes in one go. Pick one mistake, work on it, and come back later for the rest. Some days writing will feel easy, and other days it won’t. Your story deserves all the time you are giving to it, and you are doing better than you think. Read More to Improve Your Writing