What Even Good Writers Do Badly, 2022 Edition!

How’s your writing journey going?

Do you feel like you’re going struggling to churn out the pages? Or get published? Or even to get started?

More than likely, you’re making a common mistake – and even more likely, it is a misstep that even the best authors out there make, too.

You may have heard me talk about the 16 Mistakes and Missteps That Even the BEST Writers Make – I’ve spoken at conferences about it, written articles about it (https://www.turnthepagebookcoaching.com/media), and even have a product related to it (https://turn-the-page-book-coaching-editorial.ck.page/products/good-writers).

I’ve decided it’s an important enough topic to discuss again, and have updated it for 2022!

So here they are, the top mistakes and missteps that I see talented authors make:

#1: They’re Waiting for the Pandemic to Be Over

Trust me, I get it. You’re waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel, for the day that things get back to “normal.” THEN you’ll work on that book, get back into editing, build your platform, or start pursing publishing options – and it will be exactly like you always imagined it will be.

First of all, it’s very hard to imagine that everything will get back to the way it was – the world has been changed forever. You know what the absolutely best day to get started is? TODAY.

There’s no time like the present, and there is so much information overwhelm out there. You could keep yourself busy until the end of time taking classes and webinars and courses, but the important part is getting those words on the page.

There will never be a “good” time to write/market/edit/do research. Set a schedule that works for you (it might take some tweaking), and consider getting some accountability buddies to help encourage you and keep you disciplined.

And PS – it will be that much harder to stand out from the crowd if everybody is reaching out at the same time.

#2: They Don’t Think Like Marketers?

You’ve heard me ask this several times before – are you comfortable calling yourself a sales person? This is rarely a favorite part of an author’s journey, but it’s a very important one.

Yes, your book is your baby, but in the end it is a product that needs to be bought and sold, just like clothing or cell phones or toothbrushes.?It sounds cold, but it’s the truth.?And the quicker you embrace the idea, the less scary or stressful it is, and the quicker you can start differentiating yourself from other books and authors in the marketplace.

You need to always be clear on these three things:

• What is your book about??Always have your elevator pitch and logline ready.
• Who is your audience??Get crystal clear on your target audience, and what you are offering readers.?Is this the dieting book to end all dieting books??Is this the coziest mystery that ever?there was?
• What is your platform??Why are you the person to write this book??What does your viewpoint offer the world?
• Who should represent you, or who should publish your book??When it comes time to pitch to agents and editors, make sure you have done your research – what kinds of titles do they represent/publish??What kind of material are they looking for??How do they want to receive that material?

#3: They Don’t Know Who to Pitch Their Book to

As I said earlier, not every agent and publisher wants to publish every type of book, just as readers don’t usually want to read every book that is out there. You can find more information about what agents are looking for in agent directories (look at Barnes & Noble in the writing section) and sites like PublishersMarketplace.com.

Ask yourself who publishes your favorite books??Who represented them??(See acknowledgement section of the book.)

Always, always read the Submissions Guidelines on the agency website, and follow them to the letter.

#4: They Don’t Understand Their Genre and/or Market

Research, research, research, always be researching! And the fun part about that is – you get to read!?READ!

There is a reason you chose to write THIS kind of book – which authors and titles have inspired you??Where does your book sit in a bookstore??

Do a competitive analysis (bonus points if you recognize that as a section in a book proposal!) – what are the successful comparative titles in your genre??Who are the successful authors??What sets them apart from other books on those same shelves??What sets yours apart from theirs??(New location, strong female character, plot twist, etc.)

#5: They Don’t Offer Something New

There are no new stories, just new and different (and hopefully better) takes on them. How does your book fit the bill?

#6: They Have Too Much and/or Unrealistic Dialogue

Dialogue is so fun to write, especially when you have gotten to know your characters really well.?The issue is that the vast majority of conversations between characters are repetitive and extraneous.?Show instead of tell; the conversation should achieve something or tell us something new about the characters that we haven’t already witnessed through their actions.

Read dialogue aloud to make sure it sounds realistic – often what feels good as it’s being written does not feel realistic as it’s being read.

Also, it should go without saying (har har) that characters should have different voices/ways of speaking. If everyone sounds the same, how can readers tell them apart? (And if they all sound the same, they are not serving their purpose in your story.)

#7: They Have a Protagonist Named Jake

No offense to all the Jakes out there, but let’s get a new type of male protagonist. “Jake” is usually handsome, oftentimes a writer. Women love him, and men want to be him, usually without any concrete reason why.?There is no conflict, no depth. The same also goes for the women in sci-fi books that have voluptuous chests and not that much to offer – but that is a post for another day.

(If you’re a nonfiction author and writing a book about all of the disastrous dates you’ve been on, this falls into the same category – make sure your book is bringing something new to the table.)

#8: They Try to Be Trendy

Books can take 18 months (or more) to get published, and what is popular now may not be popular by the time your book is ready to sell. Trends like having an unreliable narrator have continued since Girl On a Train, but readers usually lose interest in trends once the market is overwhelmed

You don’t need to try to start a NEW trend, just don’t depend on the path someone else has already laid down.

#9: They Hide Their Voice

You will never be Ernest Hemingway/J.K. Rowling/Anthony Doerr/Maya Angelou/Stephen Hawking/Patricia Highsmith/insert wonderful, beloved author name here. You will, however, be YOU! And that is your true gift – you can (and should) be influenced by others, but share your unique talents and perspective with the world (the world needs it!).

#10: They Lose Their Momentum

Think about your favorite book(s) - do they take a long time to get to tell a story, or share information? Probably not.

In addition to getting to the point, however, it's important to keep things going consistently throughout. If a book is fast-paced at the beginning, it shouldn't be languid for the rest of it. And we all know how disappointing it is to have a rushed ending.

Steady wins the race - notice I took out the word "slow." Your book doesn't haven't to be one car chase and plot twist after another (nor does it need to be written with molasses), but whatever it does, it should do so efficiently and consistently.

Keep the audience interested, do not depend on gimmicks. And don’t try to do all the things at once – that’s what sequels and series are for!

#11: They Forget to Show Instead of Tell

This has been beaten to death in other articles, so I won’t go into too much detail here. But the concept is simple: don’t tell the readers what happened, SHOW them. They need to experience the character’s lives alongside them. Paint a picture!

#12: They Give Too Much Detail – Or Not Enough!

When you create a world, it’s easy to get lost in it – just give the readers what they need to make their way through and understand what is going on. Stylistically, there are lots of interesting ways to do this, but don’t just list things. It’s important to keep your book’s momentum going, and you don’t want to lose your readers in describing the 100 rose varieties in a character’s garden.

#13: They Provide Too Many Different Viewpoints

There is such a thing as too many characters.?We need to be able to relate/connect with them, and if there are to many voices going on, it’s hard to even hear one.

Ask yourself if this character is 100% integral to the plot or story.?Why does their viewpoint matter??What are they saying that isn’t already being expressed by another character?

#14: They Don’t Raise the Stakes

You absolutely need to set up the status quo – or, in nonfiction ,help the reader see their status quo. What does your protagonist or reader stand to lose or gain by going on this journey??What do they risk by NOT going on this journey?

Stakes usually grow higher as they continue on their journey, and reach the climax and point of no return.

Remember, if it doesn’t matter to the character, it won’t matter to the reader.

#15: They Have an Unhealthy Relationship with Criticism

Don’t we all? But unfortunately, it’s part of the process. Make sure you choose carefully when you ask people to give feedback – I always say choose someone who loves you, someone who doesn’t.

Be open-minded, think outside the box, and embrace the pain.

?#16: They Don’t Believe in Themselves

Celebrate your accomplishments of any size! Wrote a page today – good for you! Sent your query letter out to 10 agents – amazing!

Stick with it; it’s an ongoing process. And think about it – you have WRITTEN A BOOK, so get back on that horse (or unicorn) and ride again!

You’ve got this!?I can’t wait to see your book on bookshelves soon.

To you and your book!