What To Watch In Your Writing

Common mistakes from beginners

There are a lot of ways to be a writer and a lot of different categories to write in - novels, blogs, screen, copy etc... But beginners all tend to make the same mistakes.

Or maybe it was just me...

I started out my writing journey with short stories, then screenwriting, then novels, then blogs and now I would love to break into the world of copywriting.

Whichever type of writing you find yourself in, beginners always make the same mistakes.

Here's what to watch:

1) Grammar. Proofreading and incorrect grammar is a big one. THE biggest one. If someone reads over your work and finds five or more spelling/grammar mistakes on the first page, your work will be labeled sloppy and it won't get picked up. I don't want to hear about your dyslexia or you're writing in your 2nd or 3rd language (all of this is very impressive by the way), publishers don't want to know, download Grammarly (it's free) and be rid of those mistakes before you send anything to anyone.

2) Not Sending Your Work. This is equally THE biggest one. This mistake is so big, it separates those working as full time writers and those wishing they were writers. Sending your work out to publishers and agents and the world is a scary thought, especially when you're new. You don't yet know about your audience - who they are or what they want. You don't know what the publisher is looking for - great articles by newbie writers, or a big name behind the work. Will your work get edited? Will you make a fool of yourself? Or will this be your big break? I can almost guarantee your work will get edited which is all part of being a writer. And that first piece that gets published - there is no feeling like it.

3) Writing For... Who? When you're just starting out, you don't have your audience yet. Your following might be no-one, it might be your mum, it might be a couple bots. When you're fresh and new, your audience is still yet to find you. This is the perfect opportunity to play around with a niche, write in different styles and different genres to see what sticks, what you enjoy and what attracts an audience you connect with. Deciding your niche early on can be a great thing, but don't be afraid to switch things up if it's not feeling right for you. I started out writing fiction short stories and then fell into travel writing after one article that found me an audience I connected with. I've dabbled in budget living - but that audience was short lived and I ran out of article ideas pretty quick. Play around until you find something that sticks.

4) Only Reaching Out To Big Names. Congratulations! You built enough self confidence that you finally put yourself out there and started sending your work to people. The entire writing community is proud of you. Sorry, what? You sent work to the big 5 publishers and are confused why they didn't get back to you... You sent a script to Ben Affleck and are waiting for a response... Look, it's time for a bit of tough love. Once you've been in this game awhile you learn that it takes a lot to build up an audience, but not much to alienate them. And alienating your audience is one of the worst things you can do. When you have a big name - like a big 5 publisher or Ben Affleck, you have more to lose than a company just starting out. If someone sends you work with no audience, no reviews, and no experience - you will worry about the reception of the work. No matter how good. If someone already has an audience behind them, that's a sign of trust from the public. When you're new, reach out to companies who are new, they'll be stoked that you want to work with them - and having a community to lean on is priceless.

5) Rewriting What Is Already Written. I see this a lot with blog postings. When someone is new, they tend to learn from the big names and rewrite tips and tricks that have been written thousands of times. Learning from those you admire is fantastic, rewriting what is already written - in private, in your own time, is all part of the learning process so you can feel what fits with you. But when you post something online that people have read over and over and over again - this will make any potential audience member lose trust in you pretty quick. And trust is one of the most important things you can give and hold with a reader.

6) Thinking You Can't Bounce Back. Everybody makes mistakes, everybody gets that way. Hannah Montana knew what she was singing about. Every writer, ever, has made all of these mistakes - I know I have. Learning from them, pushing through and reminding yourself it is a gradual climb to full time writing is important. Take your time, do what you need, and stop making mistakes. You'll be fine.