I enjoy writing but I wonder sometimes if people enjoy reading what I write. Nothing gives a writer more satisfaction than having a good reader following (if I may use the term). Writers new and experienced are often guilty of some very irritating mistakes that can impact the quality of their work and make or mar their careers. The real challenge, however, lies in learning from them. Each writer has his own list of errors that he may or may not have utilized to his advantage.
I would like to share my own inventory of errors that writers often commit in the hope that someone somewhere can benefit from it. These five mistakes, to my mind, have a gone a long way in helping me improve my work.
An insipid introduction and a boring title. A boring introduction and a bland title is a definite non-starter. To grab the attention of the readers we have to start with a bang. A dynamic title and an engrossing introduction will ensure you have your readers with you till the end. Our aim should be to encourage the reader to want to go on reading. No reader wants to read something that does not take off after the first few lines.
Lengthy paragraphs and stretched sentences. Writers often make this error. No one, I’m sure, wants to read something that just goes on and on. What is easy on the eye is also easy on the mind. In this day and age when so much information is easily available to people on the internet, nobody wants to go through material that will take up too much time. Long paragraphs with equally long sentences will not be able to sustain the interest of the reader. Seeing something that looks like too much reading is bound to discourage the hurried reader. Keep it short, simple and crisp.
Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Too many grammatical errors and incorrect spelling is one sure shot way of driving the reader away. Prior to submitting your work make sure you’ve gone through it in detail to cover all possible errors. A badly written article draws more attention than a well written one. With so many options like spell-check and the dictionary available on the net this is not a mistake that cannot be rectified.
Difficult words and flowery language. To impress the reader with his knowledge of the English language the writer often resorts to using big complicated words. This makes it difficult for the reader to comprehend the text. Referring to the dictionary, each time you come across a difficult word while reading, is cumbersome to say the least. Heavy reading this turns out to be (pun intended). Writers should remember to use simple words that drive the point straight home.
Copying material in whole or in part. Not doing enough research and in a hurry to give in work often sees writers resorting to copying from various sources. No reader is interested in reading what is already available elsewhere. Replication of ideas is boring, so be unique. Let your content speak for you and give you an edge over others. People are looking for fresh information and as a writer you need to be able to provide them with it. Remember the appeal of your article lies in its originality.
These five errors, I feel, are some of the most irritating mistakes that writers are inclined to make. Becoming aware of them, while writing is half the battle won. It requires special effort to not let it get the better of you and become a habit. Happy writing!
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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in October, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.
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—About our writer:
Vandana Mahabir is a postgraduate in Indian History. Her interests range from history, cooking, gardening, children, travel, health and nutrition to name a few. She has worked briefly in a publishing house writing books for primary classes and also writes freelance. She lives in Assam.
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