How to Avoid Common Mistakes While Writing a Novel

chillibreeze writer — Uma Bilaney

Publishing a novel is not easy. It is all the more difficult if you are a first time writer. It is likely that you will make mistakes, but do not lose heart. Here are some tips that will help you avoid some of the most common mistakes. Whether it is fiction or non-fiction that you’re writing, you might want to follow these ground rules:

Firstly, it is important that you write on a topic of your choice. Do not write to please the readers. This is your book, and you must feel strongly about the subject because a writer must write with conviction. There is no need to please others. Choose a topic that is close to your heart, only then will you be able to do justice to your book. Identify your core topic and then begin writing. The structure of your book should be clear in your mind.

Once you make up your mind about the topic, you have to look into the technical aspects of writing a novel. Here is a checklist of things you must avoid while writing your dream book.

What to Avoid

Passive voice: Avoid using passive voice in a novel. It can be dull and boring. Active voice engages the reader while he/she reads the story. Passive voice disconnects the reader from the story.

Local words and phrases: If you want your novel to be an international best seller avoid the use of local words and phrases. A local resident of your country may be able to understand the slang but what about your global readers? If you still wish to use local language then ensure that, you provide the meaning of such words in English in a glossary of some sort.

Telling a story: “Show, don’t tell”, this is a rule of thumb for every writer. A good writer will not tell that, Character A, banged the phone angrily. Instead, he will show - Character A, banged the phone. His nostrils flared and he clenched his fist. This is an example of showing.

Grammar: A good writer needs to polish his/her grammar and leave no room for grammatical errors. If the grammar is poor, then your book will never reach the stands. Grammar and punctuations should be in place. Proofreading is crucial.

A writer is likely to commit these significant mistakes. However, with a little care and knowledge, you can overcome these challenges. Whatever genre you wish to write about, remember this list of things to avoid.

Editor's note: Most articles submitted to Chillibreeze go through a selection process. Only 30 percent of submitted articles are accepted for publication on the Chillibreeze.com featured article list. All accepted articles are edited and proofread for glaring errors of punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure is changed in certain cases and sometimes, entire sections are rewritten. If you notice any errors that have slipped through the cracks, do let us know! (Email us at info at chillibreeze dot com).

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in September, 2010. 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.

More on Chillibreeze.com

Other popular articles on Chillibreeze

Ten Steps Towards Creating Killer Copy
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Amar Chitra Katha - Preserving India’s heritage
Lessons in Forgetting by Anita Nair - A Book Review
Do You Need to have Knowledge of the Subject Matter You are Editing?

Out of 5 “chilies”, our editorial team gave this article...

—About our writer:

Uma Bilaney works as a freelance writer. She has more than two years of experience in writing and specializes in SEO articles, travel writing, hotel reviews and fiction. She has worked in the BPO industry for over six years in various verticals. Her last stint was with ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund as an Operations Manager for their call centre operations. She is currently writing a book on fiction.

>> Read more articles written by Chillibreeze writers:

More resources for Writers on Chillibreeze.com

Chillibreeze offers Indian writers the opportunity to work on customer projects. We are also India’s biggest writer network and a one-stop shop for Indian writers and editors. The writers’ section on Chillibreeze offers freelance writers and editors a variety of tools to advance their careers. Resources for writers include:

Assessment of your writing, editing and proofreading skills

Writing courses

Expert Feedback on your article

An opportunity to promote yourself on our website

Top websites for Indian writers

Tips and resources for Indian freelancers

Book Publishing services

And more………………..

Explore our writers’ section using the links on our left-hand side menu.