Common Writing Errors to Steer Clear of and Strategies for Prevention
In a world filled with stories waiting to be told, Maja S. Todorovic, an educator and writer from Belgrade currently residing in the Hague, Netherlands, shares her insights on the common pitfalls newbie writers often encounter and strategies to avoid them. With over 20 years of research and writing experience, Todorovic's predominant occupation is now writing and teaching.
One of the most common mistakes new writers make is not embracing their talent and passion enough, leading to unshared work. According to Todorovic, sharing work is crucial for one's message to be heard and for motivation to improve writing. She encourages aspiring authors to start blogging and submitting work to journals as ways to share their work.
Another common mistake is diving into a writing genre too quickly without testing the waters by experimenting and playing with different genres. Todorovic advises trying different genres to improve writing skills and gain a clearer picture of one's writing direction.
Lack of clear objectives or focus is another pitfall that new writers often fall into. To avoid this, always remember why you are writing and what you want your readers to take away. For example, advocacy or a clear recommendation helps guide writing structure and content.
In fiction, trying to build suspense by having characters "not put two and two together" can frustrate readers. Writers should ensure characters behave in believable, consistent ways, so readers stay engaged and trust the story.
New authors often make simple technical errors or stylistic missteps, such as unclear sentences, inconsistent tone, or misuse of grammar. These can be minimized by thorough editing and being open to feedback from others.
Ignoring context and sequencing is another mistake that can make it harder for readers to understand. Writers should build context and use a logical progression to help readers learn effectively.
If you are serious about writing, you should switch your mindset to think and treat yourself like a professional. It might be hard at the beginning in a highly competitive market, but you have to start at some point if you want to become a full-time writer.
Todorovic has published over 50 papers, written 3 books, and managed numerous research projects. She has 3 books and 2 dissertations published. You can connect with Maja on Twitter and Facebook. She also offers courses and different types of content creation that are related to writing, helping people find their writing voice and experience creativity through their own words.
[1] Writing with a Purpose: Strategies for Effective Communication - https://www.purdue.edu/writinglab/pages/purpose.html [2] Writing Suspenseful Fiction - https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-suspenseful-fiction [4] Grammar and Writing Tips - https://www.grammarly.com/blog/grammar-tips/ [5] The Chicago Manual of Style - https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html
During the first draft stages of personal-growth through writing, it is essential to maintain consistent learning and experimentation with various education-and-self-development techniques, such as experimenting with different genres to hone writing skills. Sharing work through blogging and submissions to journals helps foster a sense of personal-growth and motivate improvement in writing, as suggested by Maja S. Todorovic.
