Conquer Self-Editing: Avoid These Common Fiction Writing Mistakes
And how you can fix them
Self-editing is the hardest part about writing a novel, or at least to me, it is. After I’ve written what I think is a great book, the idea of fixing all the things that are wrong with my book is hard and sometimes overwhelming.
However, a polished book is important to gain readers and make it a publishing success. So, I decided to share some of the most common editing mistakes I see when I’m editing other authors’ books and provide practical strategies for avoiding them.
1. Overuse of Passive Voice
While passive voice has its place, overuse can make your writing less fun to read. For example, a sentence like "The ball was thrown by the boy" places the emphasis on the action rather than the character. But with active voice ("The boy threw the ball"), the sentence is more concise and engaging.
When self-editing, look for such words of "was," "were," "is being," and other passive voice indicators. Rework these sentences to prioritize the subject performing the action.
2. Telling Instead of Showing
This is a classic writing mistake. Instead of telling the reader that a character is angry ("John was angry"), show them through actions, dialogue, and internal thoughts. A better sentence would be "John slammed his fist on the table, his face flushed crimson. 'I've had enough!' he roared."
Showing creates a better reading experience and allows readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level.
3. Weak Verbs and Adverbs
Relying heavily on adverbs ("quickly," "loudly," "angrily") often indicates a weak verb choice.
For instance, instead of writing "He ran quickly," use a stronger verb like "He sprinted," "He dashed," or "He bolted." You could also replace phrases like "said loudly" with more descriptive verbs, such as "shouted," "bellowed," or "exclaimed."
4. Head Hopping (POV Shifts)
Maintaining a consistent point of view (POV) is important for clarity. Head hopping occurs when the narrative shifts from one character's perspective to another within the same scene or paragraph. This confuses the reader and can break the emotional connection with the story.
Choose a POV (first person, third person limited, or third person omniscient) and stick with it. You can always change the POV at a scene or chapter break.
5. Info Dumping
While providing background information is important, avoid overwhelming the reader with large chunks of exposition all at once. Resist the urge to dump everything the reader needs to know in the first few chapters.
Instead, weave essential details into the narrative organically through dialogue, character interactions, and internal reflections.
6. Repetitive Sentence Structure
Varying your sentence structure keeps the prose fresh and engaging. If every sentence follows the same subject-verb-object pattern, the writing can become boring.
Experiment with different sentence lengths and structures to create a more better flow.
7. Clichés and Overused Phrases
Clichés ("as white as snow," "raining cats and dogs") can make your writing feel stale and unoriginal. I suggest avoiding clichés all together.
You should also avoid overusing certain phrases or words. A quick search and replace can help you identify these repetitions.
8. Inconsistent Pacing
Pacing refers to the speed at which the story unfolds. Action-packed scenes require a faster pace while more introspective moments can benefit from a slower pace. Short, choppy sentences, like you might see in dialogue, can create a sense of urgency while longer, more descriptive sentences can slow things down.
Varying the pace throughout your book creates a better reading experience.
9. Ignoring the Importance of Setting
Setting isn't just a backdrop. it's an important part of the story.
Use vivid descriptions to bring your setting to life and create a sense of atmosphere. Consider how the setting impacts the characters and influences the plot.
10. Lack of Proofreading
Typos, grammatical errors, and punctuation mistakes can distract the reader and maybe even ruin your credibility. After you've finished self-editing, take a break from the manuscript and then return to it with fresh eyes.
Read it aloud to catch errors you might have missed. Or use something like Natural Reader to have it read your story to you. Consider using a grammar checker or asking a trusted beta reader to provide feedback.
Final thoughts
These 10 common mistakes are the ones I see quite a bit, but by addressing them, you can improve the quality of your manuscript and increase your chances of captivating readers.
Remember, self-editing is a crucial step in the writing process. And it also shows your readers you want to give them a great story.
What other mistake can you think of to add to the list? Leave a comment below!