Common mistakes to avoid when starting your first novel

First off, don't rush into the story without a clear plan. Know your characters and the main plot points before you start writing.

One big mistake is starting with a confusing or overly complex plot. It can turn readers off right from the beginning.

One common mistake is not having a clear plot. If your story meanders without a clear direction, readers will get lost. Another is creating flat characters. They should have depth and complexity. Also, overusing clichés can make your novel seem unoriginal.

First, don't rush the plot. Take your time to build a solid foundation. Also, avoid overusing cliches and stereotypes.

When writing your novel, don't make the mistake of not doing enough research. If your story is set in a specific time or place, you need to know the details. For example, if it's a historical novel, research the customs, language, and events of that era. Another mistake is having too many sub - plots that don't contribute to the main story. Keep the focus on the central plot and characters, and only include sub - plots that enhance the overall story.

A big mistake is not establishing the narrator's personality clearly enough. The reader should have a good sense of who the narrator is from the start. Also, not paying attention to the pacing. If the story moves too quickly or too slowly, it can lose the reader's interest. And don't forget about the setting. In a first - person story, the narrator's perception of the setting is important, so describe it in a way that fits the character. For example, a detective might notice details that an ordinary person would miss.

Avoid starting with too much backstory. For example, don't begin by explaining the entire history of the character's family tree. Readers usually want to get into the action or interesting part right away.

Avoid sending your story without proper proofreading. Spelling and grammar mistakes can be a big turn - off. Also, don't submit to a publisher without researching what they publish. You don't want to send a science - fiction story to a publisher that only focuses on romance. And don't forget to keep a copy of your story. You never know what might happen during the submission process.

Firstly, avoid making characters that are just stereotypes. A story full of cliched characters like the dumb jock or the mean cheerleader is not very interesting. Every character should be unique. Secondly, don't forget to show rather than tell about the character. Just saying a character is brave is not as effective as showing them facing their fears. And finally, don't create characters that are too perfect. Everyone has flaws, and characters without flaws are not relatable to the readers.

When rewriting a novel, avoid the mistake of not re - evaluating the characters' arcs. If the characters don't grow or change in a believable way during the story, the rewrite is not successful. Another error is not looking at the world - building. If the setting of the novel is important, but you don't improve or clarify it during the rewrite, it can leave the reader with a sense of confusion. Also, don't be too attached to your original writing. Sometimes you need to be willing to make big changes, and if you're not, the rewrite won't be as good as it could be.