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High Hopes–Avoiding Common Mistakes
by Margaret Terhune
Beginners are by nature inexperienced and prone to making mistakes. Part of any learning process involves working through trial and error towards achievement. Novice writers are no exception. There are, however, many common mistakes the beginner can avoid. I have grouped these into three main categories: not researching enough, not writing enough and not revising enough.
Any writing course worth its salt will teach the writer to research both the manuscript’s material and its ultimate destination. As far as the text goes, levels of fact-finding will vary depending on the subject. A non-fiction piece must be thoroughly researched, with all sources listed in a complete bibliography. Fiction writers should research the background to their story, unless the author is writing about something very familiar. For example, it’s hard to depict a cattle auction if the closest you’ve come to a cow is a hamburger. Ask questions, consult experts, take the time to get the little details right.
Editors complain that authors frequently send out manuscripts with no regard to the specialty of a particular publishing house or magazine. Research the publishers before you send them your work. Visit libraries, book stores, book fairs, writing conferences and write down lists of publishers who produce work in a similar genre and vein to your own. Consult the Writer’s Market listings for details of submission procedures. Write or phone publishers for their submission guidelines. Many list their guidelines on-line for immediate accessibility. Pay attention to limitations: if a publisher or journal doesn’t accept submissions during a specific time of the year, save yourself the postage and don’t send them something until they’re reading again.
The most important thing that a writer can do is write. This may sound obvious, but many beginner writers spend too much time preparing to write, thinking about writing or explaining why they don’t have time to write. Writing, like any craft, improves with experience. Manuscripts don’t fall from the sky – at least they don’t in my neighborhood – but must be produced. Writers who spend the majority of their time in classes or at conventions won’t have the time to put what they learn into practice. Writing courses and conferences are wonderful tools for support and knowledge but cannot become the full extent of a writer’s experience.
The final area for mistakes is in the revision process. Many beginning writers do not revise their work thoroughly but send it out full of errors. After writing a piece, put it away for a short time then go through it for spelling and grammatical errors. Run a spell check, but verify everything yourself again. Spell checks don’t pick up many common spelling mistakes or missing words. Leave the piece alone again for a longer time. When you feel ready to look at it with a fresh perspective, examine the work line by line for mistakes and also for content. Read it aloud. Which parts need amplifying? Which parts need shortening or cutting? Often the revision process calls for a complete re-write; this is all part of writing. Take the finished product, check it for spelling and grammar mistakes once more. Be sure to check your cover letter for mistakes, too, as this is the first thing the editor reads. First impressions are all-important in the busy world of publishing.
With a little extra effort and attention to detail, the new writer can avoid many of the common mistakes described here. Remember, only through practice and patience can a writer perfect his or her craft.
AGENTS & EDITORS
- 60 Calls for Submissions in June 2021 – Paying markets
- Agents: Knowing When To Hold One and When To Fold
- Getting Offers from Multiple Literary Agents
- Literary Agents List
- Preditors and Editors
- Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
- Tips for a Successful Editor Appointment
- Want More? Here’s How to Get It
- What NOT to Do When Beginning Your Novel
- Windup for the (Story) Pitch
- Write the Perfect Book Proposal
CALLS FOR SUBMISSION
- 2023 MAR Calls for Submissions
- 2023 FEB Calls for Submissions
- 2023 JAN Calls for Submissions
- 2022 DEC Calls for Submission
- 2022 NOV Calls for Submission
- 2022 OCT Calls for Submission
- 2022 SEP Calls for Submission
- 2022 AUG Calls for Submission
- 2022 JUL Calls for Submission
- 2022 JUN Calls for Submission
- 2022 MAY Calls for Submission
- 2022 APR Calls for Submission
- 2022 MAR Calls for Submission
COMPUTER TIPS
- ASCII Characters
- Building Your Web Site and Doing It Right
- Don’t Be a Victim-Scams, Identity Theft, Urban Legends
- Don’t Spread Scams
- How to Annoy Your Website Visitors
- Knowing Your Target Audience
- Stopping Viruses from Propagating Through Your Email
- The Top 10 Email Errors
- Word Processors Through Time: Before MS Word & Google Docs
FORMATTING & GRAMMAR
- Achieving 250 Words / 25 Lines Per Page
- And Sammy, too? Oh, No!
- Changing Double Hyphens to EM Dashes in Word
- Edit Easier
- High Hopes–Avoiding Common Mistakes
- Misused Words
- Navigating In Your Novel
- Proofreaders Marks
- Research Links
- Rules for Writers
- Slang and Jargon Souces
- Tightening Your Manuscript and Trimming the Word Count
INSPIRATION-MOTIVATION
- A Dream Realized
- Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work
- Finding Time to Write
- Five Ways to Promote Yourself
- Fun Inspirations 1
- Fun Inspirations 2
- Fun Inspirations 3
- Fun Inspirations 4
- How Not to Procrastinate
- How to Quit Writing and End up on the Bestseller Lists
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Making Time for Self-Care While Running a Business
- Moving Up the Rejection Ladder
- Pop Quiz: Who Are You?
- Rules for Writers
- The Art of Being Rejected–475 Words
- The Juggling Act
- The Literary Food Chain
- Write Better Naked
- Writer’s Conferences Do You Really Need To Attend?
- Writing By Moonlight
MARKETS
- 35 Online Work Ideas to Earn Good Money Whilst Studying
- Copyright Primer, Know Your Rights
- EBooks-Fears to Possibilities
- Finding Markets Fiction and Nonfiction
- Freelance Writing 101
- How To Be a (Shiver) Reporter
- How To Market Your Book After You’ve Written It
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Magazine Links
- Making Money As a Corporate Freelancer
- Market News–All Genres
- Newspaper Writing Resources
- Path to Self-Publishing Success
- Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
- Science Writing Organizations
- Selling to Children’s Markets
- Submission Tracking
- Submitting to UK Markets
- Syndication 101
- To Specialize, or Not to Specialize?
- Why E-Books?
- Writing Groups List
- Youth Writing Markets
PUBLISHING
- 60 Calls for Submissions in June 2021 – Paying markets
- Copyright Primer, Know Your Rights
- How To Market Your Book After You’ve Written It
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Making Money As a Corporate Freelancer
- Path to Self-Publishing Success
- Publishers Websites
- Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
- Submission Tracking
- The Great Limbo Mystery Question
VIDEO & STREAMING LINKS
WRITING TOOLS - APPS
- Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work
- Free AI Tools That Can Be Used In Business Writing
- Helpful Books
- Knowing Your Target Audience
- Magazine Links
- Newspaper Writing Resources
- Reconsider Hand Writing
- Research Links
- Slang and Jargon Souces
- Unblocking Your Muze
- Word Processors Through Time: Before MS Word & Google Docs
- Writing Groups List
WRITER'S LIFE
WRITING CONTESTS
WRITING CONTESTS
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• ALL WRITING CONTESTS
- 2023 MAR Contests, Workshops, Webinars
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- 2023 JAN Contests, Workshops, Webinars
- 2022 DEC Contests, Workshops, Webinars
- 2022 NOV Contests, Workshops, Webinars
- 2022 OCT Contests, Workshops, Webinars
- 2022 SEP Contests, Workshops, Webinars
- 2022 AUG Contests, Workshops, Webinars
- 2022 JUL Contests, Workshops, Webinars
- 2022 JUN Contests, Workshops, Webinars
- 2022 MAY Contests, Workshops, Webinars
- 2022 APR Contests, Workshops, Webinars
ABOUT WRITING CONTESTS