Writing a book is a lot of fun. It’s also hard, sometimes unglamorous, work that takes hours and hours of dedication. So it can be especially frustrating when you’re just starting out, and you find yourself making the same mistakes over and over again. Luckily, as writers and published authors ourselves, we’ve been there! Below are seven of the most common mistakes we see new writers make—along with tips on how to avoid them.
You don’t know your audience
The most important thing to know when writing a book is who you’re writing it for. If you don’t know your audience, there’s a good chance your book could fall flat. It’s important to consider things like age, gender, interests, and even where your readers might be located. Once you know who your book is for, you can start tailoring your writing to them.
You’re not passionate about your topic
If you’re not passionate about the topic of your book, it’s going to show through your writing. Your readers will be able to tell if you’re just phoning it in, and they’re likely to lose interest quickly. If you’re not excited about what you’re writing, how can you expect your readers to be?
You don’t have a clear plan or structure
One of the most common mistakes we see new writers make is not having a clear plan or structure for their book. This can lead to a lot of wasted time and effort, not to mention a finished product that feels all over the place. Before you start writing, take the time to thoroughly outline your book. Know what topics you want to cover and in what order. This will save you a lot of headaches later on in terms of time and effort, creativity, and overall story flow.
You’re trying to do too much at once
When starting out, it can be tempting to try and write an entire book all at once. But trust us, this is not the way to go. Not only is it overwhelming, but it’s also more likely to lead to a messy, disorganized final product. Instead of trying to do too much at once, break your book down into manageable chunks and focus on writing one section at a time.
You’re not editing or proofreading your work
One of the most important parts of writing a book is taking the time to edit and proofread your work before it’s published. Publishing a book without first giving it a thorough review is a recipe for disaster. Not only will typos and other errors make your book look unprofessional, but they could also confuse or turn off your readers. So take the time to edit and proofread your work—it’ll be worth it in the end.
You’re not promoting your book properly
Just because you’ve written and published a book doesn’t mean people are going to automatically find out about it and start reading it. You need to make an effort to promote your book if you want it to be successful. There are a number of ways to do this, including social media, blogging, and even traditional advertising.
You’re not staying true to yourself
It’s important to remember that you are the author of your book—not anyone else. So don’t try to write like someone else or copy their style. It’s important to find your own voice and stay true to yourself. This is what will make your book unique and interesting to readers.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to writing a successful book that resonates with your readers. Just remember to take your time, plan ahead, and be true to yourself, and you’ll be just fine.
Here at Lucid Books, we can help guide you through the publishing process so that your debut novel is as successful as possible. Ready to get started? Contact us today for more information about our partnership publishing services.
