Verbatik Media

As a writer, nothing is more disheartening than spending months—if not years—crafting your novel, only to have readers abandon it after a few pages. The reality is that readers have countless options, and even a single glaring mistake can be enough to make them put your book down for good. Having worked as a developmental editor for over a decade, I’ve seen these errors repeatedly ruin promising manuscripts.

If you want to ensure that your book holds a reader’s attention from the first sentence to the last, avoid these ten common and often embarrassing writing mistakes.

1. Weak Openings That Fail to Hook the Reader

Your book’s opening is your only chance to make a strong first impression. A weak or meandering opening—whether it’s an info-dump, a cliché dream sequence, or an unnecessary prologue—can instantly turn readers away.

How to Fix It:

• Begin in medias res—in the middle of action or tension.
• Establish a clear narrative voice and point of view from the start.
• Introduce a question, a conflict, or intrigue that compels readers to keep going.

The First 50 Pages by Jeff Gerke explores what makes a strong opening.

2. Overloading on Backstory Too Soon

A common mistake, especially among new writers, is inserting too much background information in the first few chapters. While understanding a character’s history is crucial, an overload of backstory before the reader has a reason to care can feel tedious.

How to Fix It:

• Integrate backstory organically through dialogue and character action.
• Follow the 80/20 rule: Only 20% of your backstory should be upfront; the rest should unfold naturally.
• Ask yourself: Does the reader need this information right now?

Story Genius by Lisa Cron teaches how to weave backstory seamlessly.

3. Flat, Unrelatable Characters

Readers invest in characters, not just plot. If your characters feel one-dimensional or behave inconsistently, your audience will lose interest.

How to Fix It:

• Use character worksheets to develop personalities, motivations, and internal conflicts. Download my free ebook Character Development Workbook to get started right away.
• Avoid perfect characters (Mary Sues and Gary Stus) who lack flaws or growth arcs.
• Ensure that every major character has distinct speech patterns, motivations, and emotions.

The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass is an invaluable guide to creating emotionally rich characters.

4. Unrealistic Dialogue

Nothing screams amateur writing like stiff, unnatural dialogue. If your characters speak in a way that feels scripted or overly expository, your readers will disengage.

How to Fix It:

• Read your dialogue out loud to ensure it sounds natural.
• Avoid using dialogue as a dumping ground for exposition (“As you know, John, we’ve been brothers for 10 years…”).
• Use subtext rather than making characters say exactly what they feel.

Dialogue: The Art of Verbal Action for Page, Stage, and Screen by Robert McKee is a brilliant resource for learning dialogues.

5. Show, Don’t Just Tell

One of the golden rules of writing is “Show, don’t tell.” Yet, many writers overuse exposition instead of letting actions, emotions, and dialogue carry the narrative.

How to Fix It:

• Instead of saying, “She was nervous,” show it: “Her fingers trembled against the coffee cup.”
• Limit adverbs (she said anxiously) and replace them with stronger verbs and body language.
• Use sensory details (sight, smell, sound, touch, taste) to create immersion.

The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi is a brilliant tool for showing emotions effectively.

6. Inconsistent Point of View (POV) Shifts

Head-hopping—jumping between characters’ perspectives within the same scene—is one of the fastest ways to confuse and frustrate readers.

How to Fix It:

• Stick to one POV per scene unless using an omniscient narrator.
• Clearly signal POV changes using scene or chapter breaks.
• If writing in first person, ensure all thoughts align with that character’s perspective.

Writing Deep Point of View by Rayne Hall is a good resource.

7. Overuse of Purple Prose

Overly flowery writing filled with excessive metaphors and unnecessary adjectives can feel self-indulgent and alienate readers.

How to Fix It:

• Cut redundant descriptions (e.g., “The fiery red flames burned intensely”).
• Use precise, evocative language rather than a thesaurus-heavy approach.
• Prioritize clarity over complexity—a well-chosen, simple word is often more powerful.

On Writing by Stephen King is full of King’s insights on clear, compelling prose are invaluable.

8. Poor Pacing and Lack of Tension

If your book lacks momentum, readers may abandon it midway.

How to Fix It:

• Balance fast and slow scenes—alternate between tension-building moments and emotional depth.
• Use cliffhangers and high stakes to keep readers invested.
• Trim unnecessary filler and excessive internal monologues.

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody is great for understanding story beats and pacing.

9. Grammar and Typos That Undermine Credibility

Nothing makes a book look unprofessional faster than poor grammar, typos, and misplaced punctuation. Even the best story can be ruined by sloppy editing.

How to Fix It:

• Use Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or Hemingway Editor for initial clean-ups.
• Always hire a professional editor for a final pass—automated tools miss nuance.
• Read your manuscript aloud or backward to catch errors.

Need Help? I offer professional editing services to ensure your book is polished and ready for publication.

10. Weak or Unsatisfying Endings

A great book can be ruined by an abrupt or unearned ending, leaving readers frustrated and unlikely to recommend your work.

How to Fix It:

• Ensure your ending resolves the primary conflict—even if it’s open-ended.
• Avoid deus ex machina solutions (convenient, unrealistic resolutions).
• Let the final pages echo the themes and emotions established throughout the novel.

The Anatomy of Story by John Truby is a great read on crafting satisfying endings.

Next Steps:

If you recognise any of these mistakes in your writing, don’t panic. Every writer makes them. The key is to catch and correct them before your readers do.

A professional editor can help refine your manuscript, ensuring it meets industry standards and resonates with readers. If you’re serious about publishing a polished book, I offer comprehensive developmental editing, line editing, and proofreading services.

Let’s perfect your book together! Contact me for a free consultation.