In a prior post, I wrote about following writing rules (then don’t). I referred to why you should follow the rules to avoid common mistakes. In this post, I’ll describe some of those mistakes and why they may diminish the writing. Indeed, I’ve made all these mistakes.
Prologues and Epilogues
The problem with most prologues is they tend to information dump, or hook you into a story with an exciting scene and then follow with a mundane chapter one. It’s almost as if the writer doesn’t trust their opening chapter. Information dumping should be avoided, and the vital plot points and history spread across the opening chapters. This is a good way to avoid the second problem (i.e. mundane first chapter). Create a sense of mystery about your character or plot, and use that in your first chapter. Examine your prologue and discern whether it’s actually your first chapter. Keep in mind a small group of readers skip prologues.
An epilogue’s problem is also a question of purpose. Are you trying to pack a last surprise into the epilogue? Or is it a selling point in the next novel in your series? An epilogue should be superfluous to your story, so if yours isn’t, then consider if this is your last chapter. Remember what I said about readers and prologues? It’s even more true with epilogues. Readers may assume this is the first chapter of your next book and stop at your last chapter.
Information Dumping
All writer’s information dump in early revisions. Even if writers plot out the story in detail, they discover new elements while writing and have to write all about this cool new thing in their story. That’s fine. In the revision process, it’s the writer’s job to spread these details among the narrative so the reader is discovering them in “real time.” Don’t put a commercial break in your story to explain the history of why these two nations don’t get along, bring it out in conversation, in attitude, even in setting (i.e. the map on the wall showed the original boundaries of country Vateria which included much of Herzog’s current land). The delight in discovering these details hits a pleasure spot with readers.
Multiple Points-of-View
Be careful with third-person omniscient. It’s a grenade that could go off in your hand where the writer knows exactly which character is having a thought but the reader is clueless. First-person point-of-view with multiple “I”s is also hard to follow unless you have a strong voice for your characters. If you’re going to choose to do it this way, keep the number of characters to a minimum and make sure the characters are vastly different.
Not Prose
A current trend in writing is to write in other styles. A lot of modern novels are written in epistolary form (i.e. as letters). It’s clever but also harder than it looks. In the end, interjecting letters or drama passages will take more time than writing in prose. You’ll spend more time in editing.
Non-linear timelines
Similar to multiple points-of-view. It’s easy to make a mistake, and you don’t want your readers taking notes.
Appendices / front or back matter
Front and back matter are fun, but many people skip it. You must write your novel as if it isn’t there. I love to include a Cast of Characters, but I realize I must properly introduce all the characters within the context of the story. I can’t count on anyone reading a Cast of Characters page. (One exception is if you’re in the middle of a series and you want to catch up a reader. If the readers skips the “Story so far” that’s on them if you clearly indicated this isn’t a standalone novel.)
I’d love to hear more common mistakes. Please email me your thoughts.