10 Common Mistakes Every Writer Makes (And How to Fix Them)

Every writer has that one moment of staring at the screen, sipping cold coffee, convinced they have crafted the next literary masterpiece, until they read it the next morning and wonder who hijacked their keyboard. We have all been there.

Writing, my friend, is a beautiful mess. It is a dance between genius and chaos. One minute you are a Shakespeare, the next you are Googling synonyms like it is your life. Every writer trips over the same stones.

The scariest moment is always just before you start. — Stephen King

But fear not, word warrior! This guide is your creative first aid kit. Together, we will expose the 10 most common writing mistakes that even brilliant writers make and learn how to fix them with fun and a touch of storytelling magic. Ready to polish your pen and reclaim your writing sparkle? Let’s dive in.

How To Dodge The Mistakes Every Writer Makes

Every writer starts with a spark, that thrilling rush of an idea that demands to be written. But somewhere between the first draft and the final read, things can get messy. Words slip, sentences drag, and your once-brilliant story starts to sound like it needs a nap.

Maybe you have fallen for the over-editing trap, polishing your paragraphs until they lose their shine. Or perhaps you committed the crime of not editing it all (guilty as charged).

But oh, every one of these missteps can be turned into a moment of growth. Once you recognize them, you will start writing with sharper instincts, smoother flow, and more confidence. So grab your notebook (and maybe a cookie for motivation) and let’s dive into the details.

Pro tip: Complete the draft and look for the best manuscript writers who can help you with editing.

1.    The over-explainer syndrome

Ever found yourself writing a sentence, then explaining that same sentence right after it? Yep, that is the over-explainer in action.

It is like a friend who tells a great joke, then spends five minutes making sure you got it. Writers often fall into this trap out of fear that the reader won’t understand. But trust your readers, they are smarter than you think.

How to fix it?

Write it once, powerfully, and trust your words. Instead of saying “she was angry, her fists clenched, and her face turned red with rage,” cut it to “her fists clenched.” The emotion is right there, no need for a neon sign.

2.    The adverb addiction

Quietly, softly, suddenly, slowly. Adverbs are like glitter. Fun until they are everywhere. New writers sprinkle the word around to sound dramatic, but too many can make your prose feel heavy-handed.

Let’s fix it for you:

Let your verbs do the heavy lifting. Instead of “she ran quickly,” say “she sprinted.” Instead of “he looked angrily,” say “he glared.” It will sound sharper, cleaner, and more cinematic.

3.    The info dump disaster

You have built a magical world or a fascinating backstory, and you can’t wait to share every detail in the first three paragraphs. But readers don’t want an encyclopedia. They want a story. Info dumps are like force-feeding your reader vegetables before dessert.

Fix it by:

Revealing details slowly, naturally, like breadcrumbs along a trail. Let your reader discover the world, not drown in it. 

4.    The cliché curse

“Her heart skipped a beat.” “Cold as ice.” “A dark and stormy night.” We have all written them and cringed later. Clichés are the fast food of writing. Easy, familiar, and ultimately unsatisfying.

How to fix it?

Flip the cliché. Instead of “her heart skipped a beat,” try “her pulse stuttered like a bad radio signal.” Be weird. Be fresh. That is where the magic lives.

5.    The dialogue dilemma

Ever read a scene where every character sounds the same? Or where the dialogue feels like. Well, dialogue? Real people interrupt, pause, and talk in quirks and rhythms. If your characters all sound like you. It is time to mix it up.

Let’s fix it for you.

Read your dialogue out loud. If it sounds unnatural, it probably is. Give each character a voice fingerprint, maybe with slang, sentence length, and favorite phrases. Suddenly, they will sound alive. 

6.    The description overload

Ah, the temptation of adjectives. That endless parade of glowing sunsets, sparkling eyes, and shimmering oceans. But too much description can suffocate the story. Readers want to see your world, not get lost in an adjective storm.

Fixing time:

Choose details that show personality or emotion. Describe what matters, the way her laughter cracked through the silence, or how the storm pressed against the windows like a restless ghost.

7.    The “show, don’t tell trap”

It is the oldest writing advice and the most misunderstood. “Show, don’t tell” does not mean you should describe everything in cinematic detail. It means to make your reader feel what is happening, not just read about it.

Don’t tell me the moon is shining, show me the glint of light on broken glass. — Anton Chekhov

How to fix it?

Don’t tell your readers that your character is sad. Show them the coffee growing cold in their untouched cup. Make the emotions an experience for your readers.

8.    The lazy editing escape

Finishing a draft feels like winning a marathon, but skipping the edit is like stopping right before the finish line. Editing should not be the punishment. It is Polish, treat it like one. It is where your story goes from rough sketch to masterpiece.

Most academic editing services also offer help with refining manuscripts. Consider hiring one!

Fixation:

Step away from your draft for a day or three. Return with fresh eyes and hunt for weak verbs, clunky sentences, and scenes that don’t serve a purpose. Editing is rewriting, and rewriting is where real writing happens.

9.    The voice vanishing act

In trying to sound like a writer, many lose their natural voice. Suddenly, your story sounds like a textbook or a distant narrator instead of you. Your voice is your fingerprint. Don’t let it fade under fancy words.

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. — William Wordsworth

Fix it by:

Writing like you talk. Read your piece out loud and listen. Does it sound like you? If not, strip away the fluff until it does.

10. The fear of finishing

Ah, yes, the writer’s eternal traitor. You tweak, adjust, reword, and edit again because it is never ready. But guess what? No story ever feels finished, only abandoned with love.

Fix it:  

Accept that done is better than perfect. Every finished story makes you a better writer. Hit publish, share, learn, and grow. That is how real writing magic happens.

Quick fix tips

Mistake	Quick Fix
Over-explaining	Say it once, powerfully. And trust your reader.
Adverb overload	Swap adverbs for stronger verbs.
Info dumping	Reveal details slowly, like breadcrumbs.
Using clichés	Twist them into something fresh and original.
Flat dialogue	Give each character a unique voice.
Over-description	Focus on sensory, emotion-driven details.
Telling instead of showing	Let actions and imagery reveal emotion.
Skipping editing	Edit ruthlessly. That’s where the magic happens.
Losing your voice	Write like you talk, then refine it.
Fear of finishing	Done is better than perfect, publish and grow!

Frequently asked questions

Finishing thoughts

Writing is not solely about mistakes, but learning from them. Every typo, tangled sentence, and awkward phrase is proof that you are doing the work. The world does not need perfect writers. It needs brave ones who dare to improve. So next time you catch yourself committing one of these classic blunders, just smile because you are not failing, but growing. And one day, you will look back at your early drafts, laugh a little, and realize that every word, even the bad ones, brought you here.