What is the biggest mistake a new writer can make?

[Deleted member 146224]

Yes you have. Your comment and opinion are dumb. Every noteworthy and respectable writer's opinion (which I will absolutely take over a random guy's on the internet) is that you have to write each and every day so that you can get into the habit of actually writing your story regularly, and not just every three to six months when you get a random surge of inspiration. Using this flawed logic, it can take a writer months or years to write a single chapter because he's not writing everyday but only when he "wants" or when he "can". Don't listen to this guy's above me horrible advice, you absolutely have to get in the habit of writing everyday or your writing career is over before it even starts.

That's the fastest way to burn yourself out before you even start. Writing doesn't require muscle memory to be built, like playing an instrument or drawing does. Your brain needs time to rest.

 

[LuoirM]

Writing

 

[J_Chemist]

Yes you have. Your comment and opinion are dumb. Every noteworthy and respectable writer's opinion (which I will absolutely take over a random guy's on the internet) is that you have to write each and every day so that you can get into the habit of actually writing your story regularly, and not just every three to six months when you get a random surge of inspiration. Using this flawed logic, it can take a writer months or years to write a single chapter because he's not writing everyday but only when he "wants" or when he "can". Don't listen to this guy's above me horrible advice, you absolutely have to get in the habit of writing everyday or your writing career is over before it even starts.

Incorrect. Good try though. You're also a random guy on the Internet. Don't forget that.

Majority of new writers do not have the capacity to write everyday. Doing so will cause burnout, strain, and may cause a negative effect. People who write everyday are actual authors with lives dedicated to stories and make a living writing. Your regular newbie writer is not that.

Get into the habit of writing regularly and set goals for yourself. But write when you can. Don't force yourself if you can't. Find a day or timeframe that fits in your schedule and dedicate that time block to your writing. As a normal human being with a full time job and other obligations, that's when you should focus on writing.

 

[HungrySheep]

Incorrect. Good try though. You're also a random guy on the Internet. Don't forget that.

Majority of new writers do not have the capacity to write everyday. Doing so will cause burnout, strain, and may cause a negative effect. People who write everyday are actual authors with lives dedicated to stories and make a living writing. Your regular newbie writer is not that.

Get into the habit of writing regularly and set goals for yourself. But write when you can. Don't force yourself if you can't. Find a day or timeframe that fits in your schedule and dedicate that time block to your writing. As a normal human being with a full time job and other obligations, that's when you should focus on writing.

Sounds good, doesn't work. Maybe it works for you. That's awesome.

But for the vast majority of people, it doesn't. You'll write a paragraph or even a chapter and then say "I'll write when I can!" Fast forward several weeks, you haven't written a single word. Just like everything in life, consistency is important even in hobbies. It doesn't matter if it's writing, playing a sport or an instrument, learning a language, or even drawing.

You need practice and consistency to improve and find the drive to continue doing the activity. No one will improve at anything by doing it once a month or an even more sporadic schedule.

You can see this in real time with EMPIRICAL evidence next month when all the gyms get flooded with New Years Resolutioners. They'll sign up, work out for a session, then say "I'll work out again next week!" Come next week, guess what? They don't work out. Now what? They'll tell themselves "It's just one missed week, let's do next week." They don't. "I'll work out when I can!" They won't.

Consistency is the most important thing in improving and actually finishing what you started. You don't need to write a chapter every day. You don't even need to write a paragraph. Just write a sentence if you're that burned out, or maybe write something different than what you're currently stumped on. It's like muscle mass: if you don't use it, you'll lose it.

People who write everyday are actual authors with lives dedicated to stories and make a living writing.

Not true. I write every day and I definitely do not make a living. If you know some kind of hidden stash I've somehow been accumulating without my knowledge, please let me know. I would love to be making $5k/month on Patreon doing nothing other than publishing a ~2k word chapter every day.

 

[Verdante]

9) THINKING THEY CAN TURN IT INTO A FULL TIME JOB (like JP/KR/CH do)

 

[DaScoot]

You do need to get into the habit of writing regularly, but forcing yourself to do it every day (especially if you have a different full time job) is a bad idea. There are some days when it's just not going to happen, because you're busy or tired or pissed off or just don't have any good ideas, and making yourself open up your story and write one sentence you know is crap isn't going to help anything. In fact, I'd argue that you shouldn't write every single day, or do anything every single day really, besides, you know, eating and sleeping and that. People need breaks even from the things they enjoy. I have multiple projects I've been working on for years on a regular basis and I give myself days off or they would drive me insane.

If it works for some people, that's great. For other folks it's a good way to make them hate their hobby.

 

[Shrimp_eater]

Speaking from personal experience, thinking about writing, imagining the scenes and cool moments in your head and how other people would react to reading it or how your story gets adapted to a mega popular show/film/cartoon and not actually writing your story. You have to write every day, even if it's only a few sentences. Nobody will write your story for you, except you and you only. Even later, when you get in the drive to write and have written many chapters and thousands of words, you will still get into knots and writer's block but the most important thing is to never give up, because you can do it.

I wouldn't say every day, but at least consistently. As you said you can't really write a novel driven by inspiration alone. There'll be plenty of times where you just don't feel like it, and if you just act on feeling these moments can turn from days, to weeks, to months and the novel never gets written.

I think stabilishing a schedule, like "i will write X words per day/week", is important. Then fit the amount and frequency to whatever your schedule allows you.

 

[prognastat]

I think there's a bit of a balance. If you never make yourself write then you'll probably never finish it. However you also need to learn to recognise when your brain is just done and anything you write is just going to be crap.

As for things I think the mistake most beginner authors make is expectations. Of themselves, of their story and of their audience.

Don't expect perfection from yourself. Just write and publish. Good enough is better than never published. As long as you are releasing stuff and paying attention you'll improve over time.

Don't expect your novel to become a massive success. Most of all your first attempt. Chances are it will either take a long time for your first story to take off or it will take a few stories to do so unless you are extremely lucky.

Don't expect your audience to "make it worth it for you". Sure there will be supportive people, but if you rely on that to keep you going when you receive criticism whether warranted or not it will hurt your drive. Expect that there will be ups and downs and listen to your audience so you can improve, but don't take it to heart.

 

[BB_Tensei]

Adding cover art from the start. If approvals are slow, you'll miss your front page exposure window and put pressure on yourself to write more chapters per week.

 

[patrick_lansing]

That was a fascinating thread to read.

Just write when you can, but try to write everyday. Consistency matters in any activity.

 

[BearlyAlive]

Not making any mistakes is the biggest mistake. Unless you're writing powertrip wish-fulfillment harems, in that case your existence is the biggest mistake you can make

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Listening to people online who have their specific preferences.

 

[nemonusquam_]

As the title says, what is the biggest mistake a new writer can make when starting their first story?

Being too reactive and trying to justify or defend your work from every comment and critique. Look, you're exposing your work online--sheer numbers plus anonymity will ensure there will be some douchebags in your comment section. Also, take it with a grain of salt; truth might be that we aren't that good and there's room for improvement.

 

[RiaCorvidiva]

Writing, especially in regards to webserials, is a marathon, not a sprint. And your first work will probably not be super well-received. It takes time and practice to hone your craft. I'm working on my 5th and 7th works right now, and it's a vast improvement in quality compared with my first. In truth, I don't know if I would have continued on if I had started serializing my first work, because it was not good and I'm sure the reader response would have reflected that.

 

[Ellieporter]

As the title says, what is the biggest mistake a new writer can make when starting their first story?

Posting it on Royal Road and expecting that they'll receive feedback. In this case, its an armchair feedback and not-so-constructive criticism that you'll want to never write again...

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Listening to people online who have their specific preferences.

If you try to please everyone, you please no one. I agree with this; generally, stories that try to make everyone happy can get boring.

 

[RiaCorvidiva]

If you try to please everyone, you please no one. I agree with this; generally, stories that try to make everyone happy can get boring.

Corollary: it is better to have a work that some people love and other people hate, than a story where everyone just goes 'meh'. Especially if you plan to monetize. The people who love your book are the ones who will sign up for Patreon, will buy your book, will share it with their friends and family. Superfans are an artist's best friend.

 

[NgHeartSilver]

But that's exactly what I did and the stories are still doing well.

That's called “take risks”