The 7 Mistakes Writers Make

byFleeky

8.9K followers

18 hrs ago

The 7 Mistakes Writers Make

And the Soul Promises That Heal Them

You don't have to write perfectly. But if you're gonna write, write with your whole chest. After editing over 1000 pages, here are 7 mistakes I see again and again... and what your soul might be whispering behind each one.

1. Rushing the Beginning

The Mistake:
Starting too fast, skipping setup, diving into drama with no context.

Why it hurts:
The reader doesn’t know who to care about or why. It’s like walking into a party and someone yells, “She cheated on me!” and you’re like, “Who are you, bro?”

Soul Promise #1:
I will let my story breathe.

Example:
Instead of "He punched the wall,"
start with: "Matt had been staring at the same email for fifteen minutes. Then he punched the wall."

2. Info Dumping

The Mistake:
Dropping too much backstory at once.

Why it hurts:
Readers drown. You built a whole world and then dropped it on their head.

Soul Promise #2:
I will trust the reader to keep up.

Example:
Don't start with your character's entire family history.
Let us meet Grandma through the story. Show her scolding the dog, not her birth certificate.

3. Over-Explaining

The Mistake:
Telling us what to feel. Then telling us again. Then adding italics just in case.

Why it hurts:
It kills the magic. Readers want to feel, not be told howto feel.

Soul Promise #3:
I will write with faith, not fear.

Example:
Instead of "She was devastated. Her heart broke. She felt horrible,"
try: "She stared at the voicemail. The words kept echoing."

4. Characters Without Drive

The Mistake:
Passive characters who just react. No goals. No spark.

Why it hurts:
If your character doesn’t care what happens, neither will your reader.

Soul Promise #4:
I will give my characters something to fight for.

Example:
Not "Sarah went to work like always,"
but "Sarah clocked in, counting the hours until she could slip her resignation letter onto her boss's desk."

5. Flat Dialogue

The Mistake:
Characters talk like robots. Or worse, like the author in disguise.

Why it hurts:
It pulls the reader out of the story. Dialogue is where we hear the real people.

Soul Promise #5:
I will let my characters speak in their own voice.

Example:
Instead of "I am not happy about this situation,"
try: "You serious right now? This is a dumpster fire, Kev."

6. No Scene Purpose

The Mistake:
Writing scenes that don't move the story forward.

Why it hurts:
Readers start skimming. Momentum dies.

Soul Promise #6:
Every scene earns its place.

Example:
If two characters are having coffee, make sure one leaves with a secret, a plan, or a broken heart.

7. Not Finishing

The Mistake:
Quitting halfway through. Or worse, endless tinkering with Chapter One.

Why it hurts:
Your story never lives. It stays trapped in potential.

Soul Promise #7:
I will finish the damn thing.

Example:
Even if it’s messy. Even if you hate it by draft three. Even if your cat judges you. Hit "The End." Then edit with love.

Final Whisper?

Writing isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about getting it honest.

These mistakes? They're just signals from your story, asking you to listen deeper.

So write. With guts. With grace. And always, with your soul at the wheel.

✨ Fleeky

P.S.
One of the most powerful things you can do?
Re-read your work like someone else wrote it. That’s where the magic (and the mistakes) reveal themselves.