|
|
Errors in Writing First off, let's make it clear that this page is not about errors of grammar or even basic style (Passive voice, etc.) It is about errors that I see in Amateur writing, common mistakes that nearly everyone makes when they're starting out. If you're looking for grammar, go elsewhere. If you're looking for how to take the blinking red neon "NEWBIE!" Sign off your writing, read on. 1. The Vocabulary of Doom:This refers to extraneous use of large or rare vocabulary- 'buzzwords'. Buzzwords are fine if they're rare enough. If the only word that can describe what you want to say is 'caliginous', then use 'caliginous'. But remember that in doing so you'll confuse many of your readers. A general rule of thumb is this: Another note on the vocabulary of doom: If you're going to use a thesaurus, don't pick a word unless you know what it means and can use it in at least 2 different sentences. I don't know how many times I've seen words used improperly because people have used the thesaurus feature to 'spice up' their repetitive writing and have picked the wrong word for the job. 7. Characters…:There comes a point in every story where you will write something, then go back and read it, and then realize that it's just too convenient. I look here to Jean M. Auel's 'Earth's Children' Series about Ayla the Cro-Magnon woman. Now, it's a lovely well-written series, but it should be noted that it overplays coincidence. Ayla discovered how to make fire with flint and iron, how to tame animals, how to ride horses. She's incredibly gorgeous and endlessly modest, she's a master at any language she hears for five minutes. She's TOO PERFECT. This follows any way-too-perfect character. The gorgeous, strong, smart, nimble, etc… It also follows the basic stereotypes- the dumb jock, the cheerleader, the geek, the rich kid, the Irish policeman, the evil genius. If a character in a story is important enough to speak more than one line, they're important enough to have a little depth. 4. Consistency:Consistency can be tough to pull off, especially in setting. I recommend having a bible (Not the church kind. See dictionary) to refer to. Write down EVERYTHING, even if it doesn't seem important. If the main character fell in the mud in scene one, they'd better be dirty in scene three unless a shower was mentioned in scene two. Pi. Languages:In science fiction and fantasy you will often be called upon to make up a bunch of words that don't really exist. If you intend to do this: WRITE A DICTIONARY FOR YOURSELF. There is nothing more embarrassing that spelling the same fake word three different ways in the course of a book, or using two different fake words for the same thing. Also, and this is just a personal note, words should be at least marginally pronounceable by the human tongue if you intend to have humans try to understand them. And words of the same language sound like they come from the same language. A perfect example is Lewis Carroll's poem Jabberwocky: Did gire and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borregoves, And the mome rathes outgrabe. 9. Fanfiction:Now, it's not my specialty (Aw Hell, I don't touch the stuff with a ten foot pole) But I do understand that many amateurs like to write fanfiction. I've read good fanfiction. And I've read REALLY, REALLY BAD fanfiction. Just remember this: Even a shadow is true to it's shade. You can't change the characters, the plot, the setting, and still expect people to go with it. You can't kill off major characters without the other characters reacting drastically. You can't go molding it like it's your own little universe, because it isn't- it's the Author's universe. |