What are the 10 common mistakes in creative writing? First of all, welcome to the land of sensationalized idealism and quiet internal frustration. Trust me, you’re in for one hell of a ride. I don’t mean to scare you off but if you’re brave enough to make this choice then my ‘spell of doom’ should not deter you. It should, however, make you more conscious of the reality- or fanciful universe- you are stepping into. That said there are numerous mistakes creative writers make in their early attempts to put out content. These mistakes can often affect the readers’ engagement and prevent the writers from getting their message across.
Definition
Creative writing, as defined by the dictionary, is a form of expression that showcases imagination and invention. It is a literary art that utilizes words to evoke emotions and feelings. Unlike other forms of writing, creative writing often involves crafting imaginary scenarios and characters. This freedom of expression allows writers to explore new worlds, delve into the depths of human experience, and convey their unique perspectives.
Examples of Creative Writing
- Descriptive Passage
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Shadows stretched across the meadow, where wildflowers danced gently in the evening breeze. A solitary oak tree stood tall, its leaves whispering secrets to the night as fireflies flickered like stars brought down to earth.
- Dialogue
“I can’t believe you did that!” Sarah exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Did what?” Jake shrugged, trying to play it cool. “You know exactly what! You walked right into the meeting and told the boss he was wrong!” “Well, someone had to say it,” he replied, a mischievous grin creeping onto his face.
- Poetry
In the stillness of the night,
whispers of dreams take flight,
beneath the silver moon’s embrace,
lost in time and silent space.
Each star a story, each breath a song,
in this quiet world, where we all belong.
- Short Story Opening
The old clock in the corner ticked with a rhythm that echoed her heartbeat. Anna sat in the dim light of her grandmother’s attic, surrounded by dusty memories and forgotten treasures. Today, she would uncover the truth behind the family heirloom—a locket that had always been shrouded in mystery.
- 5. Flash Fiction
Every morning, he brewed his coffee while the world outside awoke. Today, however, a letter slipped through the door. It bore no return address, only a single line: “The truth lies beneath the old oak.” Curiosity piqued, he set down his mug and stepped outside, ready to unravel a mystery that had been waiting for decades. Want to explore more creative writing examples click here: https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/creative-writing/types-and-examples/
10 common mistakes in creative writing
- Lack of Planning:
A common mistake in creative writing is that a writer does not require planning- How can you plan creativity, right? WRONG! You still have to spend time structuring your pieces and ensuring you plan them out before you begin the actual piece e.g. for a poem or verse, you can plan out bullet points for each stanza. Planning helps break down your thoughts so the audience can easily digest your work. Planning also helps you know the specifics of what to explore in your work, keeping in line with the theme and ensuring an orderly exposition of ideas.
- Clichés:
There is nothing new under the sun. Every bit of content is inspired by something or someone who came before. That said there is such a thing as overused ideas or phrases that can make your work feel overdone and unoriginal. When dealing with over-explored themes e.g. love, it’s important to understand the tropes and manipulate them in a way that will make the work feel fresh. Instead of another love story, Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby explored the dream of a love that in reality had lost its time. In Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare explored love with a tragic ending which was a completely foreign idea in mainstream narrative circles.
- Ignoring the Audience:
Inhibitions to a creative writer’s work is a common mistake in creative writing but audience consideration is paramount to ensure the success of the work. To effectively communicate your thoughts, a writer needs to understand the consumers of the work, their emotions, age, culture, or current experiences to identify what to say and the best way to communicate it to resonate with them. Keeping your audience in mind could mean the difference between effectively capturing their experience or language to best communicate to them.
- Excessive Adverbs and Adjectives:
Description in any piece of work is critical not only to enriching the piece but evoking the audience’s imagination. Overuse of descriptive words on the other hand has an opposite effect and is a common mistake in creative writing. Too many descriptive words is a common mistake in creative writing and can clutter a piece of work or weaken the impact on the consumers. It is therefore imperative in creative writing to understand when the description is too much and when to avoid using it altogether.
- Overly Complex Language:
Learning a few new words from a well-written, creative piece is refreshing. Audiences, however, are less inclined to appreciate the overuse of complicated words. The creative writing mistake of using over-complex language alienates the readers and makes it a gruelling task for the audience to follow. Language should be kept simple and the structures easy to follow so as to enhance the narrative rather than frustrate readers.
- Not Proofreading:
Anything you write whether it’s a creative piece or a simple email has to be proofread. Thank heavens for spell check. When typing, most platforms or software have inbuilt tools that monitor spelling, punctuation, and grammatical mistakes highlighting them for review. For creative writers who prefer to handwrite, proofreading is not as full proof as we’d like. Nevertheless, writers need to go through their work and try to make it as accurate as possible. This common mistake in creative writing may cost you a loyal following and can easily be avoided.
- Lack of Conflict:
The baseline for a good story is the constant struggle between two entities. Good or evil, a protagonist and antagonist, or a character and an obstacle. These stories are relatable and appeal to audiences because they are a reflection of what they go through daily. Life is a constant battle with the elements. Each day we face obstacles in our quest to achieve our desires, whether it is our own weaknesses, other people, our past or the elements around us- we are constantly fighting against something. Having conflict in creative writing is essential to keeping the piece engaging.
- Weak Character Development:
Characterization is the backbone of every story. A story is often as good as its last character. Most creative writers often make the mistake of not spending enough time to construct their characters and arcs. Good characters are often complicated and conflicting. They are imperfect and are constantly struggling to attain a certain goal despite the obstacles. This conflict is what keeps the story interesting. Understanding the weaknesses and strengths of characters and how they implore such qualities to relate to others or attain specific goals keeps the reader intrigued and entertained. Flat or stereotypical characters can disengage readers, while complex or conflicted characters inspire engagement.
- Forgetting Theme:
A theme acts like a beacon guiding the narrative from exposition to conclusion. Everything that happens within the plot should be directly correlated to the overall theme. A good piece alludes to the theme through the characters, their experiences, and symbolism without actually leading the audience to a direct conclusion. Audiences like the chance to identify the theme themselves given enough evidence and coaxing therefore, a good writer should keep the theme at the back of their mind and drive the story in close relation to it. Losing sight of the central theme is a common mistake in creative writing and can lead to a disjointed narrative. Maintaining the theme fills the reader with satisfaction when it finally reveals itself.
- Avoiding Risk:
Taking a risk to explore complex themes, create complex characters or address controversial topics is what sets writers apart. Playing it safe can only get you so far. You have to be bold to address what people are afraid to say out loud or bring out people’s injustices or prejudices. A good writer’s responsibility is to hold up a mirror to society rather than delude audiences with narratives of perfection. Our world is imperfect so we need writers who will address the imperfections and maybe inspire us to make a change. Sticking to safe topics or styles is a common mistake in creative writing can prevent writers from fully exploring their creativity but being bold and taking a risk makes them memorable. Here is a bold example of tackling a bold subject.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, recognizing and addressing the common mistakes in creative writing is essential for growth and improvement in the craft. Whether it’s neglecting character development, relying on clichés, or overlooking the importance of editing, these pitfalls can hinder a writer’s potential. By cultivating awareness and seeking feedback, aspiring writers can refine their skills and develop a unique voice. Embracing the learning process, with all its challenges, ultimately transforms these initial missteps into valuable lessons. As beginners navigate their creative journeys, they should remember that every great writer started somewhere, and perseverance, along with a willingness to learn, will pave the way for their success.