19 Dec 2023

Mistakes to avoid when writing a novel

In 2023, we no longer write a novel as we could in the 19th century. It hasn't gotten any simpler yet. Otherwise, it would be known. There is no shortage of difficulties either, whatever the era. But, at all times, there are mistakes that we can avoid in this beautiful adventure that is writing.

Writing a novel can quickly become a trap if an author resorts too much to banal situations, to clichés, to endless descriptions, to characters incapable of evolving in their lives. The path can be strewn with pitfalls that can complicate the task of any author.

Becoming a writer doesn't happen overnight. The writing process requires a certain organization, discipline, courage and self-confidence. Don't panic: everything can be learned at any age and we never stop learning...That's good news, right?

The visit of the Muses

No writer writes under divine inspiration, nor thanks to the gifts that possible fairies would have offered him above his cradle at his birth. The muses don't help him anymore. If the authors reasoned like this, few works would have seen the light of day. And we would be very frustrated readers. Writing a novel is a long process, made up of moments of exaltation, but also phases of doubts, difficulties or simply lack of motivation. Writing regularly despite everything is the essential condition for the success of your novel project.

The best way to find inspiration regularly is to set up a writing routine, establish a writing schedule and stick to the things you have put in place. If writing a novel is part of your dreams, there is only one thing to do: take action!

Writing advice

As you can imagine, I am a big fan of writing advice. I give a certain number of them. I always absorb a lot of it. In my opinion, this is a valuable resource. It would be stupid to deprive yourself of it. On the other hand, I think it is fundamental to maintain a critical mind regarding what we read left and right. While some advice applies to everyone (example: a character in a novel must have qualities and flaws), others vary greatly depending on each author's process.

I am particularly surprised to hear authors say that it is essential to build a detailed plan before writing, or conversely, that the plan kills creativity and that it should be banned... Because I know experience that this problem is specific to each author, to their way of working and to their personal functioning.

Get plenty of writing advice, it's rich and educational! But always keep perspective on what you read, even on my blog! And above all, find your personal way of functioning... through practice and experience.

The end point is not the end

You have managed to follow through on your desire and you have written the last word of your novel. It’s great and I say congratulations! But, that’s not the end of your writing process. Succeeding in writing the first draft of your novel to the end is a great accomplishment, and you can be proud of yourself. On the other hand, it would be misleading to believe that your novel is finished at this stage.

A first draft looks like a pie crust that you place at the bottom of the dish intended for this purpose. It is a founding basis. Will you eat this dough alone once cooked? This dough still requires a lot of work before being enjoyed. The same goes for a novel.

You will now have to refine your text to make it a novel worthy of the name and worth reading. Once finished, let it sit for a few weeks, or even a few months, without rereading it and thinking about it as little as possible. So, when you take it out of the drawer to rework it, you will have gained the necessary perspective and you will more easily spot errors.

A character too smooth

A hero or heroine cannot be too smooth or perfect...perfection does not exist in this world or in fiction! Every character must have consistency and a well-defined personality. A hero can't be vague all the time. It must have relief.

Follow these wise tips:

• Make sure your hero isn't totally like you.
• The hero cannot always be right.
• The hero cannot be perfect and possess an unfailing moral sense. He's a human, not a robot...unless you're making a new Superman-like hero...
• The hero must provoke desire or admiration in other characters for valid reasons.
• The hero cannot have had an exceptional destiny from the start. Where would the story be then?

To understand these tips, read “Game of Thrones” or “Game of Thrones” in English by George R.R Martin because he offers his readers a complete gallery of characters, who are anything but smooth . They are all vibrant with life and credibility. It will certainly be a long read, given the number of volumes and the number of pages, but it will be very informative.

A bombastic or convoluted style…

A real writer is not obliged to copy the bombastic style of Marcel Proust with sentences lasting several pages, nor to make long complex sentences, nor use scholarly words, to impress his readers. I am convinced that it will have the opposite effect.

A bombastic style looks clumsy and conveys an image of amateurism. We are no longer in the 19th century, morals have evolved and copying the pen of the authors of the great classics makes no sense. The readerwill be more engaged with your story if he or she does not have to reread your sentences twice to understand them, or constantly look up words in the dictionary.  

Prioritize the clarity of the story and never put style before meaning. Avoid long sentences, complex structures and obscure words – at least if their sole purpose is to make your style appear more literary.

Start with a saga

Fantasy sagas are indeed on the rise these days. You don't have to write a saga and I even advise against it, especially if you are a beginner author. Obviously, you are influenced by the saga Harry Potter, Game of Thronesand it is legitimate. This is a very normal phenomenon of mimicry.

Be careful, I'm not saying that no one should write a saga. But it is not necessarily a wise choice for a beginner. It is already difficult to get to the end of your first novel: you have to learn how to manage a plot but also how to build a universe, how to develop characters, etc.

It is better to start with a single book and one that is not 500 pages from the start. This is the surest way to get to the end of the story. You will then have time to embark on a more ambitious project. The other concern is that French publishing houses are cautious about multi-volume sagas. I have read, here and there, that they rarely accept them from authors who are still unknown.

Be original at all costs

Beginning authors mistakenly think that you have to write something unique to stand out from the crowd and that is unlike anything that has already been published. Certainly. The project of writing a completely new history is illusory. Every type of world, character, and narrative structure has been written before, in one way or another.

It would be illusory to think that J.K Rowling invented her wizarding story with Harry Potter. She didn't invent the genre. She placed her iconic character in a different context. The writer reinterprets the fantasy cliché of the chosen hero – Harry Potter – against contrary entities – Voldemort – and she uses the hackneyed universe of magic. His work remains nonetheless brilliant and unique in its kind.

What will make the story you are going to write original is the development you are going to make of it. It is your interiority, your personal way of seeing the world and your authorial voice that will make your novel unique. Moreover, the most successful works do not necessarily start from the most unique ideas.

Don't look for the most original idea , but the one that resonates with you and motivates you enough to devote time and energy to it! On the other hand, be sure to add your personal touch. What also works quite well is to cross different themes and universes: these will not be new in themselves, but their combination can give something new and refreshing. It's up to you...