On Facebook: What are the biggest mistakes you made/are making as a beginning writer?
This question comes up a lot, as in this thread
Three important things that lept out among the answers were:
Some said things like:
“Listening to other people’s advice. Some was good but some was damaging. And also, not listening to enough advise. There you go.”
“Probably thinking my first novel would be ready to publish before I learned a few things.”
“I am realizing I just did not give myself enough time. I’m trying to figure out how to fix that.”
“So I guess my best advice to this question is seek people who know more than you do before leaping into the fray. Then trust where life takes you and keep learning!”
Things I did that are considered ‘wrong’ were deciding against having an editor, not researching the process of BETA readers and ARC reviewers before publishing (though some say this is a complete waste of time since less than 20% of readers leave a review), and not establishing a marketing plan before publishing.
I was so excited to have finished the book and so proud that I wanted to hit the button and release it right away. Was this a mistake? I don’t know. I always considered the first book like the first pancake. It’s not going to be the best in the stack. I will learn and grow, and that will show.
Unfortunately, after publishing, I discovered some typos and errors. One of them was major. I also made the mistake of using the Amazon KDP free promotion before discovering and correcting my mistakes, so 300 copies went out with it.
Sigh. Live and learn.
I confess I have always had the tendency to pull the trigger too soon.
My next novel is a lot better, I think. I still will eschew editing (and from the feedback I got on my prose, I may not need one). But I will try ARC reviews and general public feedback, and my marketing plan is slowly developing and will be fun rather than a painful waste of time.
Image generated by AI using Midjourney to portray a chaotic scene.
DEE HARPER LEWIS 