10 Beginner Writer Mistakes You Must Be Aware With Them

Introduction

Writing is an art that demands patience, practice, and a keen eye for detail. Whether it is a blog, an essay, a short story, or even a novel, every writer has to begin somewhere. A beginner makes mistakes, but the secret to improvement lies in the acknowledgement and learning from those mistakes. Most beginner writers are known to commit certain errors in their writings that can lower the quality and impact of the written work. Here, We Will discuss 10 common mistakes beginner writers commit and some tips to help you avoid these mistakes. As you are aware of such mistakes, you are closer to making your work sound and impactful.

Mistake 1: Overcomplicating Language

One of the common errors made by new writers is to overcomplicate the language. It's so easy to start with this belief that long, complicated words or intricate sentence structures are going to make you sound sophisticated. The reality is that this usually just muddles things and can even make your writing difficult to understand.

Tip: Keep your writing simple and clear. Avoid hard words. Focus on communicating ideas easily for better understanding.

Mistake 2: Ignoring the Importance of Structure

A significant error that most novice writers commit is the failure to pay attention to structure. Without a clear structure, your writing may look like a mess of disconnected ideas. Whether you are writing a short essay, an article, or a novel, having a solid structure is key to keeping your readers engaged and guiding them through your ideas.

Tip: To arrange your thoughts, use an outline. To structure your writing, use an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Make sure it makes sense. 

Mistake 3: Not Editing or Proofreading

The other common error that first-time writers tend to make is skipping over the editing and proofreading processes. It is easy to think that the work is done after writing the final sentence after spending hours or days on the paper. Not taking time to review and revise, however, often results in mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and overall clarity.

Tip: Always proofread after writing. Editing clears mistakes, improves clarity, and strengthens arguments. Reading aloud helps catch errors.

Mistake 4: Weak or Unclear Thesis Statement

Your work is anchored by a thesis statement, particularly in essays and research papers.  A weak or vague thesis statement makes it difficult for readers to understand what is being said; hence, they may lose track of what the main point is going to be.

Tip: A compelling thesis statement condenses your primary topic into one or two phrases. It should be clear and focused, and it should guide your paper.  

Mistake 5: Failing to Understand Your Audience

One of the most basic elements of writing is understanding the audience for your work. If you are not clear about your audience, chances are that your writing will go wrong and confuse readers or bore them. One example is writing a technical article, which may be very basic so that experts in the field get bored, or too technical in language so that beginners become confused.

Tip: Understand your audience before writing. Consider their age, interests, and needs. Tailor your tone and content accordingly. Get feedback if unsure.

Mistake 6: Not Using Active Voice

Many novice writers commit the error of using passive voice, which may give the impression that the writing is weak, indirect, or even unclear. Passive voice refers to a situation where the object of an action is turned into the subject of the sentence rather than the doer. For instance, "The book was read by Mary" is passive, but "Mary read the book" is active.  

Tip: Use active voice for clarity and strength. Instead of "The decision was made by the committee," write "The committee made the decision." It makes writing clearer and more engaging.

Mistake 7: Repetition of Ideas or Words

Your work may come across as uninteresting if you use the same concepts or words repeatedly. Though it is quite natural to emphasize important points, unnecessary repetition can weaken your message and make the writing seem redundant.

Tip: Read your writing carefully to spot repeated ideas or phrases. Reword or expand on them with fresh wording to keep the writing lively and engaging. Variations maintain the reader's interest.

Mistake 8: Not Doing Enough Research

Whether you are writing an academic paper, a blog post, or a creative story, research is essential to provide accurate information and build credibility. Relying on your knowledge alone can lead to mistakes or false claims, especially if you are writing about a topic you're not familiar with.

Tip: Research thoroughly before writing. Use reliable sources to support your ideas. Your writing gains credibility and your thesis is reinforced by research. 

Mistake 9: Ignoring Feedback

As a beginner, it can be easy to become defensive with your writing. You consider your work perfect and not anyone else can give suggestions better than yours. But still, ignoring others' thoughts can limit your growth as an author.

Tip: Accept constructive criticism. Share your work with others for feedback. Use it to improve your writing, as even professionals revise based on input.

Mistake 10: Fear of Writing

Lastly, the majority of novice writers experience a fear of writing. The reason is usually based on a fear of failure or not doing something right, hence not being good enough. This may lead to writer's block, procrastination, or even not wanting to write at all.

Tip: Write through the process, not just to finish. Mistakes are okay, and first drafts don’t need to be perfect. Write regularly, set small goals, and improve over time. Do not allow fear to prevent you from expressing your mind. 

Conclusion

The ability to write improves with awareness and practice. As a beginner, it is easy to recognize the common mistakes you make and learn from them. At BBSMIT, we have focused on helping writers get over these difficulties by providing the necessary guidance and resources to hone their skills. By streamlining your language, organizing your writing, and receiving feedback, you can become more confident and effective in writing. Don't fear making mistakes; welcome them as learning opportunities. Keep writing, keep improving, and remember, with dedication, every writer can succeed. Have a good day from BBSMIT!