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Writing mistakes that editors will call you out for!

Disclaimer: this is a harsh and mean informative post on mistakes that make your writing amateurish or fanfiction-like. In the professional world, editors will call you out on them in a much harsher way that here.. but hey, they’re easy to fix! Of course, the quality of writing is often a matter of individual taste and experience, though there is a theory to it and ways to make your work clear and interesting to your readers.

And yes, as cruel as it sounds to admit—most fanfiction writers are amateurs who will not help you improve your own writing. You might have to close your Good Omens AO3 fanfic for a few hours to read the actual work by Neil Gaiman. That said, fanfiction is an amazing gateway to becoming a pro author because it gives you insight on what the audience likes, and the practice you need to improve! There are many fanfiction writers who’ve taken the time to learn from professionals about their craft, and are in a place where they could become successful published authors themselves.

That aside, here are 7 writing mistakes that hinder your writing!

1 – Dialogue tags

This is BY FAR the most common mistake that amateur writers do, and particularly prelevant in fanfiction. Alternative dialogue tags (whisper, shout, murmured) should be used VERY sparingly. “said”, “replied”, and “asked” should build up the majority of the tags you use.

Oftentimes, the reader will understand the tone based on what the character says or by their actions.

2 - Tense changes

Pick a tense and stick to it. Many times, amateurs waver between past and present which leads to awkward reading. Choose which tense you prefer and stick to it. An extra caution should be taken when using past tense, however, to correctly use past preterite (I ate) vs past perfect (I had eaten). While both can be used, they are different so make sure you understand when to use which.

3 – Pointless dialogue

It’s time to cut the small talk. While chitchat and banter may be fun to read, particularly in fanfiction, editors will ask that you remove it if it doesn’t advance the plot. What you want to do is cut down on the filler in your story, and if that means your characters NOT having an argument about macaroni cheese, then so be it. Save dialogue for important and meaningful conversation only—your readers will prefer it, I promise.

4 – Pointless description

Hand in hand with the previous point, description should be kept consise and relevant. We don’t need to know what your character is wearing or the details of their “black, leather, zebra-print sofa under the wide windowsill in the master bedroom”. Keep the descriptions short, fed into the plot little-by-little and relevant to what is happening. Your readers are smart—they can imagine the rest for themselves! That’s what makes reading fun!

5 – Use the character’s name

The blue-eyed boy has a name for the great purpose of you using it! Literal writing, nine times out of ten, is better! Green orbs are distracting, but green eyes are to the point and clear. It’s the same with names! The name, title, role (butler, governess etc), or pronouns should always be the default. Any other term should be used sparingly when there is no other alternative.

6 – Abandon the pet names

Yes, pet names are cute and fun, but not when they’re in every sentence of conversation. Things like “babe”, “baby”, “sugarpuff sunshine fairy” should be used SPARINGLY. I can assure you, the love interests saying it once or twice in the novel will have a far greater impact on the reader than if they say it every time they call their partner. An overuse of pet names becomes distracting and make the character seem both immature and a caricature. It also has a similar effet to repeating the other person’s name during a conversation—it leads to unnatural dialogue as we only really say the other person’s name to them in order to get their attention.

7 – Immature characters

This is a biiiiig one in fanfiction. You may see characters who are adults in their mid to late twenties but who still behave like teenagers. Granted, if you are a teenage writer, this can’t always be corrected, though it does become apparent to any reader over the age of eighteen.

Truth be told, adults mature and don’t react as overtly as many poorly-written characters do. A twenty-eight year old is very unlikely to tell two teenagers who are making out at the kitchen table to “get a room”, nor are they likely to be victim of some horrible miscommunication that leads to a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers situation. Of course, it is still possible, though it does read as unrealistic and makes it apparent that the author has not yet reached the age of the character they are writing about. Take reference from real people around the age of your characters and if all else fails, you could always look for the possibility to age them down.

The point of correcting these mistakes is to create a novel that is easy to understand without the reader feeling as though they’re swimming through mud. Publishers look for clear, consise books that tell one story from start to finish!

Good luck!

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Ana de Armas as Marta Cabrera Knives Out (2019)

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Knives Out (2019)

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Death Eater Tales

↳ Rodolphus Lestrange

   Raised to be pragmatic, Rodolphus had tossed away his notions of marital bliss, and when hope died, he had striven to enjoy the fire instead despite the inevitable burns. He threw himself into the mind games and gambled as to whether he would come out on the other side. But it had worn him down quickly: it had been years since he had engaged with her in any real way.       It still rankled him at times. They could have done this, they could have made it                                            bearable if they had done so together.    He heard Rabastan stomp down the corridor and sighed, knocking back the remainder of the whiskey in his glass before facing his little brother, who would no doubt be in high dudgeon. He had tried his best to take the place of his father, to offer the advice he would have done, well, that what he considered to be worthwhile. A significant portion of the Lestrange family scriptures he had discounted, culled, destined to die along with him.

                                 — After the Meeting, The Heir’s Tale by @calebski

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«you’re magic»

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EMMA WATSON as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 1 + 2

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Tomione

I was in love with her mind. Murder and torture were clean-cut for me, but love, love would always be a mystery. A serious mental illness.

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YULE // a playlist for the winter solstice & welcoming the new year - listen here.

a time to ready our homes, in both the physical and spiritual, with enough warmth to last us through the dark half of the year. for quiet contemplation and preparation, inspecting ourselves for any cracks where the cold may enter, to find a comfortable solitude beside our inner hearth. 

with songs from Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, The Staves, Fleet Foxes, The Decemberists, Bon Iver, The Avett Brothers, Arcade Fire, Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Fleetwood Mac, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Bear’s Den, Ben Howard, Sigur Rós, Daughter, Maggie Rogers, City and Colour, First Aid Kit, Regina Spektor, & more.

24 songs, 1 hr and 38 min.

[irenwhite]

Severus: I can't watch this anymore! You got no game! Let me help you.

James: You? But you're our sworn enemy!

Severus: Nonetheless, in situations this dire, the bro-code trumps the enemy thing.

[irenwhite]

Types of students as the months

inspired by @planetarystudy

January: ‘Oxygen’ by Catfish and the Bottlemen

pearl clean pages of a new diary, cold glasses of water that you can feel travel through you, even grades across all your subjects, planning the segments of your day like an perfectly split orange juicy and ripe, always arriving as the hand chimes the perfect time, finding concentrating in study playlists of instrumental music 

February: ‘Beating Heart Baby’ by Waterparks

streamers of blushing pink and crimson running alongside your notes, studying in pairs testing each other with pastel revision cards, flourishes at school whilst surviving on average grades, watching the swans take leadership whilst swimming in iridescent, feathered hand brushes 

March: ‘Anything Could Happen’ by The Academic

raised hands and correct answers, jewelled green apple slices smeared with peanut butter, lukewarm lunch times spent debating with your favourite teacher, straight As across all their subjects, gingham dresses and frilly socks, bouquets of cream lilies 

April: ‘i’m so tired…’ by Lauv, Troye Sivan 

jars of orange jelly beans, the luxury of being content with their grades, shades of context blended through your essays, the sound of your pen scratching harmonising with bird song, studying under the sickly rich callipo sun, joyful smiles and dimpled cheeks

May: ‘Homesick’ by The Riversiders

comparing the thick wool of a sheep to the cotton clouds that fill the sky, working under the benevolent shade of a tree, loose dresses and pastel highlighters, snacking on warm bread thickly buttered, takes little notice of their grades and instead enjoys the privilege of being able to learn

June: ‘As the World Caves In’ by Matt Maltese

flowers preserved into eternity pressed between browned books, shards of poetry fed through cream typewriters, excels in creative subjects where they sublime mind can flourish, frilled socks embellished with ditsy pansies, neat sheets of homework written in pencil

July: ‘Looking at You’ by Only The Poets

brogue shoes tapping against cobbled streets, intense concentration in coffee shops, scrapbooking into composition notebooks, jewelled toned backpacks over packed ready for any event, smudged tortoiseshell glasses, high grades in any humanitarian subject 

August: ‘hot girl bummer: by blackbear

low grades compatible with no care, losing your hours by watching films, drunken memories grown on school nights, the class joker, sucks on a lollipop like its needed for them to breathe, vibrant hues visible in all their outfits, curated playlists and high volumes 

September: ‘Are We Having Any Fun Yet?’ by Larkins

brown satchels stocked up with brand new stationery, golden loyalty to your favourite pen, floating on the success of constant high grades and star stickers, work that is always handed in way before the due date, adorning your life in jewelled autumn tones

October: ‘Beetlebum’ by Blur

burning black coffee drunk before it’s finished being made, thousands of words pounded into your laptop hours before the deadline, surviving off out of date food and easy meals, artificial presentation and good grades floating on top of a lack of organisation and tired eyes

November: ‘Bonfire’ by The Hunna

sipping on spiced coffee whilst working through your notes, comforting grades cushioning your future, bobbled jumpers hand knitted in your childhood, searching for new knowledge under candlelight, marking the memorable moments of your life on film photos

December: ‘I Want You’ by Blaenavon

essays that debate the wrong area written in leaking fountain pen, tweed blazers and creased shirts, finding a second home in the library, handing in work late due to you losing your thoughts in another topic of research, bold opinions and evaluated reasons 

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june playlist

American Beauty/American Psycho - Fall Out Boy

Swing Life Away (Alternate Version) - Rise Against

Serve The Servant - Nirvana

Same Old War - Our Last Night

Territorial Pissings - Nirvana

Slow It Down - The Goo Goo Dolls

Poison Heart - The Ramones

Burn Bright - My Chemical Romance

Brother - Gerard Way

Forest - 21 Pilots

Rebel Of Babylon - Metallica

Rebel Beat - The Goo Goo Dolls

Pretty Vacant - The Sex Pistols

No More Tears - Black Label Society

Sugar, We’re Going Down - Fall Out Boy

Ambulance - My Chemical Romance

Those Nights - Skillet

Mind Riot - Soundgarden

Caught By The Fuzz - Supergrass

Through Two Hearts - The Wonder Years

Runaways - All Time Low

It’s My Life - Bon Jovi

Even In His Youth - Nirvana

Kids Wanna Rock - Bryan Adams

Give Peace A Chance - John Lennon

The Joke - Lifehouse

I Must Be Dreaming - The Maine

Surrender The Night - My Chemical Romance

The House You Built - Hands Like Houses

The End - Simple Plan

Let It Haunt You (So Beautiful) - Sixx:A.M.

Pride (In The Name Of Love) - U2

Check Yes Juliet - We The Kings

Dear Maria, Count Me In - All Time Low

Steal Away (The Night) - Ozzy Osbourne

Don’t Stop (Ashton Demo Vocals) - 5 Seconds Of Summer

Rock And Roll - Led Zeppelin

Recovery - Major League

Chin Up - Moose Blood

Rock Star - Hole

Apologize - Hollywood Undead

Separation Of Church And Skate - NOFX

Hooligans - Issues

Aerials - System Of A Down

Paper Wings - Rise Against

Make Your Move - The Relapse Symphony

Bottled - Seahaven

Killing Time - Secret Broadcast

Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots

Heart To Heart - Aldo Nova

Diamonds Are Forever (And Forever Is A Mighty Long Time) - The Cab

Radio/Video - System Of A Down

Breathing Slowly (Acoustic) - Crossfade

Stutter - Marianas Trench

Beautiful Day - U2

You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison - My Chemical Romance

View From Heaven - Yellowcard

Me Vs. The Highway - The Wonder Years

Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap

The Thin Ice - Pink Floyd

Mr. Crowley - Ozzy Osbourne

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Tag yourself as the Little Women

Meg March: ‘Alrighty Aphrodite’ by Peach Pit

nights drenched in frayed lace dresses and wilted rose buds headbands, kisses under candle light that promise so much more than words, knowing that independence and strength sometimes means following traditional dreams if its what you want, blushed cheeks and sparkled eyes

Jo March: ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ by Arctic Monkeys

cutting through society’s expectations of you like breaking off dead branches, streaming along cobbled streets, pouring your imagination into pages and ink, refusing to follow the path, a clear mind fogged by other’s thoughts and loneliness, a hidden lioness 

Beth March: ‘Seaside’ by The Kooks

playing your voice through keys and notes, wind kisses cheeks bruised in deep red and rose, quiet voices and loud minds, living inside an unknown hourglass, sweet thoughtfulness and thankfulness mixed within your veins, like a warm summers day, unnoticed until it is winter

Amy March: ‘Vanilla Curls’ by Teddy Hyde

an avalanche of unwritten pressure, watercolored strokes, the stabbing pain of feeling left out, drowning in the boring known and craving the unknown, imagining the end and building your path there, the childhood nostalgia of glitter and crowns growing into opal pearls and silk ribbons

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Hufflepuff Winter Playlist You might belong in Hufflepuff, where they are just and loyal. Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil.

Slytherin | Ravenclaw | Gryffindor

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november [listen]

  ↳ i always used to love november, but now it always floods with rain

[irenwhite]

NOVEMBER MAGIC PLAYLIST on SPOTIFY

TRACK LIST

Little More Time // Ciaran Lavery

Paris // Maple Syrup

Let’s Get Lost // Beck with Bat for Lashes

Wicked Game // Emika

Fitzcarraldo // the Frames

This House is Gonna Burn // Taasha Coates & Her Melancholy Sweethearts

Wolves // Down Like Silver

Alright Caroline // Third Eye Bling

Vapour Trail // Ride

Wretched Body // Beth Rowley

Wonderwall // Ryan Adams

Feral Love // Chelsea Wolfe

Bound for the Floor // Local H

Shape Shifter // Lera Lynn

Hard Sun // Eddie Vedder

Our Love // Gary Clarke Jr.

She Runs Away // Duncan Sheik

Get Hurt // the Gaslight Anthem

Orion’s Waltz // Milkdrive

Jet Black Crow // Sons of the Sea

Created & Curated by me, Salt!   Listen to it here!

[irenwhite]

november

It was November - the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines.

[irenwhite]

♡   n o v e m b e r   ♡