Avoid These Five Mistakes Writers Make; They Are Slowing Your Growth!
So, you want to be a writer. You’re eager, driven, and probably full of ideas that you think the world needs to hear. Good. But writing isn't just about sitting in a coffee shop with a laptop and cranking out a bestseller. No, writing is a craft, and like any craft, it demands discipline, precision, and brutal self-awareness.
Yet, most writers—especially new ones—make the same critical mistakes that stunt their growth. These are mistakes I see over and over again. And while they might seem harmless, they will slow your progress down like cement shoes in a marathon.
Here are five mistakes you need to avoid right now if you’re serious about mastering the writing game.
1. Waiting for Inspiration
If you’re sitting around waiting for some magical muse to sprinkle inspiration over you, stop. Now. Inspiration is a luxury, not a necessity. Great writers don’t wait for a spark—they show up.
“Writing is a daily grind, and mastery comes through consistent, disciplined effort.”
Don’t treat writing like a hobby. Treat it like a job that doesn’t care how you feel.
Fix: Create a writing routine. Make it non-negotiable. Whether you're inspired or not, write. Trust me, the inspiration will follow the action, not the other way around.
2. Not Finishing What You Start
I’ve seen it too many times—writers with half-written drafts, brilliant ideas they’ve abandoned, or stories that have been “in progress” for years. A rough, messy draft is more valuable than a dozen perfectly outlined ideas in your head.
“Half-finished work won’t get you anywhere. You need to finish—and that means pushing through when the excitement fizzles out.”
Fix: Don’t chase perfection on the first draft. Get to the end. You can polish later. Right now, focus on completion. Writing is 90% revision, but you can’t revise a blank page.
3. Focusing Too Much on the Rules
Yes, grammar matters. Yes, knowing the difference between "show, don’t tell" and when to break it is important. But here’s the thing: obsessing over the rules of writing is a fast-track to creative paralysis.
“If you’re agonising over every word and fretting about whether you’re breaking some unwritten literary commandment, you’re killing your momentum.”
Fix: Write with reckless abandon first, edit with brutal precision later. Your inner critic has no place in your first draft. Write freely, and let the editor in you clean it up afterward.
4. Ignoring Feedback—or Taking It All to Heart
Two sides of the same coin. Some writers live in an echo chamber, avoiding feedback because it’s uncomfortable. Others, however, take every critique as gospel and try to fix everything in their writing based on conflicting opinions. Both approaches will hurt you.
Fix: Find a trusted group of readers—other writers, mentors, or beta readers—who can give you honest, constructive feedback. Listen carefully but remember, not all feedback is gold. Learn to filter out what's useful for you and what isn't.
5. Trying to Please Everyone
Here’s a hard truth: not everyone is going to love your writing. Some will hate it. Trying to write for everyone is a fool’s errand, and it’s a sure way to lose your voice.
“Your job is to write your story, your way. Write for an audience, but don’t try to write for every audience.”
Fix: Identify your ideal reader. Who is the person that will love your work? Write for them. Be unapologetically specific in your voice and style. The readers who connect with you will appreciate it, and that’s how you build a loyal following.
Final Thoughts
Writing isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s not about sitting around waiting for a lightning bolt of inspiration or painstakingly trying to avoid every single mistake. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and constantly improving. If you can avoid these five common mistakes, you’ll be miles ahead of the pack. Remember, the key to mastery is persistence. Now, go write.
