Writing Tip: How to Avoid Poor Writing

One of the tell‑tale signs of a beginning writer is the weak or passive writing style. Beginning writers have a tendency to back off of a strong style and instead opts for a flowery, overly descriptive style.

Here are some of the symptoms and solutions of a weak style. These are also some of the prime reasons a submission is rejected.

• Violent mood swings among characters.

• Is a person's reaction justified by the story line? This is an outgrowth of not knowing the character thoroughly. When that happens, you need to spend the time to develop a character sketch. In the sketch, the character comes alive and the writer comes to know his character.

• Overuse of cliches. A good Rule of Thumb is to never use a cliche. If you do, use them sparingly.

• Untrue and inconsistent behavior. A complete character sketch will dictate how a person will react.

• Withholding vital information from the reader.

• This is a repeat of a common warning for mystery writers.

• As you work to keep the reader in suspense, the main character can be kept in the dark, but never trick the reader.

• This symptom normally plays out by the sudden appearance of convenient characters or events near the end of the story.

• Coincidences that are impossible to believe. The overheard conversation is a prime example of an impossible coincidence. The only coincidence a reader will believe is an unfortunate one.

• A series of weak misunderstandings that remain unsolved. These lingering loose ends will turn off a reader, and for that matter an agent or publisher.