INDEX - Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes

[McKenna]

Here are the titles of the remaining chapters of the book. Please let me know which ones are of the most interest, and I'll get those typed up and dispersed in a timely manner. To avoid too much confusion on my part, please choose a maximum of 5.


15 - Don't Let Your Characters Lecture, Either!

16 - Don't Let Them Be Windbags

17 - Don't Mangle Characters' Speech

18 - Don't Forget Sense Impressions

19 - Don't Be Afraid to Say "Said"

20 - Don't Assume You Know; Look It Up

21 - Don't Ever Stop Observing and Making Notes

22 - Don't Ignore Scene Structure

23 - Don't Drop Alligators Through the Transom

24 - Don't Forget to Let Your Characters Think

25 - Don't Wander Around in a Fog

26 - Don't Worry About Being Obvious

27 - Don't Criticize Yourself to Death

28 - Don't Worry What Mother Will Think

29 - Don't Hide From Your Feelings

30 - Don't Take It to the Club Meeting

31 - Don't Ignore Professional Advice

32 - Don't Chase the Market

33 - Don't Pose and Posture

34 - Don't Waste Your Plot Ideas

35 - Don't Stop Too Soon

36 - Don't Prejudice Your Editor

37 - Don't Give Up

38 - Don't Just Sit There

 

[Penelope Street]

Five? OK. In order:

35 - Don't Stop Too Soon
16 - Don't Let Them Be Windbags
26 - Don't Worry About Being Obvious
34 - Don't Waste Your Plot Ideas
21 - Don't Ever Stop Observing and Making Notes

I confess the alligator one also caught my eye, but I'm pretty sure someone else will think the same and pick it.

Take Care,
Penny

 

[CharleyH]

Here are the titles of the remaining chapters of the book. Please let me know which ones are of the most interest, and I'll get those typed up and dispersed in a timely manner. To avoid too much confusion on my part, please choose a maximum of 5.

17 - Don't Mangle Characters' Speech

(does the use of oooooo oh, and argggggg have anything to do with this chapter?

23 - Don't Drop Alligators Through the Transom

I just wanna know: what the hell?

24 - Don't Forget to Let Your Characters Think (is this 3rd person POV?)

25 - Don't Wander Around in a Fog

34 - Don't Waste Your Plot Ideas

Those interest me, Kenna.

 

[sophia jane]

My 5 picks:
22: Don't ignore scene structure
26: Don't worry about being obvious
29: Don't hide from your feelings
34: Don't waste your plot ideas
35: Don't stop too soon.


Thanks for doing this McKenna!

 

[nushu2]

17 - Don't Mangle Characters' Speech
24 - Don't Forget to Let Your Characters Think
30 - Don't Take It to the Club Meeting
32 - Don't Chase the Market
33 - Don't Pose and Posture

I did not choose these for myself but for common mistakes I see in posted stories. And I have to be contrary.

 

[Liar]

Most of those are pretty self explantory I think.




I'll just die if I don't get to know what this means...

23 - Don't Drop Alligators Through the Transom

 

[McKenna]

bump for the Saturday morning crowd

 

[Dar~]

23 - Don't Drop Alligators Through the Transom
38 - Don't Just Sit There
19 - Don't Be Afraid to Say "Said"