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[Father Luke]

What would you say is the most common mistake you see writers making?

Let's talk about our mistakes here.
The ones we see, both in ourselves and in others.

1.) Showing not telling. As in telling us someone's eyes are sad
when eyes are things we see with. I'd like to see the sadness
rather than be told about it. So, telling not showing.

2.) Lack of setting
3.) Not using the senses

...this is a bad one. I see it a lot. Writers write, and because we use words a lot
many writers can get stuck in their heads forgetting to involve the senses.
When I'm reading a story, or a poem, I don't want to know about the gloriousness of
roses. I want to smell them. Recently I went to a park where there were fields of
roses. It was like I walked into a room where the air-conditioning was blowing
gentle, rose smells all over me. I'd stop in my walking. Smell some roses, then smile
as the fragrance lingered in my lungs. I even ate a few rose petals to help retain
the taste in my memory. If someone had told me the roses were nice smelling I'd have
laughed! They massaged me with gentleness, and made my nose smile.

4.) Rushing to poast writing that isn't ready is another fault I find. Granted some
people are not interested in publishing. I am, but I understand that some people
aren't. But? Why poast something you are not finished with? I see that as a mistake.

5.) Since most of what is poasted at Mary used to be poetry, and isn't really
any more because I have seen more fiction, and prose being poasted, punctuation can
be bothersome. I can see this in a couple different ways. Sure. Don't worry about
grammar when writing. But? See number 4 above.

6.) Tenses:

I was sitting in my room and I smoking a cigarette.

Blatant, but you see my point.

7.) Spelling

(5 - 6 - and 7 may be considered grammar, I suppose)

8.) Writing in a passive/non assertive voice


What do you see in your own, or other's writing, that you notice are simple errors,
and errors which occur again and again? I'm just curious.