So, you’ve poured your heart and soul into your manuscript. You’ve crafted compelling characters, built intricate worlds, and woven a narrative that’s sure to captivate readers. But before you hit “submit,” take a moment to consider these common storytelling pitfalls that could be hindering your manuscript’s success:
1. Neglecting the Power of Plot:
A captivating story needs more than just interesting characters and beautiful prose; it needs a strong plot to drive it forward. Many writers fall into the trap of meandering narratives that lack clear direction or purpose.
The Fix: Ensure your story has a clear beginning, rising action with escalating conflict, a climax, falling action, and a satisfying resolution. Outline your plot points to maintain focus and momentum.
2. Failing to Raise the Stakes:
Conflict is the engine of any good story. Without it, readers have no reason to invest in your characters or their journey. If the stakes are too low, there’s no sense of urgency or tension.
The Fix: Continually raise the stakes throughout your narrative. Introduce obstacles, setbacks, and challenges that force your characters to make difficult choices and face real consequences.
3. Creating Cardboard Characters:
Characters are the heart of any story. If they lack depth, complexity, and relatable motivations, readers won’t connect with them or their journey.
The Fix: Flesh out your characters. Give them unique backstories, flaws, internal conflicts, and compelling goals. Allow them to grow and change throughout the narrative.
4. Info Dumping:
While worldbuilding and backstory are essential, overwhelming readers with excessive information can disrupt the flow and diminish their engagement.
The Fix: Weave essential information organically into the narrative. Reveal details gradually through dialogue, action, and sensory descriptions.
5. Ignoring the Importance of Pacing:
Pacing is the rhythm of your story. Too slow, and readers might lose interest. Too fast, and they may feel overwhelmed or miss crucial details.
The Fix: Vary your sentence structure and paragraph length. Use shorter sentences and paragraphs for action scenes and longer ones for introspection or description. Ensure that moments of conflict are spaced in a manner that makes sense for the narrative, but also in a way that gives your reader numerous highs and lows.
By avoiding these common storytelling mistakes, you can elevate your manuscript and ensure your story resonates with readers on a deeper level. Happy writing!