writing mistakes Archives

25 signs of amateur writing (first chapter red flags to avoid!)

Quick Answer The 25 most common signs of amateur writing — from head-hopping and info-dumps to purple prose and weak openings. FIRST CHAPTER MISTAKES What follows are some insights I’ve collected, after providing feedback on hundreds of first drafts. I’ve tried to only share general examples that I notice frequently in the majority of...

Derek Murphy writing mistakes, writing tips 2040

The six signs of weak writing (how to tell if your book sucks)

Quick Answer Weak writing shows up as telling instead of showing, overusing adverbs, passive voice, info-dumping, flat dialogue, and vague descriptions. (Updated May 2026.) I made this video in the last few days of Thailand, while in the process of reviewing several dozen applications to write with me – to be fair, none of the

Derek Murphy good books, good writing, weak writing, writing mistakes, writing tips 3180