Unleash Your Inner Editor: Pro Tips for Crafting a Masterpiece

Editing is a crucial step in the writing process, but it's easy to overlook certain aspects that can greatly impact the quality of your work, especially as an indie author. That’s why we have created this comprehensive list of over 100 editing mistakes so that you can dive into your next round of revisions with confidence and knowledge. 

Clarity and Consistency:

1. Inconsistent Tense: Shifting between past and present tense within a scene.

2. Point of View Drift: Unintentionally changing which character’s perspective we are in.

3. Vague Pronoun References: Ambiguous use of "it," "they," or "this."

4. Inconsistent Character Traits: A character's behavior or personality changing without reason or them acting in a way that’s different to normal without no cause.

5. World-Building Inconsistencies: Contradictory details about the story's setting, magic systems and more. 

6. Inconsistent Dialogue Tags: Varying the way dialogue is attributed and overuse of certain tags, as well as if a tag doesn’t match what is said. 

Grammar and Punctuation:

7. Dangling Modifiers: Descriptive phrases that don't logically connect to the subject. E.g. “At twenty years old, my parents split up.” This makes it sound like the parents split up when they were twenty, rather than when the speaker was that age. 

8. Misplaced Modifiers: Phrases that alter the meaning of a sentence due to their position. E.g. “There was a cat on the road with one leg.” This reads like the road had one leg, rather than the cat. 

9. Incorrect Use of Dashes and Hyphens: Confusing em dashes, en dashes, and hyphens.

10. Overuse of Passive Voice: Weakening sentences with passive constructions.

11. Incorrect Comma Usage: Particularly with serial commas or introductory phrases.

12. Spelling Variations: Inconsistencies in British vs. American English, or misspelled words. E.g. switching between using forward and forwards. 

13. Faulty Parallelism: Not maintaining consistent grammatical structure in lists or series.

Style and Flow:

14. Redundancy: Unnecessary repetition of words or phrases.

15. Wordiness: Using more words than necessary.

16. Clunky Sentence Structure: Sentences that are awkward or difficult to read.

17. Overuse of Adverbs: Weakening verbs with excessive adverbs.

18. Weak Verbs: Relying on "to be" verbs instead of strong action verbs, making the sentences sound passive.

19. Dialogue That Sounds Unnatural: Dialogue that doesn't reflect how people actually speak, especially in casual settings. 

20. Pacing Issues: Sections that drag or feel rushed. This might apply to the whole book, a particular scene or even just a paragraph. 

21. Lack of Variety in Sentence Structure: Repetitive sentence patterns.

22. Overuse of Cliches: Relying on tired, overused expressions.

Story and Structure:

23. Plot Holes: Gaps or inconsistencies in the storyline.

24. Character Motivation Issues: Characters acting without clear or logical reasons. Readers need to understand why characters make the decisions they do, especially if it is not something logical or that the readers would do themselves. How do their past experiences influence how they act? 

25. Uneven Tone: Shifts in tone that don't serve the story. An example is mixing formal and informal language without the context clearly explaining why. 

26. Lack of Show, Don't Tell: Overly descriptive passages instead of immersive scenes. Aim to make the reader feel something rather than just recount an event to them. 

27. Weak Opening or Closing: Failing to hook the reader or provide a satisfying conclusion.

28. Unnecessary Exposition: Overloading the reader with background information.

29. Repetitive Scene Structure: Scenes that follow the same predictable pattern.

30. Emotional Inconsistencies: Characters’ reactions that do not match the situation, how they have previously acted or such.

Nuances of Language and Style:

31. Filter Words: Overuse of words like "felt," "saw," which distance the reader from the experience. E.g. “I felt a cold breeze brush past me.” Instead, write: “A cold breeze brushed past me.” This can help make the reader feel in the moment and shows instead of tells. 

32. "Squinting" Modifiers: Modifiers that could apply to either the preceding or following phrase, causing ambiguity. E.g. “Eating healthy foods quickly changes your physique.” Do you have to eat the food quickly or does it quickly change your physique?

33. Overuse of Nominalisations: Turning verbs into nouns, which often weakens sentences. 

34. Unnecessary Qualifiers: Words like "very," "really," "quite," which often add little to the meaning. Instead, consider whether the clarification is necessary or replace the word it is describing with something stronger. E.g. instead of “really gross”, you might say “repulsive”. 

35. Repetitive Word Choice: Using the same words or phrases too frequently within close proximity.

36. Ineffective Use of Italics: Overusing italics for emphasis, which can become distracting and results in lost impact. 

37. Problems with Rhythm and Cadence: Sentences that sound awkward or uneven when read aloud. This is often because they are too long or too broken up. 

38. Incorrect Use of Colloquialisms: Using slang or informal language inappropriately for the tone or setting.

39. Failure to Establish a Consistent Tone: Mixing formal and informal language, or shifting between serious and humorous tones without purpose.

40. Weak or Unclear Subtext: Dialogue or actions that don't convey the underlying meaning or emotions, or that contradict (without purpose) what is happening in the scene.

Story and Character Details:

41. Unrealistic Character Reactions: Characters responding to situations in ways that don't feel believable.

42. Lack of Sensory Details: Failing to engage the reader's senses, including sight, sound, smell, taste, touch.

43. Inconsistent Emotional Arcs: Characters' emotional states changing too abruptly or without sufficient motivation. It may feel forced. 

44. Unclear Scene Transitions: Abrupt shifts between scenes that leave the reader disoriented. This can also apply for abrupt transitions between sentences or other components. 

45. Uneven Distribution of Information: Some parts of the story are overexplained, while others are left too vague.

46. Missed Opportunities for Foreshadowing: Failing to subtly hint at future events.

47. Weak or Unresolved Subplots: Subplots that don't contribute meaningfully to the main story or that are left without answers by the conclusion. 

48. Lack of Compelling Conflict: Insufficient tension to keep the reader engaged or conflict that feels forced or unbelievable.

49. Problems with the Narrative Arc: An uneven rise and fall of tension, or a lack of a clear climax.

50. Ineffective Use of Setting: Failing to use the setting to create atmosphere or enhance the story. A reader may wonder why a scene is set in a particular location. 

Technical and Formatting Issues:

51. Inconsistent Use of Capitalization: Especially with specialized terms or proper nouns.

52. Problems with Spacing and Indentation: Inconsistent formatting that disrupts the flow of the text.

53. Incorrect Formatting of Lists or Bullet Points: Inconsistent punctuation or capitalization within lists.

54. Errors in Footnotes or Endnotes: Incorrect formatting or citation errors.

55. Inconsistent Use of Numbers: Switching between number words and using numerals.

56. Problems with the Use of Foreign Language Words: Incorrect spelling, pronunciation, or translation.

57. Inconsistencies in Dates or Times: Contradictory information about when events occur.

58. Problems with Proper Noun Consistency: for example, a name being spelled differently in different locations within the text.

59. Incorrect usage of the Oxford comma. Using it in the wrong spot or inconsistently using it. 

60. Overuse of Parenthetical phrases. Subsetting information too much that can be included in the sentence or containing information that can be removed completely. 

Character and Emotional Depth:

61. Lack of Internal Monologue or Thought Processes: Failing to show the character's inner thoughts, which can make them feel flat.

62. Inconsistent Emotional Reactions to Trauma: A character's response to significant events doesn’t align with psychological realism or with their characterisation or prior reactions.

63. Superficial Character Development: Characters changing without showing the internal struggle or growth.

64. Missing Opportunities for Emotional Resonance: Scenes that could evoke strong emotions fall flat due to lack of detail or depth.

65. Unclear Power Dynamics Between Characters: Relationships lacking the subtle tension that comes from power imbalances.

Narrative and Thematic Elements:

66. Weak Symbolic Use of Objects or Settings: Objects or places that could carry deeper meaning but are used superficially.

67. Missed Opportunities for Irony or Satire: Failing to capitalize on situations where irony or satire could add depth.

68. Unclear or Conflicting Themes: The underlying messages of the story are muddled or contradictory.

69. Predictable Plot Twists: Relying on overused tropes or predictable plot developments. This can also be extended to overused character archetypes. 

70. Uneven Distribution of Narrative Focus: Spending too much time on unimportant details and not enough on key plot points. For example, spending too much time exploring a character’s relationship with their sister when this relationship isn’t critical to character development or the story. 

Language and Sensory Detail:

71. Overuse of Abstract Nouns: Relying on abstract concepts instead of concrete details.

72. Lack of Kinesthetic Detail: Failing to describe the physical sensations of movement.

73. Inconsistent Use of Figurative Language: Metaphors, similes, and other figures of speech being used inconsistently or ineffectively.

74. Over-reliance on Visual Description: Neglecting other senses like sound, smell, and taste.

75. Unnatural Rhythms in Descriptive Passages: Descriptions that sound forced or overly poetic. It may feel like the author is trying too hard.

Technical and Presentation:

76. Inconsistent Use of Ellipses: Varying the number of dots or using them incorrectly.

77. Problems with Hyphenated Modifiers: Incorrectly hyphenating or not hyphenating compound modifiers.

78. Inconsistent Use of Capitalisation in Dialogue: Problems with capitalizing the first word of a sentence within dialogue.

79. Formatting Issues with Block Quotes: Incorrect indentation or spacing of long quotations. This may include incorrectly punctuating as long sections of dialogue are split over multiple paragraphs. 

80. Problems with Page Breaks or Section Breaks: Disrupting the flow of the text with poorly placed breaks.

Subtleties of Pacing and Tension:

81. Uneven Distribution of Tension: Building tension too quickly or letting it dissipate too soon. E.g. adding drama in one sentence, only for it to be resolved in the next.

82. Missed Opportunities for Suspense: Failing to create a sense of anticipation or uncertainty.

83. Rushed or Abrupt Endings to Scenes: Scenes ending too quickly, leaving the reader unsatisfied.

84. Slow Pacing in Action Sequences: Action scenes that drag or lack a sense of urgency.

85. Overuse of Cliffhangers: Relying on cliffhangers to create suspense, which can become predictable.

Reader Immersion:

86. Breaking the Fourth Wall Unintentionally: Narrative choices that disrupt the reader's immersion in the story without clear purpose or intention. 

87. Lack of Verisimilitude: Details that don't feel realistic or believable within the story's context.

88. Unnecessary Authorial Intrusion: The author's voice or opinions intruding on the narrative.

89. Missed Opportunities for Creating Atmosphere: Failing to use setting and sensory details to create a specific mood.

90. Inconsistencies in the Reader's Emotional Engagement: Some sections of the story are emotionally engaging, while others are not. This may stem from how the readers perceive characters at each time or the drama in the scene. 

Subtleties of Language and Sound:

91. Cacophony vs. Euphony: Ignoring the sound of the words themselves. Does the text sound harsh or pleasing? Does this fit the tone of the speaker and what they are saying?

92. Overuse of Alliteration or Assonance: While these can be powerful, they can become distracting if overused or feel forced, taking the reader out of the story.

93. Unintentional Rhyme or Near-Rhyme: This can disrupt the flow of prose if not deliberate.

94. Repetitive Sentence Beginnings: Starting too many sentences with the same word or phrase.

95. Lack of Vocal Variety in Dialogue: All the characters sound the same, regardless of background or personality.

Character and Psychological Depth:

96. Unresolved Internal Conflicts: Characters grappling with issues that are never fully explored.

97. Missed Opportunities for Subtext in Body Language: Failing to use physical cues to convey underlying emotions.

98. Inconsistent Use of Character Idiosyncrasies: A character's unique habits disappearing or changing without reason.

99. Lack of Nuance in Villain Portrayal: Villains being one-dimensional or lacking believable motivations.

100. Emotional Reactions That Don't Fit the Character's Backstory: Past experiences not aligning with current behavior.

Narrative and World-Building:

101. Unclear or Inconsistent Magic System: Rules of magic that are vague or contradictory. Things aren’t described in enough detail to get a clear understanding of laws, rules, functions or what is possible. 

102. Gaps in the Timeline: Unexplained time jumps or inconsistencies in the sequence of events.

103. Unrealistic Social Dynamics: Portraying societies or relationships in a way that feels artificial. E.g. citizens are shown to worship a ruler who is clearly evil without exploring why they do this. 

104. Failing to Establish the Stakes: Readers don’t understand why the events of the story matter or what they will mean in respect to the overarching narrative.

105. Over-reliance on Deus Ex Machina: Resolving conflicts with improbable or convenient plot devices.

Technical and Presentation Refinements:

106. Inconsistent Use of Spacing Around Punctuation: Variations in spacing that disrupt visual consistency.

107. Problems with Widow and Orphan Lines: Single lines of text at the top or bottom of a page.

108. Inconsistent Font Usage: Variations in font size or style that look unprofessional. It’s important to note here also the use of illegible fonts. 

109. Incorrect Formatting of Emojis or Special Characters: Display issues that affect readability or that are inconsistent. It’s important to check how emojis and such appear across different devices when in ebook form. 

110. Inconsistent use of the degree symbol, or other less common symbols.

Reader Engagement and Immersion:

111. Lack of "White Space" on the Page: Dense blocks of text that overwhelm the reader. This may encourage them to skim read. 

112. Failing to Create a Sense of Place: Settings that lack vivid details or atmosphere.

113. Unnecessary Explanatory Asides: Interrupting the narrative to provide unnecessary background information.

114. Ineffective Use of Silence or Pauses in Dialogue: Missed opportunities to create tension or convey unspoken emotions. Also relates to overuse of these that then creates unnecessary interactions. 

115. Overuse of rhetorical questions. 

117. Inconsistent use of dialect.

118. Unnecessary use of Jargon. This includes when it doesn’t fit the character, time period or setting. 

 

Credits:

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash