We’re very excited with our decision to self-publish, but because we didn’t know we had other options when we started this process, we thought we had to try and find any agent and go the traditional publishing route. Because of this, some could say that we’ve wasted time and lost money by not publishing our first book sooner. By the time we’ve completed everything and published our book, it’ll be over two years since we started this endeavor. And while we endured a lot of heartache and struggles, we wouldn’t trade our experience for an earlier publication date, because we have learned so much during this process. So, this is for all you aspiring authors out there.  Learn from our mistakes, so you don’t have to waste time trying to find an agent or publishing house and you can move on to self-publishing your book right away. This is just our advice to you. In no way do we know everything.

Part IV – Things to avoid in your writing

1.  Repetition
What sounds better?
A.    She walked into the room, looking around. When she looked at me, her eyes lit up and she immediately walked toward me. She walked, swinging her hips, and I knew she wanted me. The fire in her eyes told me the same.
-OR-
B.     She entered the room, looking around. When she saw me, her eyes lit up and she immediately headed toward me. She walked, swinging her hips, and I could tell she wanted me. The fire behind her gaze told me the same.
Avoid repetition. A and B are saying the same things, but B only says walk, look, and eyes once, whereas A repeats them.
This is a fairly easy thing to accomplish; you just need to make sure that you pay attention. And it’s easier to do when you’re revising, rather than when you’re writing your first draft. If you have an editor, this is something that they might help out with, depending on what you hire them for.
There are also programs out there you can use. SmartEdit is free here. Not only will it show you repetitions, it will pick up most idioms.

2. Telling versus showing
What sounds better?
A.    “What were you doing out past your curfew?” my father asked. He walked toward me, angry, and I was scared. What was my punishment going to be this time?
-OR-
B.      “What were you doing out past your curfew?” my father hissed, brows furrowed and eyes blazing. He stalked toward me, causing me to back up until I hit the wall and put my hands over my head. What was my punishment going to be this time?
Avoid telling. With A, the main character is telling you her father is angry and that she’s scared. With B, she shows you, with his furrowed brows and blazing eyes, that he’s mad. And by her actions of backing up until she hits the wall and putting her hands over her head, you know she’s scared.

3. Vary sentence structure
 What sounds better?
 A.    He walked into the room. His eyes scanned the open area. His gaze landed on me and I felt a tingle down my spine. He sauntered toward me until we almost touched.
-OR-
B.     The door opened, and he walked into the room. His eyes scanned the open area, and his gaze landed on me. A tingle went down my spine. Sauntering, he made his way toward me, stopping only when we almost touched.
Avoid starting your sentence the same way and putting everything in the same order. A’s sentences start with He, His, His, and He. B’s sentences start with The, His, A, and Sauntering, giving the paragraph better flow. This is also something that is easier to watch for when you’re revising. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, so maybe instead of a he or she, put the character’s name in the paragraph. Sometimes it’s just switching the sentence around. Change “He looked around when he entered the room,” to “When he entered the room, he looked around.”  If you feel this is something you struggle with, it is something an editor will help with if you choose to hire them.