Whats the worst kind of mistake that new writers, freelancers, or book authors can make?
Not working in stages. I’m never working on one project at a time straight through. I think a writer is always fresher when working on manuscripts in stages. Plus, I’m always working six months to a year ahead of releases so I’m never rushed and can always be working on new projects. The way I see it, there are several very distinct stages in writing a book, and these are discussed in-depth in From First Draft to Finished Novel. They include: 1. Brainstorming 2. Outlining 3. Setting the outline aside 4. Writing the story 5. Setting the novel aside 6. Editing and polishing the story Working in stages is essential for keeping my creativity at its peak. Brainstorming occurs, most ideally, over a period of years before I have enough details accumulated to begin an outline. Once the outline is completed, allowing it to sit for a couple of weeks—or even months—before writing the first draft can only help it. The next time I pick up my outline, I’ll see more of those connections that make my
