Top 10 Writing No-No’s
Published on 14/11/2023
Top 10 Writing No-No’s
Teacher: Lil Chase, senior editor at Caroline Wakeman Literary Agency
There are many tropes and cliches writers use that immediately turn off an agent or commissioning editor. Some are worse than others and some are personal to that particular editor. Here are a few of the repeat offenders you might want to avoid:
- No starting a book or a chapter with a character waking up.
- No showing a journey that doesn’t need to be shown.
- No showing an arrival that doesn’t need to be shown.
Show your character in the middle of the action and we will assume they have woken up, traveled, and arrived there. - No sitting the character in front of the mirror in order to describe themselves for the benefit of the reader.
- No adverbs. They are telling. Show your reader how something is being done rather than telling it, unsubtly.
- No POV switches, even in 3rd person narration. Stick to one POV per chapter.
- No dreams. Many writers insert a dramatic moment that turns out to be a dream because the plot is dragging and lacking drama. But the reader feels tricked by a dream sequence. And no one really enjoys hearing about other people’s dreams!
- Don’t use the phrase ‘crooked smile’ when describing your handsome male lead.
- Don’t use the phrase ‘silent scream’.
- No having fun with fonts – use Calibri, Times New Roman, or Arial.
Take a look at your writing, if you see one of these cliches then ask yourself if you really need it. If you don’t, remove it.
Of course, rules are made to be broken. If something works, it works!
For more free tips for how to improve your writing for children’s books subscribe to our ITSme Learning Newsletter!
Other News
Opportunities are Out There, Here’s How to Make Sure Your Work is Seen
Are you an illustrator looking for open calls and opportunities? The work is out there, and you are not invisible, although sometimes in such a competitive environment, we understand it is natural to worry that you are going unseen. The fact is, you just need to know where to look and how to show up…
Why Graphic Novels Are Booming – and Why Now Is the Time to Get Them Into Your Portfolio
Graphic novels are having a moment and it’s no passing trend. From classrooms to bestseller lists, graphic novels are dominating shelves and reading time across all ages. What was once seen as a niche format with a distinct, heavy-lined “comic book” aesthetic has exploded into a dynamic, expressive medium that spans every style and genre…
No Client Work? No Problem. Here’s How to Build a Portfolio That Gets You Hired
“I don’t have any client work, what do I even put in my portfolio?” This is one of the more common worries we hear from illustrators who are new to developing their portfolios, but we want to encourage you to reframe this question: Having no client work isn’t a weakness, try to view this as…
Make the Right Connections – Be the Name they Remember
How do you connect with clients and agents? It’s a question that comes up again and again, and often you will hear people focus on visibility, being seen at the right events, posting your work constantly and having a strong presence on social media. But connection isn’t just about being visible. It’s about being remembered,…
How to create a perfect freelance Illustrator biography!
Learn how to write a powerful professional illustrator biography that attracts the right clients. Discover structure tips, examples, and how to create a compelling artist bio in 150–250 words.
What Happens in an ITSme Mentorship? A Week-by-Week Breakdown
Imagine having a guide who not only understands the creative path an individual wants to walk, but also has the knowledge and tools to help them get there – successfully. That’s the core of the ITSme Learning Mentorship. Whether someone is a student, a young professional at the beginning of their career, or an artist…
