One of the most common writing mistakes I see in my work is when characters think, speak, or observe the world around them in a way that’s unrealistic…based on who that character is. This is what’s known as "author intrusion" (sometimes called "narrative intrusion"). We’re going to learn to recognize author intrusion here, as well as how to avoid it.
How many times have you said to yourself that you want “write a book” or “be a writer”? I’m guessing a lot, or you probably wouldn’t have landed on this page. Taking your writing seriously gives you a feeling of credibility and helps beat back that old “imposter syndrome” that is the bane of our existence. But what does it actually mean to “take your writing seriously” and how can you even do that, especially if you’ve not “proven yourself” yet (your mom’s words, not yours)?
Inevitably, I hear from clients that they’re dissatisfied with the way they plot (or don’t plot), or how much time they have available to write, or how slow they write. And because of this dissatisfaction, they spend much time and effort trying to “fix” their writing process. Unfortunately, this often leaves writers even more dissatisfied, because now they aren’t writing at all.
