
10 Plot Pitfalls to Think About
Plot can be tricky, and, as a writer, you need to be aware of what makes or breaks plot. Take a look at 10 different things to avoid in your own writing.
Character development is an interesting part of writing but may be among the most time consuming. It is important to have each of your characters (human or otherwise) come across as individuals who are interesting and vibrant. That may be the intent of every writer, but it takes some planning to get strong characters on the written page.
Think about real life for a moment and becoming acquainted with individuals for the first time. Part of the fun of meeting new people—at a party, while taking a class, at work, or at a friend’s house—is the variety of personalities and characteristics (both internal and external) those new acquaintances have. As you get to know a new friend or co-worker better, their unique personalities reveal themselves and connections may become stronger. Although most of us tend to gravitate toward people who have similar values, interests, and beliefs as we do, we can still enjoy getting to know a wide assortment of people. This is especially relevant to remember as you write.
If you read the posted Goodreads comments about certain novels, or the comments on other book review sites, readers will sometimes mention that all the characters in the book they just read, and may have even abandoned before they finished, sound like the same person with a different name. That is in sharp contrast to more satisfyingly written characters where readers are anxious to continue reading and connecting with those they are reading about.
Good writers strive to ensure that all their characters are presented as individuals, with realistic personalities their readers want to learn more about and get to know. To do that, writers must know their own characters extremely well.
Writers tend to have their own way of making their characters as real as their own family members. Some writers create and complete a question-and-answer sequence, others write a biography of a few pages for each of their characters, and others may imagine having a long conversation with the character to learn what they think about different topics and also to establish their subject’s voice.
As we writers know, it is time-consuming to individualize characters even before you write, but the procedure is ultimately what separates a well-written piece of fiction from a book or piece of writing that is mediocre. I just listened to a podcast where prolific writer Harlan Coben mentioned that he knows writers who write a 50-page biography of each of their characters before they write their manuscript. He is no-doubt exaggerating about the length, but it is still an interesting comment.
So here are some ways to get to know the characters appearing in your own stories. Revise, add, or come up with your own ideas after considering these as a starting point:
Watch about twenty minutes of a television show to see how each character is different in their mannerisms, interactions with other characters, speech patterns, and what they seem to be thinking. As a writer, you must strive to show all that with just words – that is the challenge and what many writers consider an enjoyable part of the process – making their characters come alive.
After you have created your character on paper or online, you can more accurately write about them. Of course, as you write, you won’t give all the information regarding your characters at once but will take time to unveil what they are about. Think of real life when you are meeting someone for the first time. You don’t immediately know that the person was a professional ice skater, that they broke their leg three years ago and fell into a deep depression when their Olympic dreams were shattered, and that they were once engaged to a well-known film star. Rather, you would probably begin to learn bits and pieces of this person’s story as you got to know them and often on an as-needed basis. For example, your friend may not want to join a hike you have planned because their leg gives out after a few miles. At that time, they may explain what happened to them and their background may be unveiled. That is how you should attempt to present your story too.
Good character development takes time, so don’t rush the process. Get to know and care about these unique personalities you are inventing.
Susan Ludwig, MEd has been an instructor with the Institute of Children’s Literature for almost twenty years. Susan’s writing credits include teacher resource guides, English language learner books, and classroom curriculum for elementary through high school students. A former magazine editor, she assesses students’ written essays as a scoring director for the ACT and SAT exam. When she is not writing or working, she is usually found playing with her grandsons or curled up with a good book.
Plot can be tricky, and, as a writer, you need to be aware of what makes or breaks plot. Take a look at 10 different things to avoid in your own writing.
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1000 N. West Street #1200, Wilmington, DE 19801
© 2025 Direct Learning Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
1000 N. West Street #1200, Wilmington, DE 19801
©2025 Direct Learning Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.