6 Simple Mistakes that make readers not read your articles

1. **Starting with a boring or confusing introduction.** Imagine you are browsing a bookstore or an online platform, looking for a new book to read. You pick up a random book and read the first paragraph. If it doesn’t grab your attention, you will probably put it back and move on to the next one. That’s how most readers behave. They have a short attention span and a lot of options. If you want them to read your story, you need to hook them from the first sentence. Start with a strong opening that raises a question, creates a mystery, or reveals something interesting about your character or the world they live in. Don’t waste time with long descriptions, mundane dialogues, or vague statements. Make them curious and eager to read more.
2. **Using too many adverbs or adjectives.** Adverbs and adjectives are like spices. They can add flavor and variety to your writing, but they can also ruin it if you use too much. Instead of telling the reader how your character feels or acts, show them through their actions, dialogue, and body language. For example, instead of saying “She ran quickly to the door”, you can say “She sprinted to the door”. This way, you let the reader infer the emotion from the action, rather than spelling it out for them. Use adverbs and adjectives sparingly and strategically, to enhance your writing, not to clutter it.
3. **Having flat or unrealistic characters.** Your characters are the heart of your story. They need to be believable, relatable, and dynamic. If your characters are too perfect, too evil, too clichéd, or too inconsistent, your reader will not care about them or their journey. To avoid this, you need to give your characters flaws, motivations, goals, and conflicts. You also need to make them grow and change throughout the story, as a result of their experiences and choices. Think of your characters as real people, with strengths and weaknesses, hopes and fears, dreams and nightmares. Make them human and complex, not cardboard and simple.
4. **Writing unrealistic or boring dialogue.** Dialogue is a powerful way to reveal your characters’ personalities, relationships, and emotions. It can also move the plot forward, create tension, and add humor. However, if your dialogue is unrealistic, boring, or irrelevant, it can also drag your story down. To avoid this, you need to make your dialogue sound natural, avoid info-dumps, use subtext, and vary the length and tone of your sentences. You also need to use dialogue tags and punctuation correctly, to avoid confusion and maintain the flow of your writing. Listen to how people talk in real life, and try to mimic their speech patterns, accents, and expressions. Make your dialogue lively and realistic, not dull and artificial.
5. **Having a weak plot or structure.** Your plot is the backbone of your story. It needs to be coherent, logical, and engaging. If your plot is too predictable, too complicated, too slow, or too full of holes, your reader will lose interest or get frustrated. To avoid this, you need to plan your plot ahead, using a basic structure such as the three-act model, the hero’s journey, or the snowflake method. You also need to balance the action and the exposition, create twists and turns, and build up to a satisfying climax and resolution. Think of your plot as a roller coaster, with ups and downs, loops and turns, and a thrilling finale. Make your plot exciting and surprising, not boring and obvious.
6. **Ignoring the rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.** This may seem obvious, but it is surprising how many authors neglect the basics of writing. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are not just technicalities, they are essential for clarity, accuracy, and professionalism. If your writing is full of errors, your reader will not take you seriously, and may even stop reading altogether. To avoid this, you need to proofread your work carefully, use a spell-checker, and consult a style guide or a dictionary when in doubt. Remember, your writing is your first

These are some of the most common and simple mistakes that authors do that can make readers don’t want to read or avoid their stories. However, they are also easy to fix, if you are aware of them and willing to improve. The best way to avoid these errors is to read a lot, write a lot, and get feedback from others. By doing this, you will not only improve your writing skills, but also your chances of success as an author.