1. You assume everyone thinks and behaves just like you do.
2. You believe your opinions are actually facts.
3. You’re just starting out — nobody knows you yet!
4. You don’t have any evidence, anecdotal or factual, to back up your words.
5. You’re just writing about writing, but you don’t actually ever write anything (and it shows).
6. You’re not following your own writing advice.
7. You’re giving bad advice.
8. It’s your way or no way.
9. You’re not open to discussing others’ opinions, especially those that differ from yours.
10. You don’t tolerate criticism well, or at all.
11. You don’t have any published work to show people what you’ve accomplished.
12. If you do, you don’t promote it enough (or maybe you do so too much).
13. You’re too negative — you’re bringing other writers down!
14. You don’t give off enough confidence to draw other writers to your words.
15. You’re not giving writing advice for the right reasons — and it’s obvious.
Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is a staff writer with The Cheat Sheet, a freelance editor and writer, and a 10-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food and nerdy things.
Meg Dowell Writes 