Frequent Errors to Avoid in Your Storytelling

10 Common Mistakes That Will Derail Your Work in a Literary Contest

Entering a literary competition can be an exciting experience, but it is not without its challenges. One of the most common mistakes made by entrants is neglecting the details. Even if your story is excellent, overlooking formal aspects or making basic mistakes can result in your work being discarded before it is even read. Here we look at the 10 most common spelling and form errors, explaining how to avoid them so that your talent is what shines through. The first step is very simple: read and respect the contest rules.

1. Failure to follow competition instructions

One of the biggest mistakes that participants make is to ignore the rules of the competition. Each contest establishes clear rules about the type of work, format, length and other details that must be respected. If you are asked to submit a story of no more than 3,000 words, written in Times New Roman, size 12, double-spaced, you must make sure you meet each of these requirements. Submitting a file with a different font, different spacing or more words than allowed only shows inattention and may be grounds for disqualifying your entry.

It is also essential to send the type of text they ask for; if they ask for an essay, do not submit a poem.

Before writing, read the contest rules carefully and take notes on the requirements. Check them again before submitting your entry. If anonymity is requested, do not include your name or any details that could identify you. Respecting the rules not only shows professionalism, but also demonstrates your commitment to the contest.

2. Include unsolicited details

Adding unsolicited elements may seem like a way to «stand out», but it is often counterproductive. Including your photo, your personal logo, unsolicited decorative details or a link to your website in a contest can lead to your story being disqualified before it has even been read. Follow the instructions and do not use competitions to sell yourself as an author. By inserting these elements you are no longer respecting the rules and will therefore be disqualified.

If the terms and conditions require only the text in PDF format, sending a document decorated with images will not only be irrelevant, but will also give the impression that you have not read the instructions.

It is better to keep your presentation sober and focused on what you are really being asked for: your work. An attractive visual design or additional personal details that have not been requested, such as your biography or headlines with «special» lettering, will not improve your text or your chances of winning: on the contrary.

3. Spelling and grammatical errors

No matter how fascinating your story is, a single spelling mistake can ruin its impact. Juries expect impeccable texts because writing is, after all, your main tool.

Common mistakes such as confusing “haber” with “a ver” or using “por qué”, “porque” and “porqué” incorrectly demonstrate a lack of proofreading. And be careful! Although automatic proofreaders can usually help you, are never a substitute for a careful manual check. Accuracy is key to maintaining immersion in your story.

4. Lack of coherence in the text

Coherence is the lifeblood of any literary work. Even if your text is free of grammatical errors, it will lose impact if it doesn't make sense or if the reader can't follow the narrative thread. Lack of coherence is when the logic of events, characters or changes in narrative voice are not well justified.

For example, if you start your story in the first person and suddenly switch to the third person for no apparent reason, the jury will be puzzled. Everything in your work should flow naturally for the reading experience to be pleasurable and compelling.

5. Plagiarism and lack of originality in the work

Plagiarism is not only a serious mistake, but an ethical misconduct that can cost you not only disqualification, but also your credibility as a writer. Nowadays, many competitions use tools to detect copied texts, so trying to «take too much inspiration» from other works is a very bad idea.

Lack of originality is also problematic. If your story repeats clichés or is too similar to other famous works, you will lose points. Finally, if you use artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT to generate your work, be sure to make this clear. While these tools can be useful, the jury expects your work to be the result of your creativity.

6. Incorrect use of punctuation marks

Punctuation is essential for the clarity of a text. A misplaced comma can change the meaning of a sentence or make it difficult to understand. Well-used punctuation not only structures the text, but also gives it rhythm and emotion.

Remember that it is not the same to say:

«Let's eat, children 😄 than »Let's eat, children 💀«.»

The comma completely changes the meaning of the sentence. It creates a very different image that is likely to take away from what you want to convey. Carefully check the use of full stops, commas and other signs to ensure that your message is clear and precise.

7. Abusing literary embellishments / Exceeding word limits

While flowery language and complex metaphors can be useful in certain contexts, overusing them can make your text heavy and difficult to read. You don't need to fill every paragraph with adjectives or overly detailed descriptions to demonstrate your skill as a writer. A clear, straightforward narrative with precise descriptions is often much more effective. Metaphors should add value and not be mere embellishments that overload the text.

Also, one of the most common mistakes is to exceed the maximum number of words allowed. This limit is not arbitrary; juries have limited time to read the entries and respecting the word limit is a sign that you know how to edit and condense your ideas. If your text exceeds the limit, go through each paragraph and remove redundant sentences or unnecessary information. This process will not only reduce the length, but will also make your work more concise and effective.

8. Neglecting format and presentation

Poorly presented text can give a bad impression even before it is read. Irregular margins, inconsistent fonts or incorrect spacing are mistakes that are perceived as carelessness. If the competition asks for a PDF file, do not send it in Word. If double spacing is required, be sure to set it correctly.

The presentation of your work is your first letter of introduction. Make sure it is clean, professional and easy to read.

9. Ignore the theme of the contest or genre applied for.

One of the most frustrating mistakes for the organisers of a literary competition is to receive entries that do not fit the theme or genre stated in the rules. If the contest states that entries must be science fiction and you submit a historical drama, or if the contest is looking for a philosophical essay and you submit a poem, your entry will be automatically rejected, regardless of the quality of the writing. This mistake may be the result of not reading the rules carefully or thinking that your work is so good that it can fit into any category.

The themes and genres requested in a competition are not suggestions, they are rules that juries take very seriously. In many cases, organisers are looking for works that respond to a specific objective, such as encouraging reflection on a social issue, highlighting a historical event, or exploring certain less conventional literary genres. Submitting a work that doesn't fit in shows that you didn't understand or respect the purpose of the contest.

10. Do not make a final check before sending the file.

One of the most avoidable and, at the same time, most common mistakes is not checking the file you send. Sometimes, in a hurry, participants send wrong, incomplete or incorrectly saved files. For example, you may send a draft instead of the final version, or the document may have formatting errors such as misaligned paragraphs or uneven fonts.

Before submitting your work, check that it is the correct version and that it complies with all the specifications of the competition. Also make sure that the file opens correctly and that it has the name requested in the rules.

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