Watch out for repetition, repetition.

Beware the repeat.

Yes we can be all guilty of it. The same sentence, the repetitive character. Beware you don't just rinse and repeat.

This is not really a problem if only one of your novels makes it to the shelf. However, if you have learnt heavy on the reuse, the cookie cutter, the classic two dimensional character. Then you might just be in trouble.

I use a number of methods to avoid this.

If it writes itself, it usually means I have already written it before. With so many in the back catalogue this can often be a danger that just cannot be avoided but if you feel yourself writing the same go to scene over and over then stop.

Change of character. Yep, we all love that one character. That Han Solo cheeky rogue. The lady in red that drives you man. The Bruce Wayne alter ego. Either way. Write it once and once only. If you love it enough to write it again, it probably means you did not right it to its fullest potential the first time around. If this is the case and you feel you have more to offer, then do just that. Interweave them into another story, rewrite the original or just begin again. All are acceptable. What is not acceptable is writing the same character with a different name, just because it is safe.

Kill them all. Easiest way to get that feeling to return out of the way is to kill them and bury them on paper and emotionally. OK this one is for fun but you know what I mean here. As a writer each character is a part of you. Use them, do not abuse them.

This one is for the win. Mirror your favourite char, black and white. The best way to continue the thread is to mimic and augment. If your favourite character is a good guy, make them mad. Take everything you love and make your readers hate them. This can ensure you avoid any issues with replication and duplication.

A quick and dirty list I know but it works for me at the moment. To recap:

• Keep track of your characters, A6 cards work well for this.
• Do not rinse and repeat. Make sure when you spot the reuse you nip it in the bud there and then.
• Don't be scared to borrow but unless they are the same character in total do not clone and go. Your readers over time will spot this lazy way of writing and call you out for what you are doing. 

The flip side of all of this is a double edged sword. For those that you do wish to reuse:

• Keep track of them
• Make sure your timelines fit.
• Flesh out their back stories, make them interesting and multi dimensional.
• Determine where you are going with them before you start investing in their story.