Some things I've learned as a new DM

I have not been DMing for a long time now, around a year, I think, but here are some things I've learned as a new DM. Most of you probably already know this stuff.

Players like it if you describe the effect of their attacks. i.e where their weapon hits. As vividly as possible is often good. 

Try to describe locations to avoid confusion with players.

Don't retcon stuff, e.i don't change stuff you've already said to the players. Avoid retcon AT ALL TIMES. 

When players do something that skips an entire encounter or section, don't punish them. They did something smart, congratulate them. 

Never give the players an option that you aren't prepared for. Often there is a pretty good chance that they will take the path you don't like.

These are some lessons I've learned, hope y'all find them helpful. If you think anything should be added to this list, post it in the comments! I probably forgot some things to, I might post them in the comments. IDK. 

I think most of those are valid, but I disagree with Never give an option you aren't prepared for. It will feel like you are railroading the players and then they will actively go against what you want. I think that it is okay to improvise when players do something you didn't expect. TTRPGs are unique because it's a human running and creating the game, not an algorithm. You can adjust, and everyone will have more fun that way.

I ment that never give them an option that you don't want them to take.

Quote from Nanra_Taran >>

Don't retcon stuff, e.i don't change stuff you've already said to the players. Avoid retcon AT ALL TIMES. 

 I don't agree with the capitalized text. I mean, yes, in general you want to avoid retcon. If something is said, then it's happened and if something is not said, then it hasn't happened. But it might be a case that you simply forgot to mention a thing and even though it wouldn't matter right now or wouldn't have mattered with their choices so far, it's still something the party should have known. Sure, you can throw them a random encounter there they find out about this information, but I've found it's best for me if I just admit plainly that I made a mistake and tell them the info right then. My players know I haven't DMd for a long time and everyone makes a mistake once in a while.

Otherwise, that's a very solid list. I would add one more key thing I've faced already countless times even with my limited experience: You cannot prepare for everything. Don't try to fill every loophole in every encounter with possible outcomes. The party will always throw a curve ball and your efforts go in vain. Instead, prepare for a few possibilities (e.g. if they kill/don't kill X or they avoid X completely) in a broad manner, but always leave room for improvisation.

We try not to retcon but sometimes it's the best answer, or to get a little timey-wimey. "Oh, while leaving town, there was an impressive landmark I forgot to describe. Would you have wanted to investigate it, or were you in a hurry?"

It can also be helpful if a particular party member had to do a thing in that space, and was absent. You can just go back and do that conversation.

If you have to retcon, e.g. a player dies in a way they weren’t expecting because they forgot something, they feel they were wronged, you agree, THEN you can retcon. It should be pretty much the final option that is used barely at all, not almost every session like some parties.