Have ever spent what you thought was a fantastic evening with Mr. Might-Be-Right, only to be left hanging alone wondering if he lost your number, went back to his ex or was run over by a car?

Ladies, I have news for you. Mr. Fantastic is probably alive, not hooking up with his ex and not searching desperately for that piece of paper with your phone number on it. In fact, there is a good chance he is not calling because you did something to convince him not to.

That's right. You might have committed one of the Seven Deadly Sins of Dating. It's time to identify your misdeeds, and better yet, learn how to stop doing them. Read on to redeem yourself!

Sin: Verbal Diarrhea


While your sister's stint in rehab was traumatic and that breakthrough you had in therapy was indeed great, he doesn't need — or want — to know about it.
Why It's Sinful: Is there anything more uncomfortable than someone spilling the sticky parts of their personal lives all over the dinner table? According to the nearly 1,000 men I interviewed for my book, "Cinderella Was a Liar," the answer is no. As one suitor put it, "There is nothing appealing about being someone's therapist when you are trying to relax and have a good time. It all comes off as drama, which is beyond unappealing."
Redeem Yourself! Just like gourmet desserts, good conversation is not about quantity, but rather quality. Sure, you could make him gorge on details about your ex, your mother and why you want to switch antidepressants, but if you want to see him again, you might need to try a new recipe. Keep the conversation light and witty, and sprinkle it with personality. Talk about the things you enjoy: your career, places you have seen or would like to see, and hobbies. Need some fresher topics? Read up about current events (unrelated to Britney, Paris or Lindsay).

Sin: Making the Word "Date" Bigger Than It Is


You think he's amazing and you want to impress him, so you run out and blow a week's salary on an outfit you'll never wear again, all the while planning your imaginary wedding.
Why It's Sinful: Talk about setting yourself up for failure, woman! What makes you think every lad you meet will be a good match? Settle down and realize that you don't know this person, so you shouldn't fantasize too much about the future.
Redeem Yourself! Repeat after me: "It's just dinner." Do as our male counterparts do — go out, enjoy yourself, don't expect it to lead to anything and if it does, be pleasantly surprised.

Sin: Interrogating Him


What does he do for a living? What are his passions? What was his childhood like? Is he open to changing the colors of his living room because, let's be honest, maroon is so '90s?
Why It's Sinful: Getting to know your companion is one thing, but making him squeeze out his entire life story and thoughts about the Middle East over a cocktail will make him feel like anything he says can — and will — be used against him. He's right.
Redeem Yourself! Soften the conversation by offering information about yourself and following up with a gentle, "How about you?" Avoid asking questions that you would feel uncomfortable answering.

Sin: Dropping the "We Bomb"


You've been on a few dates and shared some laughs and a few kisses. There is definitely a connection, so why does he stare in silence when you assume he'll be joining you at your sister's wedding next November?
Why It's Sinful: To put it bluntly, it oozes desperation. While you might be aching to step out of the singles scene, men see dating as a good time and place a high price on their monogamy. This means it takes time before they will consider giving it up for anyone else, even wonderful you.
Redeem Yourself! Don't assume you are exclusive until you both agree to be, and remember that it usually takes three to five months for a man to decide to be exclusive, six months to say "I love you" and an average of three years before he will consider marriage.

Sin: Sex Too Soon


Do you think, "I'm liberated, I'm a sexual creature and I'm not doing anything wrong by dropping my knickers on the first date?" You're totally kidding yourself.
Why It's Sinful: Seduction is all about mystery. It's hard to be intriguing when you have given him everything on the first night. If you want a relationship to develop with this man, wait until you know more about him than his eye color before you let him see your naughty freckle.
Redeem Yourself! It isn't fair, but there is a double standard when it comes to sleeping with a man too soon. Having a fling is fun, bit it won't lead to much. No one wants to look at the mother of their child and know she went home with him (and who knows how many others) from the bar after a few hours of conversation. Ouch.

Sin: Being Rude to Others


The busboy spills red wine on your sleeve and you demand to speak to a manager and threaten his job.
Why It's Sinful: You think you are behaving like a woman in charge, but he's thinking, "Is she is going to treat me like that one day?"
Redeem Yourself! Everyone has bad days. Cut people some slack, and show your date and everyone else around you that you can handle a crisis with grace and style. Anyone can freak out and make a fuss, but how many women can turn a bad situation into a funny story?

Sin: Morphing Into Him


He likes classic rock, so you download Zeppelin's Greatest Hits onto your iPod. He has a passion for Latin food, so you order enchiladas despite the fact that spicy food gives you acid reflux.
Why It's Sinful: Um, if he wanted to date himself he wouldn't be looking for someone else. Besides, Single White Female is never sexy.
Redeem Yourself! Of course you want to have things in common with your partners, but becoming his clone is not only inauthentic, it's creepy. Show him your sexy, confident side by embracing all of the unique attributes that make you ... well, you!