If you want your story to fly off the page – then it’s all in the editing.
Once you have a near finished draft, it’s important to go through it and cut any unnecessary words. I use Mircosoft Word ‘Navigation’ – CTL ‘F’ key. It’s brilliant. You type in a word and it will tell you how many times you’ve used it, shows you page numbers and allows you to navigate easily between these sentences to fix them.
I have a list I work through. It started when my Beta readers commented that I used certain words and phrases too often – everyone grinned (mostly inappropriately!), there were lots of smiles flashing and a few too many calming breaths! There are plenty more, but I don’t want to embarrass myself too much.
We all have our own pet words to search for and destroy, but here’s a list of a few that are universal.
ly words – Usually these words are added to weak verbs. It’s better to change the verb in question and delete the ly word. (walked quickly – ran)
ing words – Sometimes we use too many ing words and the prose would be improved by a rewrite.
ALL Variations of said: whisper/shout/mutter/ etc – As my editor pointed out, it should be obvious by the dialogue itself how it is said. If not, rework it. Also if its obvious who is talking you can get rid of the speech tag altogether.
Look / gaze / sat / walk and other weak verbs – replace with stronger ones.
Smile / grin / nod / shrug / cry / sigh – Any over used actions that slip in during the creating stage.
Yes, No, well (in dialogue) – These are often pointless sentence starters.
Just, very, quite, more, really etc – Filler words don’t add to the prose. The sentence becomes stronger without them.
Sense / feel / felt – These sentences can often be improved by rewriting. If a character felt something, it should be obvious by their actions without the writer spelling it out.
Contractions – Check they are used where appropriate in prose and dialogue.
Then, next – A creative writing teacher told me these are unnecessary (unless in dialogue)as everything in fiction is consecutive.
There was /were – Passive sentences slow the pace.
(I’m sure there are lots more to add to this list, please share yours)
Conclusion – Using Word’s Navigation (search and destroy method)
Lowers your word count.
Ensures your writing is succinct.
Roots out repetition and your pet words and phrases.
Helps you view the sentence in question separate from the whole, so you can pick out the problems and be ruthless fixing them.
You can see what words you use too often and become more conscious of them as you write your next draft.
Now your novel will fly off the page…
(This brilliant pic is off Pixabay.com. It’s the first time I’ve used someone else’s image, but the site said it was free to use.)
***
Tomorrow I’m up for a bit of Foraging.
Links to my previous A to Z challenge posts
Excellent tips. I agree with most of them but I do sometimes think that a ‘whispered’ or ‘shouted’ can occasionally add to the writing. I just read the Costa book of the year, The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge, and she uses loads of them!
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That’s true.
I haven’t read The Lie Tree yet, but I think she is featured in the new Writing Magazine and I look forward to reading about her.
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This book is third in my TR pile…sounds like I will enjoy reading it…
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I’m loving this. I wish I could Pin it. I love Hemingway’s philosophy “write drunk, edit sober.”
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Yes, I think Hemingway was spot on.
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That’s a good way to find out how many times you’ve used a word by using the ctrl+F, I’ve thought about reading to edit but didn’t bother to think of the quick way to find a word repeating is by using ctrl+F (d’oh) lol.
I do like that picture too :).
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Word does have some excellent functions. I wish I knew how to use them all.
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Another thing I haven’t heard of and am glad to know (and would love to mention to some other writers if they wouldn’t get angry…) Thanks. @DietzShirley from I Just Have to Say
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I’m glad to share what I know.
Thanks for visiting.
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Thanks for this amazing editing help, it will definitely help with some of those tedious words…
although I’m a bit of a rebel and still use one ot two!
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I think we can all get away with a few.
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
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Thanks for sharing.
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