One of the best things that ever happened to my writing was joining a critique group.
Why?
They catch all of those pesky
little words
that I use too much, or words I
really should not use at all. I edited that last sentence of those words and then added them in to show you how often and easily they creep into my writing.
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I have a short list in "Currently Editing" folder.
- that
- just
- seem
- like
- really
- feel
- start
- already
- felt
- very
This worked fine - for a while. Then a few months back I read a
post by Rachelle Gardner about cutting words. Although her post was about cutting words in an attempt to cut word count, I applied it to advice I've seen numerous times on agent and editor blogs.
Cut unnecessary words.
Every word counts.
Gardner gives a list which I have now plucked
more words from to add to my own list.
- actually
- almost
- appears
- basically
- close to
- eventually
- exactly
- finally
- kind of
- nearly
- practically
- simply
- somehow
- somewhat
- suddenly
- truly
- utterly
She lists more, but these are the ones which tend to sneak into my writing more than the others. And, leaving them out only tightens my sentences.
Your Turn -> What words sneak into your writing too often?
