I often weed as I write. (My inner editor is the intrusive type. It does help to send her on errands though...:)
What kinds of things do I look for? I look to eliminate the fluff, or empty phrases. For example:
- free gift
- at the present time
- thought to myself
- end result
- the honest truth
- large in size
- past history
- repeat again
When considering whether to yank one of these phrases out of my carefully penned prose, I wonder…
- Why wouldn't a gift be free. If it isn't, do I want it?
- Can you think to anyone but yourself?
- Doesn’t the result usually signify some end?
- What exactly is the honest truth? Is there a dishonest truth?
- If large isn’t a size, what is it?
- Isn’t all history past?
- Why would I need to repeat something again?
How are you at weeding the excess from your writing? What do you look for to help tighten and polish?
Don't Forget -
I am having a giveaway to celebrate the 300 follower milestone (almost there!). If you missed Thursday's post with entry info, click here.
Karen
Photo credit: Stock Exchange
Those are great examples of ways to cut! I'm learning to stop myself with some of those redundancies in first draft but a few manage to sneak through!
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy tightening up writing, most times removing words that you can remove makes the meaning clearer. Sometime of course it's okay to leave in the odd word for voice.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
(I'm almost at 400, need about as many as you, but everyone seems to be at the beach)
Funny examples, but we often make those mistakes. I tend to lean towards excess double modifiers.
ReplyDeleteSome wise advice - weeding as editing is a wonderful image too. And that's the honest truth ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat tips, Karen. I read something once that has helped me when I know I need to cut something that I think is especially clever or a really catchy way of saying something but just not working, "My words are not sacred." I will tell myself that just as I hit "cut" and then I feel so much better about doing what is best for the piece as a whole.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen .. great ideas - I always love the learning I get by being around 'writing bloggers' .. I try and flip through to weed out the excess ..
ReplyDeleteCheers - Hilary
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. As aware of things as I can be, they still slip past me. Often! :)
Mood,
You know, I do too, unless I am super pressed for a deadline, then it is more of a chore. I'm learning to find that "voice" balance.
Alex,
Me too, and they sneak in when I am not looking, it seems!
Annie,
I'm all for images in the right places - working on that balance in my writing. And that too, is the honest truth! :P
Carol,
Thank you! Yes, I've heard that saying; it is a great one to abide by. I am better at it than I used to be. :)
Hilary,
It is easier said than done, isn't it? But we're all works in progress. I enjoy your writing. :)
Blessings,
Karen
I am guilty of the fluff!
ReplyDeleteI love fluff and laughing at your examples. :)
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Those are great examples. I also try to take out the "I looked" or "she turned" and "they glanced" stuff--it's always fluff in my stories.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen .. thanks so much! Very appreciated .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteWhat nice examples! I'm learning so much from your blog.
ReplyDeleteDiane,
ReplyDeleteMore fluff sneaks into my writing than I expect. Glad to know I am not alone!
Jules,
LOL! Yes, well, fluff in the right places can work like Mood said. Glad I made you laugh. :)
Lydia,
Thanks! Have to say, guilty of the "glanced" and "turned" thing. Need to work on that!
Hilary,
You are welcome! :)
Joy,
Thank you! So glad they are helpful!
Blessings,
Karen
Thanks for the reminder! I'm guilty of being a 'fluffy' writer. I'll be more careful to weed out excess words when writing my next post. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteLOL, Those are great examples, Karen! One of my critique partners always used to catch me saying, "She sat down." Or "She stood up." Isn't there only one way to sit and one way to stand? :)
ReplyDeleteKaren:
ReplyDeleteMy inner editor must be related to yours. I constantly try to find ways to cut words or say something better.
I thought the more words the better - but what do I know?
ReplyDeleteVilisi,
ReplyDeleteI think we all do this, and it depends on the situation, too. We all learn and grow as we go!
Sarah,
I know, I just trimmed "down" from a phrase I had in the WIP. Who sits "up", you know? lol
Cecelia,
I think she must be. Chocolate does work as a bribe - just thought you might want to know...:)
Sandie,
Well, it depends on what you are writing, in my opinion anyway. Now your posts are fun and interesting and have personality. I never think about the amount you have b/c you entertain and share great stuff!
Blessings,
Karen
I weed as I go, but there is always more to weed in the follow-up edits.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen -
ReplyDeleteLOL! Sometimes in our zeal to reach our word count, we resort to fluff. It's a lot harder to write in another subplot or develop a character.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Oh, yes. I like tight writing, and it's something we should always work toward. Sometimes I feel like there could never be too many words, but I'm learning what to keep and what to rid my work of.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting back to editing on the 16th. It's the best part of writing, I think. Polishing, polishing, polishing. Love the shine, eh.
ReplyDeleteEvery few sentences I often make a quick adjustment, and after each session I usually go back and rephrase, cut and add. I like having a neat first draft.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's a detriment to my writing in any way. It's just one approach.
(That last sentence was originally "It's just one person's way of approaching it." I guess I do this automatically.)
I tend to slip up quite a bit. I need to be more careful of my sentences, they tend to be really long.
ReplyDeleteThose are the kinds of things I look for. I usually take a break of a day or so between reads because they can be as illusive as weeds, for sure.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this reminder. I live and die (well, kinda) by word counts. This makes me want to tighten up and hone it well!
ReplyDeleteGood stuff, Karen!
Eileen,
ReplyDeleteYes, this IS true, isn't it? :)
Susan,
I've had that happen, but not too often. Ah, the trials of being a writer! lol
Janna,
I agree, there aren't too many words, just the need to pcik the right ones for the job!
Joylene,
Yes, the shine is wonderful. I'll be looking for the bright light from your direction around the 15th!
Rachna,
Hey, we're getting there, you know? And some of this can be part of our style, too, in the right balance.
Sally,
I agree; a break is a wonderful thing. Unless I procrastinate and cannot take that luxury. Aiming to better in that department!
Rhonda,
Thanks a bunch! I'm all for honing and improving. :)
Blessings,
Karen
Ah, yes, weeding. Not my favorite thing to do in my garden but I don't mind too much in my writing. It always gives me a feeling of having achieved something important when I manage to cut words out that I used to think were essential.
ReplyDeleteYour examples made me smile, remembering a manuscript evaluation I had recently with Mary Kole. I had written "nodded his head." And she asked, "What else can you nod?"
ReplyDeleteUm, I said "hand," but she wasn't buying. I changed the line. :-)
Ah, weeding. What helps me the most while weeding my writing is to read it aloud. Sometimes just hearing what my writing sounds like brings the weeds to the forefront.
ReplyDeleteYour examples were fun to read, and I have to admit that I'm guilty of having used some of them!
P.S. Today I met my double dog dare challenge. Stop by my blog for a moment to check it out. It was tough finding a spot to fit the word in, but it's in there! :-)
I know I get wordy often times. I need to be more observant of these points you've made.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
I like to use less words if possible, the shorter the better... too many words out there :0
ReplyDeleteLove your examples Karen, thanks!
Yat-Yee,
ReplyDeleteI don't care for weeding my garden either. Editing doesn't get dirt under your fingernails! :)
Cathy,
I've done that one too! Too bad she didn't go for your clever alternative. :)
Janette,
That's a great tip! I like to read my work aloud through the editing process in general. It really helps. Will hop over to your blog!
Lee,
I think we all can, or at the very least, we all need to edit!
Marja,
You are welcome! Word economy is a good thing!
Blessings,
Karen
Oooo, you're just 2 away from 300!
ReplyDeleteI had so many "suddenly" spots in my book, it was giving me whiplash!
If I can take out a word and lose nothing from the meaning of the sentences, then I usually take it out. And I agree about the "Free gift." Any time I hear that phrase it irks me to no end.
ReplyDeleteThose are great examples and make perfect sense. Only one away from 300! Yay!
ReplyDeleteTheresa,
ReplyDeleteI know, it's exciting! :) Thanks for your help and for posting it on FB. Much appreciated!
Stephen,
Yes, I agree, and that's how I try to edit. So "free gift" is your pet peeve? "Thought to myself" gets to me, even when I hear people say it.
Lyn,
Thanks so much. :) Yes, almost at 300; I am excited!
Blessings,
Karen
I love your examples
ReplyDeleteI write 'very' ... a lot when I write.. then I cut most of them out LOL
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes, "very" snags me too sometimes. :) Good thing we can edit!
Happy weekend,
Karen