Writers! This is a post you will definitely want to bookmark! Writer and MFA student Tracy Gold joins us today to share a wonderful list of those little words that creep into our documents and slow down our reader's experience. Use this list and your "find" key next time you're in edit mode. And be sure to check out Tracy's entry in Pitch Wars!
43 Words and Phrases to Search for While Polishing Your Novel, A Craft of Writing Post by Tracy Gold
I am working on editing my novel for Pitch Wars, and I've noticed some words and phrases that creep up recurrently and weaken my prose—and I'm not alone in this! I see these in unpublished writing (and the occasional published work) all the time.
During your polishing round of editing, do a control F (find) for all of these, in whatever tense you find them in your work. Cut or replace them as necessary, and you will be on your way to a stronger manuscript.
Of course, there are exceptions. Your characters may use these words in dialogue, or they may play a role in your voice. Make these words earn their place in your writing, and your readers will thank you.
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