Extra editing tasks to improve your writing
The editing process for a novel or short story is more than just proofreading and checking for inconsistencies. You’ll also want to check for too many filler words or repetition.
Every author is different, so each has different go-to words while writing. Let’s review some of the most common filler words and look at how repetition can make readers roll their eyes.
Get rid of unnecessary words
Some of the most common filler words are usually adverbs, but others include ones you might not consider at first glance. Often, these words can get in the way of your writing: like, just, and that.
I am an overuser of “that,” so I check for it and remove unnecessary uses to make my writing more concise. I am currently editing my sixth novel and discovered during read-aloud sessions that (the word is needed in this case) my characters overuse the word “just.” It’s just a common phrase in dialogue, but I doubt removing more than a hundred uses of “just” from the story (out of over 200) harmed the narrative.
Here are some common words to look for:
- like
- just
- really
- that
- very
Avoid too much repetition
How many times does your character sigh, grumble, or roll their eyes? And if they “release a breath they didn’t realize they were holding,” it’s probably one too many in the story.
When it comes to dialogue tags, you can’t go wrong with “said” and “asked” or “says” or “asks” depending on the tense in your story. When you get into the sighs, grumbles, yells, bellows, etc., it is best to use them sparingly.
If you’re character sighs or bellows every line, it gets old fast. Also, keep a watchful eye on their actions. Characters shouldn’t roll their eyes too often (even if they’re teenagers).
Use uncommon words sparingly
I’m all for a well-developed and varied vocabulary, but too many big or uncommon words can leave readers scratching their heads. Unless you’re writing an academic tome, it’s best to stick to easily recognizable words.
On another semi-related note, what’s with the word “cacophony” lately? I went from rarely encountering it to seeing it two-to-three times in recent novels I’ve read. I don’t know what it is about that word, but it irks me.
Enhance your dialogue
The best time to throw out most grammar rules is within character dialogue. Characters don’t have to speak in complete sentences or avoid ending phrases with prepositions. They can use “ain’t” and double negatives.
Unless your character is a polished professional giving a speech, work in some contractions every now and then to avoid stiff-sounding dialogue.
“I do not like having to go shopping on a Saturday,” could be “I don’t like shopping on a Saturday,” or even “I loathe Saturday shopping!” depending on your character’s personality.
Plus, avoid using too many different words to signify speech. “Said” and “asked” are perfectly acceptable. It’s unlikely for someone to whisper or scream every line.
You can also skip the dialogue tags after you’ve established a back-and-forth conversation between characters.
Trust yourself to tell the best story
Overall, it’s your story. If you’re self-editing it, make sure it’s something you’d want to read. Trust your gut to do what’s right.
-Brandi Easterling Collins
Luminesce Publishing founder, author, and editor