It’s all too easy to overstuff your writing when you’re striving for a natural, unstrained tone. We lean on filler words in conversation to soften our speech and build connections, but these words don’t convey enough information to be effective in writing.

The internet is peppered with lists of “words to cut from your writing.” Unfortunately, if you don’t know why to avoid them or what to do instead, you could be wreaking havoc on your manuscript. Instead of considering these words red flags to delete carte blanche, look at them as opportunities for revision.

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10 thoughts on “Cues for review or revision – by Lisa Poisso…”

So using body sensations to show emotions is tired and hackneyed now. I remember a time when we were advised to do this rather than tell what the emotion is. Some of these ‘rules’ (or fads?) change with the wind.

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Chris The Story Reading Ape says:

April 2, 2023 at 18:35

Seems Fad about sums up Writing Rules, Annabelle 😳

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- annabellefranklinauthor says:
  
  April 2, 2023 at 18:42
  
  Yes, I reckon publishers dream them up when they’re sitting around doing nothing while their authors are busy marketing their books. 😀
  When revising, I generally go with what sounds right when I read it aloud.
  
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  - Chris The Story Reading Ape says:
    
    April 2, 2023 at 18:59
    
    Sounds good to me (no pun intended)
    
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Reblogged this on https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.

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I liked this article but frowned at some of the words, “prohibited”. Not all. Lisa has a point. I know that I am guilty of using filler words. Very (*) guilty. I scanned a few highly (*) successful authors. Those that were once (*) journalists Graham Greene, Hemmingway et al. fared well. Others failed badly. I would assume that then they sold very few books….. Hmmm…… Stephen King, JK Rowling, John Grisham, Tom Clancey. All fared badly. I assume that they just did not know that they were not writing correctly.
All joking aside (though the info given is correct) There is a point to this. Sometimes we just (*) add words that have no reason to be there. Lisa is right. Perhaps (*) not so strictly, not all writers wish to be journalists. Though it is worth noting that most journalists do indeed (*) wish to be writers.

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