However, they caught me with a new pet word the other night. "So." *Insert head to desk* Seriously, how could that happen? I mean really... Now I have to go back and check each time so is in there to see if it's just a filler word or actually needs to be there. Sigh...
Thing is... We all have our pet words. Mine just happened to change once I noticed. I'll have to be more alert as I weed out the all the times I used so and didn't need to. Cause I know there'll be another word ready to take its place.
One of the best books on self-editing is called The 10% Solution by Ken Rand. It's a small thing, only 63 pages but honestly, it's the best money I've spent on a writing book. You can find it at Fairwood Press. He has a really helpful list of things to check for in your writing.
So, :-) what about you? Got a favorite word?
3 comments:
When I was working on a historical fiction set in the western Frontier, my critique partners jumped all over my excessive use of 'heading for' or 'headed to'. I had to retrain myself to avoid this good, old Texas word.
I notice groups of words that writers use over and over. One of my tics is BUT and I look for it and eradicate it when it shows up. Then there are the times when BUT is necessary, or at least a better choice.
I delete unnecessary THATs and THENs and some of the other words, but I notice when people use SO too often. Most of the time, it does not make sense. It's filler, just another writer's tic.
I usually find that I repeat words in a certain section; when describing something I'll use the same word over and over again. :P
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