When submitting a piece of writing, be it fiction, non-fiction,or an article for a magazine, newspaper, blog or website etc, writers must generally adhere to a specific word count. It is imperative, therefore, to be aware of the requirements and writing guidelines specific to a targeted publisher, publication, or website.
Polish Prose
Before submitting a written piece, polish it until it shines.
- Clearly articulate what is to be said via the written word.
- Deliver the line of reasoning or message in a comprehensive reader-friendly fashion.
- Each sentence must make sense.
- Ensure paragraphs flow with logical progression of thought or argument.
- Tailor writing to the reader audience.
- Most importantly, effectively communicate what is to be said within the alloted word count
Examine word usage. Remove any words that are not necessary and serve no real purpose in the writing.
Overused Words in Dialogue
An author's speech patterns, phrases or choice of words used in dialogue are often translated to the page. However, repeated use of a word, be it in the spoken or written form, can undermine its intended effect.
For the purpose of the exercise, record others in conversation. Play it back and listen carefully. Identify those words or phrases used which distinguishes one speaker from the other. Could one speaker have made the same point using half as many words? Does another speaker favour a particular word or expression and repeatedly use it? Train the ear to pick up on a person's speech patterns. Similarly, trian the eye to home in on repetitive or overused words in their written form.
The following is a list of commonly overused words. It is by no means exhaustive:about, actually, almost, almost like, already, basically, before, but, even, eventually, exactly, finally, furthermore, had, had been, however, just, just then, kind of, like, nearly, now, obviously, really, seems, simply, somehow, somewhat, somewhat like, sort of, suddenly, the, the fact that, that, then, truly, utterly, very, was.
Example of the Editing Process
Consider the sentence:
- Basically, the use of obvious repetitive and unnecessary and really overused words, somewhat adds to the volume without necessarily increasing just the impact of the writing.
The same message can be conveyed by refining the word usage and tightening sentence structure:
- Repetitive, unnecessary and overused words add to the volume without increasing the impact.
How to Check Writing for Repetitive Words
A useful tool to help search out and cull repetitive or unproductive words is the FIND/REPLACE function on the computer. Either delete the overused word entirely or find a suitable substitute to replace it. Alternatively, print the page and use a coloured highlighter to single out needless words, then re-edit the writing.
Eliminate Unnecessary Dialogue Tags
The same rule of thumb for culling redundant words can be applied to dialogue tags. Examples of tags void of audio meaning include: said, replied, told, asked, suggested. The purpose of some tags is to lend mood or emotion in the delivery of the dialogue: groan, sigh, argue, command, shout, whimper, laugh, cry.
If the same dialogue tag is continually used then the overall effect can be dull, uninteresting or flattening. Is the tag absolutely essential? As long as it 's clear who is saying what, a dialogue tag isn't always required.
Whether writing narrative or dialogue, be judicious with choice of words. Keep the writing tight. Discard words that don't pull their weight in effectively communicating the point.
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