Comments on: Some Different Self-Editing Rules For Writers

By: Shelley Gable

Shelley Gable — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:50:09 +0000

Thanks for sharing these lessons learned – I’m especially going to keep your Adverb section in mind. When I find myself using an adverb, I’ll take an extra moment to see if there’s a more powerful or descriptive verb I can use instead. Thanks!

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Weekend Reads | Ditchwalk — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:02:05 +0000

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By: barbara

barbara — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:47:09 +0000

I used the edit find to see how many times I used very; I didn’t get one however it stopped on everybody or every. Does this fall under very too?
barbara

By: marc nash

marc nash — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:55:29 +0000

Thanks for crystallising these so well and accessibly (redundant adverb?)

One I wasn’t sure about was the ‘pushed the door handle with her elbow’ – I’m interested to know as the reader why she couldn’t use her hand? What was she carrying… Could maybe say ‘nudged the door open(shut) with her elbow’ …?

I’m forever employing the ‘find’ function on Microsoft Word and replacing words that get repeated. But then I also get accused of being unnecessarily over-wordy when I do replace words (and particularly adverbs) in this way. Can’t win huh?

Thanks again

marc nash

By: Heidi

Heidi — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:22:56 +0000

Great writeup, Eden. And well timed, considering I’m neck deep in revisions & re-writes. :)

The points about “without” and non-events are especially good points, and ones I need to be more cognizant about. :)

By: barbara

barbara — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:29:57 +0000

I will never use the word without again. Thank you for showing me exactly how useless it is. I stumbled onto this website and enjoyed it. I intend to return often. Again, thank you.

barbara

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Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:35:26 +0000

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By: Eden

Eden — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:56:21 +0000

Without is one word I’d never really thought about until the editor pointed it out to me. It’s certainly unnecessary. It’s amazing how much I keep learning…I’ll never have it all figured out, it seems ;)
Thanks so much for reading and commenting!

By: Eden

Eden — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:54:57 +0000

Thank you!! I’m so glad you stopped by =)

By: Eden

Eden — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:54:26 +0000

Yes…that is definitely overused. Sometimes it’s needed, but I remember when I did my first search for thats…wow, is all I can say!

By: Giselle

Giselle — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:46:18 +0000

Wonderful post Eden. Your paragraph on “Without” was spot on. The word Without tends to become one of our fluff words. Eliminate the fluff and the keep your story on target.

“Try doing without without. It’s a useless word. I had a line that started, “Without thinking, she stopped and called out.” Well, if she didn’t think, why say it?”

Excellent self editing tools.

By: PD Allen

PD Allen — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:19:33 +0000

Excellent advice.

By: Icy Sedgwick

Icy Sedgwick — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:58:48 +0000

Brilliant post – a lot of good tips which I’ll no doubt refer to while redrafting a story!

I just wanted to add one more. Removing superfluous uses of ‘that’. Some sentences just don’t need it, and if you remove it, the flow improves dramatically.

By: Eden

Eden — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:15:50 +0000

I don’t think anyone thinks their own writing is ever good enough. I sure don’t!!! But yeah, taking steps is the way to go. I’m slowly going over my ms and just going in chunks so I don’t get overwhelmed. Writing is not easy. I just found this quote earlier today and posted it as my Facebook status:: “Easy reading is damned hard writing.” ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne — So true!!
(By the way, that’s the word you should replace very with. Yeah, that one. Not the worst one… ;))

By: Eden

Eden — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:45:52 +0000

Very — yeah, I’ll admit I went back in and searched my ms for that word. Was proud that it was only in the words every and everything. That is, until it reached a part I haven’t touched in about five months or so…. Word found seven verys. I can easily change them, but I wasn’t thrilled. Now for all the others that are unnecessary:: suddenly, immediately, at last, finally, blahblahblah.. And why do I adore editing again? (I actually reallyreally do!! I just don’t get why…)
=D