FINE TUNING THE EDITING

Year ago while still learning the craft of writing, I found an article on a website . After all this time, I no longer  have the name of the website or the author.   I’ve used the following list on each of my books and all my other writings. I hope you find some use for it also.

 

EDITING

After the final draft, edit using the "find" function for the words on the following list. Next, read the sentence containing the offender, and either correct it or leave it be, depending. They are all valid words, if used in moderation, but are prone to misuse, overuse and abuse.

"Fine Tooth Comb and Red Flags and Snags"

and – but (can indicate run-on sentences) that (unnecessary in most sentences)

that (when you mean "who")

just

nearly – almost

really

seem – appear

felt – feel

begin – began

would – should – could

quite

few

rather

thing

stuff

anyway

because

"ly" adverbs

so

then

even

only

down  – up (as in sit down, stand up – can be redundant)

got – get

Look for passive use:

it – is

am

are

was

were

has

had

have

been

to be

there is

there are

there was

there were

 

Okay, so most of know all this. We still have the tendency to interject them into our writing without thinking. Try this excerise  once and see if it tightens and strengthens your piece of writing. I would suggest doing it on short story first.

 

Happy writing.