Comments on: From the Mailbox

By: June

June — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:57:35 +0000

Thank you for a virtual smorgasbord of absolutely delightful and completely unnecessary list of words and phrases I can’t wait to sink my teeth into.
June
June´s last blog ..Lessons for Writers from New Moon, the movie

By: asdfg

asdfg — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:47:12 +0000

point in time. “At this point in time…” should be “At this time…” Or, simply “Now…”

By: Natalie Aguirre

Natalie Aguirre — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:37:57 +0000

This is so timely because I’m trying to cut words out of my manuscript. This week I cut over 3000 words. Some I found are:
starting to do something instead of doing it.
just
turning to _______
was running instead of ran

By: Jewel/Pink Ink

Jewel/Pink Ink — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:34:09 +0000

that
really
to be honest
So…

Dewazzling always makes me feel better. :-)
Jewel/Pink Ink´s last blog ..Keeping The Faith

By: thea

thea — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:59:44 +0000

‘but’ is one. so indecisive..so libran…

By: Kathleen Bolton

Kathleen Bolton — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:42:30 +0000

My “just” is “really”. As in I really use really too much. Why can’t I stop?

By: Richard Mabry

Richard Mabry — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:10:11 +0000

Kathleen, Thanks for the reminder. I’ll add this to my list of words to amputate as I edit my magnum opus.

Kristan, Could you and I have been separated at birth? I, too, overuse “just.” I just can’t help it.

By: Lydia Sharp

Lydia Sharp — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:14:45 +0000

Kristan stole my favorite: just. I tend to overuse that in first drafts and it’s likely the number one word I strike on a second draft. Actually, definitely, and quite are a few others I struggle with. I also overdo the phrase “a bit.” That’s my dialect coming through my fingertips.

The number one thing I notice while doing critiques is that new writers like to point out the obvious. The sun is hot. Ice is cold. A frown is sad. A smile is joyful. Not always that blatant, but you get the idea.

A friend of mine says she sometimes forgets to hang up her “Captain Obvious” cape before she sits down to write. And I’ll admit I’ve inadvertently borrowed her cape on more than one occasion. It’s a one size fits all.
Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..Antagonist Tips: Creating a Character We Love to Hate

By: Kristan

Kristan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:52:21 +0000

Ditto what Jonathan said. I think rules like that (“strike these words!”) are helpful because most people OVER-use them, but in reality they don’t ALL have to go.

Personally the word I have to strike the most is “just”. I don’t know why I use it so much!
Kristan´s last blog ..Lamest post of lameness ever

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:09:11 +0000

I’m a fan of culling out all that stuff, but I also think there are times when some of those might have a place. When I’m writing dialogue, the choice of words we use to portray our characters and give them their voice may very well include those verboten words. Also, while it is important to strive to rid our writing of overuse of these words, it is also okay to strike a balance. When I try to eliminate them altogether, some of the results are clunky.
Jonathan´s last blog ..Writing Magic in Fantasy Fiction