Writing a novel is already a daunting task, and even more so when it comes to actually editing your story. However, editing is a crucial part of writing a story. In fact, editing can make or break your novel. One of the most critical aspects of editing is knowing what to remove from your writing. By removing unnecessary words and phrases, you can make your writing more concise and impactful. This article will take a closer look at some of the elements you should consider editing out of your novel, including filler words, redundant phrases, gerund words, and leading words. By the end of this article, you'll have a great understanding of what to remove from your writing to make it even more engaging and effective. So hop along and continue reading!
Filler Words
Editing out filler words from your novel can make your writing more concise and impactful. Filler words, such as "um," "like," or "you know," can distract readers from the overall message that you are trying to convey. Plus, filler words can make your writing seem amateurish and unprofessional. The exception to this is when including filler words in dialogue. For humans, inserting filler words into our speech is natural, which is why your characters may include filler words when they speak. As a result, using filler words sparingly in dialogue can make the conversation feel more realistic and natural. It's important to balance authentic dialogue and simplicity when including filler words in your novel.
Redundant Phrases
Removing redundant phrases from your novel can make your writing more concise and effective! Redundant phrases are phrases that repeat the same meaning using different, but similar words, such as "added bonus," "free gift," or "personal opinion." These phrases can make your writing extra wordy and repetitive, which will ultimately bore your readers and detract from the main point or line that you are trying to convey. By eliminating redundant phrases, you can improve your writing and make it more impactful. This will help to keep your readers engaged and focused on the story or message you are sharing. Listed below are some common redundant phrases that you should remove from your story:
Basic necessities
Period of time
Unexpected surprise
End result
Each and every
Gerund Words
Editing gerund words from your novel can make your writing much easier to read. Gerunds are verbs that end in "-ing," such as "swimming," "running," or "writing." While these words (gerunds) can be useful in some cases, using them excessively can make your writing seem awkward and messy. For example, instead of saying "I went swimming at the lake," you can say "I swam at the lake." By removing the gerund, the sentence becomes a lot more direct and impactful. Another example is instead of saying, "He was running fast towards the finish line," you can say, "He sprinted towards the finish line." By eliminating gerunds where they are not necessary, you can make your writing more concise and ensure that your readers stay engaged throughout your entire story.
Adverbs
Removing adverbs from your story can improve the overall quality of your writing. Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They are words that end in "-ly," such as "quickly," "loudly," or "happily." While adverbs can provide more information about an action's performance and what your character is doing and feeling, they can also weaken your writing. Instead of using an adverb, try to find a stronger verb that can convey the same meaning. For example, instead of saying "She walked slowly," you could say "She trudged." By removing adverbs and replacing them with stronger verbs, you can make your writing more detailed and engaging, which will keep your readers interested in your story. Plus, choosing strong verbs will really help your readers visualize what is occurring.
Leading Words
When writing a novel, you should always avoid using leading words in your story because they can make your writing sound too argumentative or manipulative. While fiction novels can have a moral or a message, they shouldn't be arguing a point or read like an opinion essay. As a result, you should edit out leading words from your story. Leading words are words that influence a reader's perspective or opinion on a subject, such as "obviously," "clearly," or "undoubtedly." These words may seem random and harmless, but they can actually detract from your writing. For example, instead of saying "Obviously, the best way to do this is to..." you could say "One effective solution for this problem is to do..." By eliminating leading words, you allow your readers to form their own opinions about the topic you are discussing, which ultimately leads to a more engaging and thought-provoking read.
Editing your novel is just as important as actually writing the story, which is why you must know what to remove from your writing. While it can be hard to watch the words you've written disappear from the page, it is essential. From leading words to gerunds to filler words, all of these can detract from the quality of your writing. But luckily now that you know what to edit out of your novel, you can do so to create a truly amazing piece. Good luck editing!
Comments