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Post by lauraperkins on Feb 25, 2019 18:23:21 GMT -5
Hi all. I’m Laura Perkins, a freelance editor, workshop presenter, and author (under the name Mercy Hollow) specializing in fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi, horror, young adult, middle grade, and other speculative fiction. You can find me at www.lauraperkinsediting.com or www.mercyhollow.com.
Filter words (those that filter the story through the character’s POV) and unnecessary words are molasses on the flow of your story. Passive voice distances the reader from your characters. Tight and close writing pulls the reader in and propels them through the character’s journey. Editors, agents, and publishers look for tight writing. If you can say something in 5 words instead of 10, 5 is almost always better. Tight writing helps move the story forward effecting clarity, pace, and tone. Embrace the red pen and love cutting the split ends off your stories.
The attached PDF included words and phrases to look for in your writing that can often be trimmed, as well as a tightening activity. You can do searches on these, go through, and cut where possible. When I’m doing a later edit on a story, I print out the list, go through section by section, and cross off the word, phase, or section after I do a search and destroy. My writing has gotten tighter and tighter and now I love it when my editor crosses out words. It’s like spring cleaning for my books.
Tourniquet Tight Writing.pdf (141.03 KB)
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Post by Admin Kbatz on Feb 25, 2019 18:48:45 GMT -5
Wow, Laura. Thank you!
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Post by Joseph VanBuren on Feb 26, 2019 6:59:48 GMT -5
This is a great list. Thanks! Editing is such a different state of mind than writing. It's helpful to have references like this.
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Post by Emz on Feb 26, 2019 17:53:13 GMT -5
I have a check off sheet for myself with words I should check after I'm done writing and going into the editing mode, but this goes way beyond! THANKS! **Printing**
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