Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 32

On 02/02/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice2 Comments

We writers tend to enjoy sharing ideas to improve our craft. Here are some ways to trim our writing. Readers will appreciate us removing these common redundancies and flabby expressions. Completely filled: When something has been filled, it is full, so ‘completely’ is redundant. e.g. She blew up the beach ball until it was completely …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 31.

On 28/01/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

Writers enjoy sharing ideas to improve their craft. Here are some ways to trim our writing. Readers will appreciate us removing common redundancies and flabby expressions. Completely engulfed: When something is engulfed, it’s completely enclosed in whatever is engulfing it, so ‘completely’ is a tautology. e.g. The flames completely engulfed the high rise building. Try: …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 30.

On 26/01/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

Writers enjoy sharing ideas to improve their craft. Here are some ways to trim our writing. Readers will appreciate us removing common redundancies and flabby expressions Completely eliminate: To eliminate is to remove entirely, so ‘completely’ is superfluous. e.g. If you want your dog to really love you, completely eliminate all competition for your attention. …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 29.

On 21/01/201621/01/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

Writers enjoy sharing ideas to improve their craft. Here are some ways to trim our writing. Readers will appreciate us removing common redundancies and flabby expressions. Completely destroy: If you destroy something, it is shattered, demolished, pulled to pieces: in any case, it ceases to exist as it was before the act. ‘Completely’ is therefore …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 28.

On 19/01/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice2 Comments

Writers enjoy sharing ideas to improve their craft. Here are some ways to trim our writing. Readers will appreciate us removing common redundancies and flabby expressions. Commute back and forth: You commute to get to and from work, so ‘back and forth’ is unnecessary. Unless, of course, you have the sense to live close to …

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You can’t tell me what to do!

On 18/01/201618/01/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice2 Comments

I agree with almost everything Dr Meg Sorick says here. Great piece that new writers in particular might want to read. Mind you, there are a few experienced writers who would benefit from this advice too!

Meg Sorick, Author/Artist

I came across this photo/list of Elmore Leonard’s Ten Rules of Writing on Pinterest. It’s an excerpt fromhisessay of the same title. I thought it would be interesting to see if you all agree or disagree with these rules.

Here’s my opinion:

1. Personally, I love a story that starts with “It was a dark and stormy night…” (just kidding, unless the author is trying to be ironic).

2. How about the prologue? Is there a bit of the story that just needs to be set off by itself? I’m pretty sure I’ve never had a problem with a prologue.

3.”Said” seems to have no grey area. Writers either demand that “said” be used exclusivelyor they hate having to stick to “said.” Some say it’s the mark of an inexperienced writer to use words other than “said.” Whatever. Sometimes, words like “whispered,” “murmured,”or “shouted” just need to be used, I…

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 27.

On 14/01/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

Writers share ideas to improve their craft. Here, I'm looking at ways to trim our writing. Readers will thank us for removing common redundancies and flabby expressions. Close proximity: Something in proximity to something else is close to it, so ‘close’ is a tautology. e.g. The close proximity of the backpacker caused the tourists to …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 26.

On 13/01/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

Writers share ideas to improve their craft. Here, I'm looking at ways to trim our writing. Readers will thank us for removing common redundancies and flabby expressions. Cease and desist: The lawyers seem to love this one, but writers of creative work would, I hope, resist the tautology. e.g. Cease and desist all contact with …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 25.

On 07/01/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

Writers share ideas to improve their craft. Here, I'm looking at ways to trim our writing. Readers will thank us for removing common redundancies and flabby expressions. Careful scrutiny: Scrutiny is the careful examination of something, so ‘careful’ is a tautology here. e.g. Susan read the contract with careful scrutiny. Try: Susan read the contract …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 24.

On 05/01/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice2 Comments

Writers share ideas to improve their craft. Here, I'm looking at ways to trim our writing. Readers will thank us for removing common redundancies and flabby expressions. Cameo appearance: In terms of performance, a cameo is a short appearance, so ‘appearance’ is redundant. e.g. Kaley’s cameo appearance caused a real stir in the theatre. Try: …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 23.

On 31/12/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

We writers like to share ideas to improve our craft. Here, with a slightly seasonal slant, I'm looking at ways to trim our writing. Readers will thank us for removing common redundancies and flabby expressions. At the present time: Empty words; avoid them. e.g. At the present time we all want to wish each other …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 22.

On 29/12/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

We writers tend to share ideas to improve our craft. Here, I'm looking at ways to trim our writing. Readers will thank us. I'll examine common redundancies and flabby expressions. At the end of the day: Along with many of its flabby cousins, this cliché has ceased to have the miniscule emphatic power it started …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 21.

On 24/12/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice2 Comments

Writers tend to share ideas to improve their craft. Here, with a seasonal slant, I'm looking at ways to trim our writing. Readers will thank us. I'll examine common redundancies and flabby expressions. Different kinds: A ‘kind’ is a type of something; by definition it’s different from another kind. e.g. At Christmas, children expect different …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 20.

On 22/12/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice2 Comments

Writers share ideas to improve their craft. Here, I'm looking at ways to trim our writing. Readers will thank us. I'll examine common redundancies and flabby expressions. First of all: Whilst ‘of all’ may act as a qualifier, amplifying the phrase, it’s a wordy addition to your narrative and is probably better left out. E.g. …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 19.

On 17/12/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

Writers share ideas to improve their craft. Here, I look at ways to trim our writing. Readers will thank us. I'll examine common redundancies and flabby expressions. As far as I’m concerned: Obviously, since you’re the one who’s making the statement. E.g. As far as I’m concerned, politicians always lie. Try: Politicians always lie. Surrounded …

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