Tag: Words

Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 16.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice3 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. As a matter of fact: There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with this as an expression, but in narrative it’s wordy and unnecessary. e.g. As a matter of fact, the …

Continue reading Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 16.

Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 15

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, 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. I'll examine common redundancies and flabby expressions All things being equal: Avoid this empty phrase. e.g. All things being equal, he would have her in his bed by midnight. Try: If he had his way, …

Continue reading Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 15

Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 14.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice1 Comment

Writers enjoy sharing 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 a few flabby expressions. Bald-headed: Baldness is generally related to the head, so, in most cases, ‘headed’ would be redundant. However, there are times when it may be necessary …

Continue reading Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 14.

Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 13

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice2 Comments

Sorry for the break: I’ve been otherwise engaged for reasons that may become clear later! Writers enjoy sharing 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 a few flabby expressions. Temper tantrum: You can only have a tantrum as a …

Continue reading Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 13

Are You a Grammar Nerd?

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Use2 Comments

Interested in Grammar? Is this you?  

Tips on Word Choice No. 25: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect. You won’t always agree with me, of course; you’re writers. …

Continue reading Tips on Word Choice No. 25: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

Tips on Word Choice No. 24: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use2 Comments

Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect. You won’t always agree with me, of course; you’re writers. …

Continue reading Tips on Word Choice No. 24: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

Tips on Word Choice No.23: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Creative Writer, ME/CFS, Word Use

Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect. You won’t always agree with me, of course; you’re writers. …

Continue reading Tips on Word Choice No.23: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

Tips on Word Choice No. 22: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect. You won’t always agree with me, of course; you’re writers. …

Continue reading Tips on Word Choice No. 22: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

Tips on Word Choice No.20: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect. You won’t always agree with me, of course; you’re writers. …

Continue reading Tips on Word Choice No.20: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

Tips on Word Choice No.19: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect. You won’t always agree with me, of course; you’re writers. …

Continue reading Tips on Word Choice No.19: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion?

Tips on Word Choice: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? No18

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect. You won’t always agree with me, of course; you’re writers. …

Continue reading Tips on Word Choice: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? No18

Tips on Word Choice: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? No17

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

Certain words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional and intellectual words for effect. You won’t always agree with me, of course; you’re writers. …

Continue reading Tips on Word Choice: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? No17

Tips on Word Choice: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? No.16

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use2 Comments

Sorry about the delay, this should have been posted Tuesday, but I was somewhat occupied. Some words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something subjective: how to choose between emotional …

Continue reading Tips on Word Choice: Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? No.16

Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? Tips on Word Choice #14

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Use

This series started on my other blog.  If you want to see the earlier examples, please visit and search the archive. Some words/phrases can induce fairly specific responses in readers. As writers, we all know this, but do we use the power of emotion in our work? For these few weeks, I’m looking at something …

Continue reading Ruled by Intellect or Emotion? Tips on Word Choice #14