I have this really nasty habit when I’m writing to get locked into one or two words. I don’t know how it happens, but those words will show up over and over and OVER again in sections of my work. Clearly they need to be edited out.
Brad, one of the members of the most awesome writing groups around, The Easy Writers, catches the repeat offenders by boxing them into little squares and connecting them with a ‘web’ of lines. Often with a brightly colored pen.
Don’t get me wrong, I love this about our group. It’s a safe, encouraging and totally supportive place where we can be honest with each other to improve and ‘do better.’
Also, I really enjoy the opportunities (few and far between) when I can return the favor.
There was one other time when my very bad habit of repeating words was brought to my attention in a way I’ll never forget. Charissa Weaks was beta reading Nothing Stays In Vegas for me. When she returned her comments and suggestions, one of the things she sent through was a link to a YouTube video that has stuck with me ever since.
Guess what word I used too often. Guess what word I NEVER use at all now!
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Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom)
Elena Aitken
Trish Loye Elliott
I think we all do this – I use auto crit to try to weed them out. LOL
My favorite word to use on twitter, fb, and my blogs is awesome, but I rarely use it in my writing. Now I’ll have to go back through my MS and see if I have a word I overuse…
I’m writing about winged dragon-like creatures in my second WIP, and you can’t imagine how many times someone or other has ‘unfurled’ his/her wings to fly off somewhere. I’m laughing, thinking about it.
That WIP is on the back burner for now, but when time comes to fix it or forget it, I’ll have to come up with some other verbs for the winged ones.