I often get asked for advice about writing. When I have time, which isnt often, I try to give it. At times like today, when Im tracking down the last errors that I can find before submitting my manuscript to my editor, I remember things that can be of use to aspiring scribes.
Word repetition is something that creeps into ones writing, like it or no. Some writers take the time when theyve done to seek these out and remove them, but more do not. In my mind, many good reads can be ruined by such repetition. Its fair enough when a word or phrase is repeated for emphasis, and its natural that the writers tired eye will miss others. Its incredible how, after a dozen edits, two instances of say, almost, or just can pop up beside each other.
Thankfully, vast improvements can be made by making the effort to excise as many as possible. If one has a list to use on the entire manuscript, things are made easier.
Here then, is my hit list. Be warned: trawling through a novel of 140,000 words for all of these will take you 8 hours or more. But its worth it!
only
just
then
chance
most/almost
soon
few
before
quite
though/ although
of course
at once
at last
however
yet
still
now (tip: to avoid having to look at all instances of know, search for now)
already
And the killer - all words that end in -ly
Curse me as you do it! Ben
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Some writing advice...
- parthianbow
- Compulsive Reader
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Some writing advice...
Ben Kane
Bestselling author of Roman military fiction.
Spartacus - UK release 19 Jan. 2012. US release June 2012.
http://www.benkane.net
Twitter: @benkaneauthor
Bestselling author of Roman military fiction.
Spartacus - UK release 19 Jan. 2012. US release June 2012.
http://www.benkane.net
Twitter: @benkaneauthor
- MLE (Emily Cotton)
- Bibliomaniac
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- Interest in HF: started in childhood with the classics, which, IMHO are HF even if they were contemporary when written.
- Favourite HF book: Prince of Foxes, by Samuel Shellabarger
- Preferred HF: Currently prefer 1600 and earlier, but I'll read anything that keeps me turning the page.
- Location: California Bay Area
I am the victim of the ly words I try not to, but I do....
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- DianeL
- Bibliophile
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I have to be honest, the pat advice that adverbs are anathema irritates me. My editing tends to be far more organic and specific; though the result does include excision of repetition and often words like these, if the job can be done with a simple word search it seems like the whole job can't be getting done. Then again, I'm no Ben Kane, so perhaps shutting up is in order ...
"To be the queen, she agreed to be the widow!"
***
The pre-modern world was willing to attribute charisma to women well before it was willing to attribute sustained rationality to them.
---Medieval Kingship, Henry A. Myers
***
http://dianelmajor.blogspot.com/
I'm a Twit: @DianeLMajor
***
The pre-modern world was willing to attribute charisma to women well before it was willing to attribute sustained rationality to them.
---Medieval Kingship, Henry A. Myers
***
http://dianelmajor.blogspot.com/
I'm a Twit: @DianeLMajor
Interesting exercise. I like the term `echo words'.
Btw: I hope that I didn't repeat any words.
Btw: I hope that I didn't repeat any words.
John Sliz
http://www.stormboatkings.ca
http://www.stormboatkings.ca