During the editing process, take a closer look at the wording of your sentences. Are all of those words really necessary, or are they just adding fluff to increase your word count? This is what we refer to as overwriting. Overwriting can result from several fundamental errors:
- Too many adjectives and adverbs. i.e. When the yellow, round orb of the sun stealthily and smoothly creeps into the azure blue early morning sky- one may wonder why the sun didn’t simply rise. If you feel the need to modify every verb with an adverb, or every noun with an adjective, chances are, you’re not picking the right words-Max Keele.
- Using big words when simple ones will do. i.e. Ascending the stairs instead of walking up the stairs. Seeking alternatives for “said”is another common error, that leads characters to “expostulate” or “riposte”.
- Too much detail or backstory. Describing the color and length of your protagonist’s hair is fine but it had better be relevant to the storyline, otherwise, it’s fluff you can cut out. Most of us deplore long exposition “dumps” that stop the action dead in its tracks. I love reading inspirational romance novels, but I can’t count how many paragraphs I have skipped getting from the mundane to what really matters.
Remember every word has to do a job. If it’s just taking up space, then it has to go.
Something to think about.
-Jan R
This was actually something I used to do a lot more when I was younger. I found this to be quite more of a common thing among writers the older I got. Mostly with the adverbs and adjectives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some great tips here – thank you for sharing. I have recently started to use the Hemingway app which is a visual way of seeing some of those overwriting habits that you outline. I don’t always adopt every recommended change but it has certainly tightened up my writing 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by! I have the Hemingway app as well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Plaisted Publishing House and commented:
Many first time authors overwrite… Do you? Give this post a read and see if it helps strengthen your writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
LikeLike