Simplify Your Writing

By Nina Munteanu

Reduce Extraneous Words

When constructing a scene, it is wise to pay attention to cadence, rhythm, number of phrases or clauses and general length of sentences. Sentences in early works tend to be full of extra words (e.g., using “ing” verbs, add-ons like “he started to think” instead of simply “he thought”) that slow down narrative. Try reading your sentences out loud; this practice often helps you to find the “clutter”.

Use Active & Powerful Verbs

Active verbs are the key to vivid writing; and, ironically, to uncluttered prose. The very choice of active verbs helps you minimize the use of clutter-words. Consider, these two paragraphs, which describe the same scene.

Example A: Joe walked slowly into the room. His lip curled in disgust as he looked around the room. There were empty beer bottles all over the filthy floor that was covered with stains and garbage and there was a naked couple in the bed. They were almost buried under the rumpled covers. They now struggled to get up and Joe saw the big man staring up at him angrily.

Example B: Joe sidled into the room, lip curling at the stench of empty beer bottles and garbage strewn on the stained floor. A naked couple struggled out from the rumple of clothes and blankets. The man reared up and glared at Joe.

Example A contained 68 words while Example B contained only 41 words. It is obvious which paragraph is more vivid.

Cut Down the Words in Your Paragraphs

Cut down your words by at least 20%. Be merciless; you won’t miss them, and you will add others later in your second round of edits. Find the most efficient way to say what you mean.

Reduce Redundancy

The introductory sentence of a narrative paragraph is often paraphrased unnecessarily in the very next sentence, as though the writer didn’t trust the reader to get it the first time. Say it once and say it right the first time.

(continue reading)

34 notes Permalink
  1. poprocksandbubbletea reblogged this from the-write-idea
  2. thisisartinterpretation reblogged this from the-write-idea and added:
    Writer Wednesday.
  3. idiosyncratics reblogged this from civilized-sociopaths
  4. civilized-sociopaths reblogged this from the-write-idea
  5. woodrose4 reblogged this from lesmotsetmoi
  6. inmidnights reblogged this from the-write-idea
  7. lesmotsetmoi reblogged this from the-write-idea
  8. whenitfalls reblogged this from the-write-idea
  9. autumnsong reblogged this from the-write-idea
  10. the-write-idea posted this