Yesterday, we talked about using habit words and phrases—those comfortable, familiar terms we depend on to move our stories forward. This is not the same as repeating words in your text or stories. Habits phrase might be, “he looked over at her and said,” “and then,” (one of the habits I’m trying to break), “she shook her head back and forth,” “he watched her for a moment before speaking,” “she glanced in his direction,” and so forth. You may not even notice you’re using the same transition words and phrases over and over again, for example, until an editor or proofreader points it out or until you go through your manuscript with a fine-tooth comb.
Oops, there’s another no-no in writing—using clichés, when you should be coming up with fresh words, terms and phrases for your audiences. It’s okay to have your characters use clichés, if that’s the way they typically speak.
Repeating words is another issue. When editing, I often suggest to the author that he find new words to use in place of those he uses over and over again. Instead of saying, “I took my dog to a dog show during the dog days of summer and he had a blast watching the other dogs perform,” how about, “It was a sultry day in August when I took Ruff, my beagle mix, to a dog show. He had a blast watching all the different breeds perform.”
Instead of, “I went camping last week. I really enjoy camping. I can relax in camp. I enjoy getting out and hiking, but always look forward to coming back to camp every afternoon,” try, “I’m an avid camper. I went up to Pyramid Lake just last week and pitched my tent. What a great way to relax and enjoy nature.”
There are many, many things you have to watch for in your writing—the right tense and person, meaningful transitions, that your story flows nicely, grammar, punctuation and more. But, once you’ve put your story or information on paper or in the computer, also be sure to go back and check for those annoying habit words and phrases. While you’re at it, make sure your writing is interesting by expanding your vocabulary within your story or text.