I talk all the time about how certain words should be cut… words like “really”, “just”, “very”, etc. They don’t tend to add anything to the piece and usually cause the reader to slow and the meaning of the sentence to get muddied. But, as is the curse with all suggestions/rules/whatever in writing, there are
Almost all writer’s work can be strengthened by cutting bits out. Sometimes by hacking off massive pieces, some of which you desperately loved. And it’s hard, and it’s painful, but… as we’re repeatedly told… it’s necessary. Now I was just re-reading a bit of my blog… a piece I did a while ago called “Rules
If you’re just stumbling across this article now, I advise reading the updated version. It serves two purposes… to discuss this topic, and demonstrate the power of cutting to strengthen your work. I have left the old version up here only so people can see both. Yesterday I was serving as a mentor for a