Cassy’s Corner- Words
I am in the midst of starting a new book. “In the midst” means I’m plotting, thinking, dreaming of my new characters and worrying about what trouble my new friends will be facing. It becomes a challenge. I hit the brakes in my car a little too hard yesterday to manage a red light. My protagonist was talking with me and I didn’t see the yellow turn to red until the last minute. Darn, she should know when to tone it down so I can get home safely.
But that is not the point of today’s post, only an early morning rant against these folks who invade my life. I make them up and then they move in.
Today’s musings are about words. What are the words that invade your writing? I have many that become so redundant they are useless. I have to do a search for them and then not only hit the delete button, but take out a gun and shoot them. The list is embarrassingly long.
Just
Because
Only
That
Thought
Actually
Why
Oh, the list goes on and on. We all have our crutch words, but I worry when too many of them end up in one sentence! Let’s create a list. Send yours in and we can have a search function to help us all. I’ll happily make a full reporting of what kicks us. With the “find” feature in our programs we can clean this us. So….. I’m waiting. Let me know your “Ugh, I did it again words” and I’ll put out a list.
8 comments:
that, look, think, away, make, turned, start/started, stopped, watched, move, really, window, step, seem, very, brief, understand, smile, stared, interrupt, headed, nodded, shook, ignore, grin, shrugged, glance, glare, scanned, studied, flipped…
Yes, I keep a list, too! And do a word count so I know when I've gone overboard :-/
Helps keep me in check, sometimes! Glad to know I'm not alone.
laughed, turned, OMG, after, headed, felt, knew, remembering, so, realized, really, just, thought, since, then...these are my "find" words.
Cant wait to see the list.
Okay, folks! These are good. I'll have a full list by the end of the day after more writers have checked in. I did a search on my last book for "just." I couldn't believe how many times I was "just this time," or "if I only could just do..." or "he knew he was right, if just she could understand." It goes on and on.
Keep them coming and we'll have a master list for ALL of us to use- just in case you need it .
To your list I'd also add-especially, first, look(ed), and, it. And these are just the ones I can think of without looking a ome of my books.
Lindsy- great addition. I have been surprised many times by the redundancy of my word choices. Our list is getting better and better! Thanks.
CPatLarge: Thanks so much for joining us! We love having you here. Keep those words coming!! Don't we all have a list. Best, Cassy
I have lots of crutch words. I have to do a search for them during edits. Here are some of mine.
Then, just, almost, nearly, always, really, sure, realized, grin, stare, glance, look, very, towards, against, moved.
Here's a list that author, Carrie Lofty sent me. She calls it her Bad Word List.
Very
then
but
towards
just
that
as
so
now
yet
had
against
here
where
there
which
this
suddenly
small
further
beneath
under
with
moved
almost
even
seem(ed)
in
out
over
up
down
finally
felt
listened
watched
saw
heard
realized
understood
wondered
thought
as if
just as
Great post Cassy. You've all pretty much covered mine. And man, do I love facial expressions. I love being able to really "see" my characters, but I do tend to go overboard and repeat myself. There's only so many ways you can describe a frown :-)
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