I've worked with editors for many years and these are the Filter Words editors warn me about overusing.
Filter words tell your reader what you want them to notice. That's not nice. Your readers are intelligent, so all you just need to describe what is going on.
Part of this list my editor gave me. Filter Words to avoid, or at least not use very often.
Words like thought, realized, saw, watched, pondered, noticed.
Think of your character as your camera and microphone. What they see, hear, and feel so what you describe with without using the words see, hear, or feel. Make sense?
Trust your readers to 'get it'.
They lean toward is telling not showing. Was and were should be used less often too so they pop when they are used.
Also turned is often overused.
I would also recommend not overusing names: like Vlad, Drac,Thor (these are done to death in paranormals IMHO), and also no Heather's, Justin's, Lindsey's, Jessica's, or Ashley's, Kate, Cait, Katie, Cat, any variation of Katherine/Caitlyln, Jacob, Jake, Jack.
Just no.
This is my opinion only. Please take it with a grain or two of salt.
And before I leave, here is a link to my latest release:
In Regency England, Lord Godfrey negotiates for a wife, when Meredith, the weather witch, storms in she provides Godfrey with interesting possibilities, but will she embrace a chance to let go of her past and find happiness for her future?
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| https://www.amazon.com/Weather-Witch-Janice-Seagraves-ebook/dp/B0B17MF7ZR/ |
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