Wednesday · October 22 2003
You are reading my website, my blog, the place where I practice writing, a little at a time, every day. I aim to improve and look for tips wherever I can find them. 10 mistakes writers don't see (but can easily fix when they do) points out 10 mistakes I am guilty of making: crutch words at the top of that list. A couple of the items are for fiction writers only (dialogue, etc.), but the rest of us need help fixing our problems with repeated words, empty adverbs, and awkward phrasing. (And I promise to not rely on 'excellent' and 'great' from here forward. Give me another word to lean on.)
link via cupofchica
Okay now I've actually read the linked page. Thanks. A lot of it was hilarious. (Wow. I've broken four rules in this paragraph.)
I think you and I have discussed the use of adverbs and forms of "to be." And some of that stuff - use of commas, creation of new words with suffixes - should be obvious. But I liked his thingy on showing vs. telling.