The Delete Button: What to do with overused words...

Christine Fonseca, Author

Happy Wednesday All! This time around, I started the topic with this question:

What are your “go-to” scenes or phrases? You know, the ones you have to remind yourself NOT to use too frequently? What do you do to keep yourself from being overly reliant on them?

Obvious, since I wrote the question, this is something that happens to me. A LOT. Being a writer that tends to write toward the overly emotional and dramatic, I am constantly having to be vigilant regarding my use of physical descriptions to “show” my emotions. Clenched fists, tossing stomachs, tight shoulders – these are all things I have a tendency to overuse.

In addition to a few phrases or feelings that tend to repeat throughout my books, I have certain scenes that manage to show up – someone falling off a cliff, an explosion or fire, a specific kind of dream. I am always having to be on the lookout for these as I write, desperately trying to not have then in every book! LOL.

For me, staying away form these things starts with being aware. The more aware I am about the things I overuse (thank you CPs and editors), the more vigilant I am about not using them. I have lists of specific phrases or words I look for as part of the editing process, and scenes on a taboo list. These things help. I hope!

What do you do?

For more on this topic, check out Sandra’s from yesterday, and Katrina’s post tomorrow.