wanderingwillow

• laugh at their own jokes

• don’t finish/say complete sentences

• interrupt a line of thought with a sudden new one

• say ‘uh’ between words when unsure

• accidentally blend multiple words together, and may start the sentence over again

• repeat filler words such as ‘like’ ‘literally’ ‘really’ ‘anyways’ and ‘i think’

• begin and/or end sentences with phrases such as ‘eh’ and ‘you know’, and may make those phrases into question form to get another’s input

• repeat words/phrases when in an excited state

• words fizzle out upon realizing no one is listening

• repeat themselves when others don’t understand what they’re saying, as well as to get their point across

Part 5 of Fixing Overused Words

Editing Junk Words, “Said” Alternatives, “Went” Alternatives, “Seemed” Alternatives

I will start this off with a disclaimer that using “felt” or its alternatives usually signifies you are telling, not showing. However, telling has its place and its all a personal style choice.

Also, these will be alternatives to the physical “feel”, not the opinion “feel”. (i.e. “he felt a scratch” and not “he felt it was his duty”)

sensed

perceived

noticed

observed

detected

discerned

identified

experienced

beared

endured

was conscious of

was aware of

welcomed (the feeling)

was affected by

was sensitive to

underwent

went through

It’s not a long list, but hopefully this pushes you to aim for more show and less tell when applicable.

              Analyze stories.

Don’t just listen to what other storytellers say you should do, figure out what you like about the stories you enjoy and learn to replicate that.

Want to learn about pacing? Examine stories you think flow fantastically. Want to learn about description? Study your favorite author’s descriptions. Want to learn about characterization? Critique your favorite characters.  Want to learn about foreshadowing? Explore how it’s done in stories where the plot twist blew your mind.

Storytellers giving advice to other storytellers is fantastic and useful, but you will never know something as thoroughly as you know the things you figure out for yourself. 

And by analyzing the stories you love instead of listening blindly to advice, you’ll never be swayed by the bias of other writers and you’ll never take in advice that’s suited for a story you wouldn’t enjoy writing.

Picks M&Ms out of trail mix

Bites fingernails/toenails

Has a small collection of water bottles by their bed

Cracks knuckles

Loves the smell of nail polish remover

Is a pollotarian 

Only listens to music from one decade

Never wears matching socks

Wears college sweaters (bonus if they don’t go to that school or know anyone who does)

Always chews gum/has gum

Constantly gives everyone nicknames based on a pun of their name

Laughs a little after they speak even if they didn’t say something funny

Always wears solid color hoodies

Constantly quotes/references movies

Only calls people by their full first name or full first and last name

Has a unibrow

Afraid of the dark

Impeccable manners

Smells like Vicks Vaporub

Steps over the cracks in the sidewalk or steps on the cracks in the sidewalk (if they hate their mother)

Smooths their eyebrow hairs down

Plays with their eyebrows/hair when sleepy

Picks at their skin (mostly their face)

Hugs people when they first meet them

Doesn’t shave their armpit/pubic/leg hair

Takes off their bra/gets naked as soon as they get home

Always has a snack with them

Plays with their body jewelry whenever they’re nervous/mad/sad

Likes bouncing their legs