writeblrcafé

☽ checking your phone and not registering the time. checking it again. still nothing. putting it away anyway

☽ the half-smile you do when you're trying not to cry in public

☽ looking at your hands during a hard conversation instead of the person

☽ laughing at something right after you say it like you surprised yourself

☽ going to say something and then deciding not to and the moment is gone and it's too late and you think about it for three days

☽ the way you hold your breath without knowing when something's loading

☽ saying "no yeah totally" when you absolutely did not follow what they said

☽ the very specific tired where you're staring at a wall and your face just. stops doing things

☽ nodding while on the phone even though they cannot see you

Sight

darkened roomd with bright lights

glow of the neon signs filling the space

colorful screens

flashing lights from game machines

rows of arcade machines

unique designs and colorful graphics

various prizes on display

stuffed animals, little toys and gadgets

Hearing

sounds of electronic music

beeping and buzzing

various sound effects from the games

chattering people

laughing and shouting in excitement and sometimes disappointment

cheering each other on

clinking of coins being inserted into machines

the sound of tokens being dispensed

the sound when someone scores a highscore

Touch

the tactile feel of gripping a joystick

pressing buttons

steering a wheel

the feel of small basketballs quickly being thrown in a hoop

the smoothness game tokens

the slight crinkle of tickets in your hand

the coldness of an ice cold soft drink in hand

Smell

the delicious aroma of buttery popcorn, sugary cotton candy

the warm smell of pizza or hot dogs

a faint scent of old carpet

the smell of a mix of many people in a confined space

Taste

buttery taste of popcorn

overwhelming sweetness of cotton candy and other candy options

the delicious taste of a pizza, after running around and being lost in the games

soft drinks pouring down your throat, fighting dehydration

If you’re planning on publishing traditionally, chances are you keep a sharp eye on your word count. Literary agents and publishing houses are on the hunt for the best quality stories that they can print for the cheapest price (using the least paper and ink), so you have a higher chance of gaining representation if you can crank your novel out in the least words possible.

However, filler words and phrases aren’t only the enemies of aspiring traditional authors; every writer—fanfic, novelist, journalist, you name it!—should try to eliminate filler from their stories to assure more concise and high-quality writing. Oftentimes, filler contributes nothing but clutter, and without it, your narrative can flow smoother and in a more sophisticated manner.

But how do you know what’s filler and what’s not? Here are some tips on how to Ctrl+F and kick this narrative botox to the curb!

I compiled these lists with the help of Infusionmedia, BDR Publishing, and ResetEra !

Filler Words

1. Just

A writer’s worst enemy, and the bane of my manuscripts’ existences. Eliminating all the ‘just’s can cut down your word count by hundreds.

2. “That” as a conjunction

It’s an unnecessary addition to a sentence, which will be more streamlined without it.

Example: “He said that he wouldn’t do it again.”

Revised: “He said he wouldn’t do it again.”

3. “Now” as an adverb

“Now” is essential if you’re talking about the past and present, but when you’re using it to draw attention to a particular statement or point.

Example: “Now, I didn’t think it’d get so out of hand.”

Revised: “I didn’t think it’d get so out of hand.”

4. Redundant adverbs

These adverbs serve no purpose because the verbs they’re describing already imply the way the action is performed.

Whispering softly

Yelling loudly

Crying sadly

Laughing happily

5. “Telling” words

These words are redundant, especially when using first person, because in describing an event, we can already assume that the characters are experiencing it.

Seeing/saw

Feeling/felt

Hearing/heard

Smelling/smelled

6. “Clarifying” words used to portray definiteness or indefiniteness

Although these are meant to help out the readers get their bearings on a situation, all they do is come across as wishy-washy! Be concise and sure of yourself!

About

Absolutely

Accordingly

Actually

Almost

Basically

Certainly

Clearly

Completely

Entirely

Even

Exactly

Fairly

Highly

Hopefully

Literally

Maybe

Only

Often

Oftentimes

Perhaps

Possibly

Probably

Quite

Rather

Really

Reasonably

Relatively

Seem

Seriously

Simply

Slightly

Some

Somehow

Sometimes

Totally

Very

Filler Phrases

1.“Let out (vocal noise)”

Use the verb instead!

Example: “He let out a sigh.”

Revised: “He sighed.”

2. Using passive voice

Passive voice inflates your word count by including various “to be” verbs into the prose. Passive voice involves actions happening to a subject rather than the subject performing an action, and as a result isn’t as riveting to the reader as active voice; even if it wasn’t a matter of word count, you’d still want to get rid of it anyway!

Still don’t know what I’m talking about? Check out this article from Grammarly.

Example: “The boy was bitten by the dog on his arm.”

Revised: “The dog bit the boy on his arm.”

3. Describing the wrong noun

Many writers will be as specific as possible about what “thing” is affected by the event they’re describing, when it’s much simpler to take a step back and write about something more general.

Example: “The level of water rose.”

Revised: “The water rose.”

4. Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are the combination of two or three words from different grammatical categories—a verb and an adverb or a preposition—to form a single action. Usually, these phrasal verbs can be replaced by a single-word verb.

“Ask for” can be replaced with “request”

“Bring down” can be replaced with “reduce”

“Come across” can be replaced with “find”

Etc.

5. Clarifying phrases

Same reason as clarifying words. Get to the point!

A bit

A little

A lot

In a sense

Kind of

Sort of

6. Remember your contractions!

Even if your story takes place in olden times, I can guarantee that if you never use any contractions ever, your story’s gonna be a clunky mess. But sometimes you’re in the moment, consumed by the poetic power of the muses, and forget that this isn’t a soap opera; so make sure you check that you’ve been using your contractions!

It is, it was, it would, she is, would not, should not, is not, does not etc.

7. Inflated phrases

These phrases can be replaced with more concise words.

Along the lines of (shorten to: like)

As a matter of fact (in fact)

As to whether (whether)

At all times (always)

At the present (now or currently)

At this point in time (now or currently)

Be able to/would(n’t) be able to (could or couldn’t)

Because of the fact that (because)

By means of (by)

Due to the fact that (because)

Even though (though or although)

For the purpose of (for)

For the reason that (because)

Have the ability to (could)

In light of the fact that (because)

In order to (to)

In regards to (on or about)

In spite of the fact that (though or although)

In the event that (if)

In the nature of (like)

In the neighborhood of (about)

On the occasion of (when)

On one/two separate occasions (Once/twice)

The/A majority of (most)

There is no doubt that (No doubt)

Wasn(n’t) capable of (could or couldn’t)

Please realize that these are not set rules and that these are suggestions.

I personally disagree with many of these suggestions. You’re writing a story, not an academic paper. While OP and similar writing guides have good intentions, it can also be frustrating and demeaning to others, especially those whose first language isn’t English.It also has an aspect of elitism.

 Yes, some of these tips may improve your writing, but not totally—the writer’s diction matters. I see similar tip sheets, and again, it comes across as mechanical in some instances and awkward in others. Your writing is not necessarily better because it’s more concise just as lengthy overly descriptive writing is not necessarily better. Go with what YOU feel is best. If you feel comfortable sharing your work with others, check to see if the reader can understand your writing. If multiple people can’t, then perhaps your work can be revised. For every piece of advice I see here, I personally know of professionals who would disagree. 

I understand the issues regarding publishing because this is something academics deal with constantly. While there are some similarities to academic publishing, publishing fictional work is still a different ball game with its own rules.

I’m also very tired of hearing the passive voice vs. active voice argument. Let me tell you - most people don’t care. Outside of some teachers teaching grammar or professors in colleges, most don’t care. Your writing isn’t a failure because you used passive voice. I was always treated this way, and I don’t want anyone else to feel the same. I have had to read hours of academic books and journals, and they ALL have passive voice. Every fictional book has passive voice—lots of it. 

Similarly, some of these tips, especially the inflated phrases, actually come across as more “juvenile writing,” which may also lead to criticism. There is no pleasing everyone, and there is no “winning.” Additionally, every publisher has different policies, so some may be more strict than others regarding stylistic choices. 

TLDR: If something in these guides helps you, wonderful! However, don’t feel ashamed if you chose not to write this way or if you struggle. You still matter as a writer, and your work is still just as valid.

None of these tips are bad or incorrect; some of them I follow strictly in my own writing! They help you accomplish a very clean, straightforward style, which is great if that is what you want to achieve. Writing is an art, not a science. No writing “rules” or advice should ever be taken as gospel. These posts are great for academic writing, as well as helping you notice things you may do repeatedly and helping you make informed, deliberate choices in your writing.

For example: You may want to use the passive voice depending on what you want to emphasize in the sentence. “Meryl Strep stole my casserole” is active voice, and the focus is on the stolen casserole. But, if you want to emphasize that it was Meryl friggin’ Strep who did it, the passive voice (”My casserole was stolen by Meryl Strep”) might be totally appropriate.

Before you go through your writing making all of these changes listed above, there are so many things to consider: audience, genre, style, tone, dialogue vs. narration, character voice, etc. Do you want your writing to sound like a medieval fantasy epic or a gritty noir detective story? When you make these choices, you can then make deliberate decisions about your writing that supports the kind of writing you want to do.

TL;DR: Love the lists, but hate when they’re interpreted as “must do” instead of “can do”.

Chapter 7 Is out on AO3 Now! The Unwanted Visitors make themselves known and all hell breaks loose! Read the Chapter Here! [Link] If you want to read from the start, go Here! [Link]

The latest chapter of Iridensia: The Aspect War is now available on AO3

New to Iridensia? You can follow Lissandra's story from the beginning on AO3!

I'm the painting that you have

hung on a wall, and in front

of a window without any curtains

where all that is left from me

are fading shadows of

used to be colored colors

floating in my morning coffee.

I pluck them

and place them

in my beard.

I hear the wondrous lyric

that echoes in the furrows

of my fingerprints

and I'm bewitched

as I float

beyond my perception,

with a smile

Depression is a dragon

in need of perpetual slaying;

you sharpen your blade

against the slivers of light

that sneak from your teeth

and remember

that life is not a tragedy

nor a euphoria

but the rift

between the two,

where every step

is a vivacious celebration

for the blood

that frolics through you

like an inner child

through a school yard

If This Snippet caught your interest, you can read the story here!

[Link]

Hiya! So you may be wondering where we've been the past several months. That is a complicated answer. So here's a short list of things that I've been doing while away from this blog.

Started going through the anthology with a fine-tooth comb with the help of my lovely editor.

Went on two separate trips to visit my partners.

Started Streaming every weekday.

Most Importantly! I started work on my first full-length novel!

THE NOMAD ACCORDS!

Currently it's in it's infancy, having finished up initial outlines, and I'm just starting on the first draft, which you can currently read (Here)! I only have a few chapters out right now, but I'm working very hard on it. So yeah, that's where I've been the last few months. Haven't been dead, just very busy.

How do I view my thoughts

without judgement?

Nectar and sewage

pour from the same spout

and my brain

is pruney

in his want

of substance.

There is chaos

in stillness;

I'm shaking through reality

with hands frozen

to fantasy and fire

but I will return

to this blinking world

because even in

the most frenetic moments,

the hardest callouses

is a monkey with horns.

We play with the primate

and think, this time,

it won't scratch,

bite,

or infect

but we're always mistaken.

Let us observe them

in their habitat

without a sardonic signal

sent through our ground teeth

as we both relax

You are not a work of art.

You are an infinite amount

of works of art,

hung around the universe

for existence to take in

and admire.

Shredded poetry

flutters from your eyes

into a crevasse of question marks

and they beg

to be read

with a pat on the back

instead of a remorseful blade.

There is a giggle

beyond the screams;

one day,

you will hear it

and never

listen to the moan

of a dying clock

the same way