Filler words. Everyone uses them. I had no clue about them when I started writing and my work was filled with them. People pointed out some to me and I was confused. I looked it up on the internet and found a site that I bookmarked so I could search my work for common filler words. http://www.bloggingbistro.com/how-to-edit-filler-words-from-your-writing/. Here’s the list, plus one that was recently pointed out to me.

• very
• really
• rather
• just
• simply
• it
• that
• there was
• began to
• started to
• got (use sparingly)

One of my downfalls was using the word “just”. It showed up in my work a lot. I never noticed how much until someone took the time to point out every single one. Talk about an eye opener. I don’t use it as much anymore, I find my fingers slowing down as they race across the keyboard, trying to keep up with my mind. I think the word “just” and they slow down.

In all of my research I never came across the word “got” as a filler word, but it was pointed out to me. They told me to “Use something more active.” So the sentence, “He got up and walked to me.” Should be, “He stood up and walked to me.”  All in all, the search function in Word really helps to find all those nasty words that slow your writing down. If you’re like me, you will spend a ton of time re-writing your perfect story, but in the end, it’ll be worth it.

Have faith in yourself. If you love to write and you take the advice given to you, you’ll eventually become a better writer. Hopefully that means you’ll get published, but if not, at least you can say you enjoyed the ride!

Tags: Filler Words, Writer
Filed under: A Day in the Life