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Maren Muter

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Avoiding Redundancy

Avoiding redundancy when writing scenes or descriptions in your book can enhance clarity, maintain reader engagement, and improve the overall quality of your prose.


Here are some steps to achieve this:

 

1. Be Intentional with Word Choice

Use precise language: Choose words that convey exactly what you mean. Avoid using multiple adjectives or adverbs when one strong word suffices. For example, instead of "the extremely big and enormously wide river," write "the vast river."

Eliminate filler words: Words like "very," "just," "really," or "basically" often dilute writing and repeat ideas.

2. Vary Sentence Structure

Avoid starting sentences the same way or structuring them similarly within the same paragraph. For instance, instead of:

"She walked to the window. She looked out at the street. She thought about the letter."

Try: "At the window, she paused, her gaze falling to the bustling street below. The letter lingered in her thoughts."

3. Show, Don’t Tell

Combine actions and emotions: Rather than explicitly stating how a character feels repeatedly, let their actions or environment reflect it. For instance:

Instead of: "She was sad. She felt a deep sense of sorrow."

Write: "Her trembling hands clutched the letter, her tears staining the ink."

4. Remove Repetition of Ideas

Avoid describing the same concept multiple times in different ways.

Example of redundancy: "The forest was dark, shadowy, and filled with gloom."

Revised: "The forest was cloaked in shadow."

5. Use Dialogue or Action to Advance Description

Break up long descriptive passages by integrating them into action or dialogue. This avoids overloading the reader with repetitive imagery. For example:

Instead of: "The room was small, cramped, and smelled of mildew."

Try: "‘This room’s a shoebox,’ he muttered, cringing at the faint mildew wafting from the corners."

6. Read Aloud or Use Editing Tools

Self-editing: Reading your work aloud can help you identify redundant phrases or unnecessary repetition.

Tools: Use writing software like ProWritingAid or Grammarly to catch overused words or phrases.

7. Use Subtext

Trust your reader’s intelligence and imply details instead of over-explaining. For instance:

Instead of: "He clenched his fists in anger, his face turning red with rage."

Write: "His fists tightened, his face flushed."

8. Seek Feedback

Have beta readers or critique partners review your work. They can point out where descriptions feel redundant or scenes lack freshness.

9. Keep Scene Purpose in Mind

Before writing a scene or description, ask yourself:

What is its purpose?

How does it move the story forward or reveal character?

This focus prevents unnecessary, repetitive details.

10. Practice Conciseness

Aim to write in a way that conveys more with less. Every word should serve a purpose:

Redundant: "He nodded his head in agreement."

Concise: "He nodded."

9 Views
gkorosi75
gkorosi75
Feb 02

great Tips Maren thank you for sharing one can always learn more about writing

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The services rendered by Maren Muter are held out to the public as a form of motivational coaching combined with instruction in meditation. Maren does not represent her services as any form of medical health care or direct psychotherapy, and despite research to the contrary, by law she may make no health benefit claims for her services.

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