Do you know what your writing idiosyncrasies are? Do you use "just" a lot or "only" a lot. In the Frugal Editor I cite a critique friend who knows she uses "euphemistically" too often. It's hard to figure how she might do that but she knows her own writing better than anyone else. Use the find function in your Word program to search out those words and decide -- word by word -- which are unnecessary and can be deleted, which can be changed out for something more effective and which be left as is.
You'll probably notice that most of the words use overuse are adverbs. There is more on using adverbs appropriately in other posts on this blog.
Happy editing.
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits, consults and speaks on issues of publishing. Find her book The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870. Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. She blogs on all things publishing (not just editing!) at www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com.
Gremlins out there are determined to keep your work from being published, your book from being promoted. They are resolved to embarrass you before the gatekeepers who can turn the key of success for you. Whether you are a new or experienced author, you need the multi award-winning "The Frugal Editor." It won USA Book News Award, Reader Views Literary Award, and was a finalist in the New Generations Award.
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