Do you want a good writing cheat sheet?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell

I love finding great writing tips!

Thanks, today goes to Patricia Lynne for ways to substitute the word very.

I don’t know about you but sometimes I get into a very rut. I try not to worry about using words like very when in draft mode. But when it comes time to edit, that word needs to get scarce.

And that’s where Patricia’s cheat sheet comes in handy.

If you’re searching for an expression to explain how very excited (psyched) a character is, check out her post and learn how to avoid very. 

Or if you are very tired (weary) of using crutch words you might want to click on  OneLook Reverse Dictionary. Just type in the phrase and up pops suggestions. Give it a try and begin your own vocabulary cheat sheet. Excel and Microsoft Word are perfect for making your own list.

Click and read…

Patricia’s Weekend Pick––Very, very, very  BY Patricia Lynne

Do you use cheat sheets?

Have one you’d like to share? Do tell.

Do you edit out most adverbs?

I HOPE YOU’LL TAKE A MINUTE TO FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA, JUST CLICK ON THE BUTTONS BELOW. I’LL LEAVE A LIGHT ON.

    

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20 thoughts on “Do you want a good writing cheat sheet?”

  2. YES! This. is. me.
    From time to time I do a full-text-search and look up allllll the “very”s and see if I can substitute for a more accurate word.
    I do the same for “start”, “starting”, “begin” and “beginning” — because let’s be honest – characters don’t “start to run”; don’t “begin to look for something”. They run. They search. Right?
    But – I DO need to set up a list with all those small glitches that sneak into the prose.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Yes, I love cheat sheets. However, when I need to look at them, I tend (I almost put an adverb there) to forget where I saved them. I use the Hemingway Editor that looks for adverbs and lets you know if you have too many for the number of words written. It also points out passive words and other things that I can’t remember right now.

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  6. Thank you for this, Jean. In addition, I use Angela Ackerman’s The Emotion Thesaurus which suggests phrases to avoid bland words. Also, I frequently turn to dictionary.com’s thesaurus for synonyms or more precise words to substitute for the lame and hackneyed.

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  7. I never use the word very,Jean, but I have lots of other lame words that I have to edit out (including most words ending in LY. I keep a list of those that I attack on each WIP. Excellent post. I like the reverse Thesaurus. 😀

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      1. I agree, sometimes an adverb is the perfect word, but often I like to be shown the qualifier versus being told about it. Writing “rules” are all so nuanced that an author is always having to make choices. 😀

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