For the past few months, I’ve been engaged in the writerly task of editing four books. I do this full-time for about 14 hours a day, divvying the tasks up into four categories: 1) borderline boring, 2) terribly tedious, 3) downright dreary, and 4) mega mind-numbing. That way I can mix them up for a little variety.
One of the editing passes that I undertake is the arduous process of “enlivening my words.” I use the search function on Word to look up dull words and one by one swap them out for more interesting ones. At the tippity-top of the humdrum list is “was.” An exceedingly handy verb but not a writer’s best friend. I allow myself an average of one “wuz” per page. This means looking up about 600 wuzzes and switching 300 of them out. For 4 books, I’ll comb through approximately 2,400 wuzzes. Ack!
I have 33 wimpy, weak, crutch words that I put through this process, none as dreadful as “was” though “had” ranks right up there in second place. It takes forever.
I’ve completed all my swaps except for the last – Word #33: THAT.
For some reason that I can’t explain, I just love that word. I could write that word in every sentence that I write. And that’s a problem. Plus that’s a word that’s hard to replace without completely changing the way that a sentence is written. I know that other writers can figure that out without that much trouble, but that’s easier said than done. For me, that’s an editing step that takes tons of time that I could use to make other changes that would improve my work.
Good Grief. Ha ha.
Okay, I gotta cut this out so I can cut that out. Wish me luck – only about 3,000 to go.
Myths of the Mirror 
Ahhh, I feel your pain. ‘That’ is my bête noire too. 😀
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*Sigh* I wish it was my only one! It’s invisible to me, which is why it drives me crazy. 🙂 But knowledge is power, right? If we know, we can cut them! 🙂
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Are you kidding?! Four(!) books at once?! Madam, you are a glutton for punishment, or boredom, or both 😀 Seriously, Diana, I can imagine the process; I did much the same with my latest manuscript. I thank my co-conspirators–er, I mean, critique partners with pointing out some of my crutch words, or crutch construction. One of my CPs pointed out my sentences were all built the same way. I spent the next revision correcting that! And I’m with you on “was” and “that”. I’ve got a few others, but those seem to be the most insidious 🙂
Have a great weekend!
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I know what you mean about sentence construction, Julie. I read a book recently where 9 out of 10 sentences were 8 words long. It set up a noticeable rhythm that took over the reading experience. I have a few crutch words, Julie. But I also have a bunch of boring verbs that I try to spruce up. Yes, Four! Blogging is how I take breaks 🙂
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Oh, I hear you, Diana, but really? Four books? I’d probably consider hanging myself. One at a time is my limit. I also do the ‘finding a more interesting word’ bit – another chore to add to the editing…
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I like releasing my series (serials, really) all at once, Noelle. So they’ve been in the works for a couple years and are in different stages of readiness. I’m exaggerating my suffering a little. Ha ha. All in fun. Happy word-swapping! Even with one book, it’s mind-numbing 😀
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Four…books…to…edit…have you been exceptionally bad? Offended someone powerful?
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Ha ha. No, I’ve been good, Mick. I just like to put my series out all at once (or close together). They’ve been in the works for 2 years, so they’re in different stages of completeness. The first will be out mid-March and the rest will follow quickly 🙂 Happy Writng!
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Obviously very good!
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Such dedication deserves great success, D. I like ‘that’ very much too and not just because it reminds me of an old drinking establishment I occasionally frequented. The Horse And Trumpet. Happy days… 🙂
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Ha ha. The Horse And Trumpet sounds like an excellent THAT. What a great name for a pub. Hope you’re havng a wonderful weekend, Phil. 😀
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I cherish that you put such a great amount of thought into each word. It truly appears in the liveliness of your composition…
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Thanks for the kind comment. I try to put my best efforts out there for my readers. They’re worth it. Have a lovely weekend 😀
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I’m totally with you on ‘that’ word! Once you begin to notice it, you can’t NOT see it. And in so many places that it creeps in (cough) – it’s not actually needed at all! Good luck with your massive editing programme. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Julie. For me it’s an invisible word, which is why I have to specifically look for it in my prose. I just don’t see it unless I focus. Ugh. But it makes me laugh too sometimes when I find 3 in one sentence! Have a great weekend ❤
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Oh, oh! Diana! Now I’ve got to comb the chapters for that, was, had and a ton of others. Already got rid of the ly, and ing words. Love the way you post good information with a generous touch of humor! Have a peaceful weekend! 🎶Christine
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You don’t have to get rid of all of them, Christine, but it’s worth it to pare them down, especially when they’re just filler words that don’t impact the meaning of the sentence. The pace of the prose improves. I don’t think readers know how hard we work to get books ready for market. And we have to laugh while we do it, right? Thank for the visit. Have a great weekend!
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Good point! Thanks! It helps to keep the humor, and not cry! 🎶C
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Dianna, I love you dearly but now I have an ear worm. All I can hear is THAT. What do you know about that? That’s all folks. This and that.
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Ha ha ha. That happens, Bernadette! Hopefully you get so absorbed in whatever you’re reading that the words disappear. That’s the goal anyway. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
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I have a nasty habit of editing my writing as I write. I don’t think it really works for me but I can’t seem to stop doing it. I have a few words I try to avoid also. For some reason, I throw “just” around often. Probably 95% of the time (or more), it’s completely unnecessary. Sometimes it’s not great to write the way I talk… but that’s how it comes out. Initially, anyway. As for “that”… I usually try to remove it and see if the sentence still works. If not, then, yes, it’s a giant pain the bum finding replacements. I just hate that. 🙂
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I’m also an edit-as-I-go writer, Sandra, and I’m fine with it. I’m used to it now, and it works for me. “Just” sneaks into my prose too (along with “only” and a bunch of others. I don’t try to get rid of all the “that’s.” But I do make a concerted effort to cut as many as I can. Everything in moderation 🙂 Happy Writing!
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Sometimes, I think edit-as-I-go makes me lose my train of thought. Oh, and yes, I don’t get rid of all of any word. I do find some I grossly overuse, though! 🙂
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I feel your pain and can relate! Imagine my HORROR when I found I’d use THAT 565 times in my 75K MS. THAT was annoying. It took four days to clean THAT up. Now, I’m trying to scrub THAT from my brain and vocabulary! 😉😄
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Ha ha ha. Oh I can so relate. And you’re right, it takes a long time to remove them when it means revisiting every “that” in every sentence. Days! I have nixed some words from my writing vocabulary, but there are some that seem to stick! Thanks for visiting and Happy Writing!
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Oh my gosh Diana, THAT sounds so tedious to do THAT! THAT is something THAT would drive me bonkers, but THAT seems to be necessary so THAT your writing is THAT way you would like your readers to enjoy. THAT is, if they even mind about THAT kind of thing, right? 😉 Hang in there!
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Ha ha ha. Nice, Kathryn, you have it down! Yes, it’s all about the readers, of course. I’m getting there. Small chunks of THAT between other tasks! Have a great weekend. 🙂
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You too Diana!
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Yes, it’s a problem. Sorry, I’ll try hard not to use the specific word you mentioned. It really is a minefield working around it… I feel your pain. It’s such a handy little word and so difficult to find something to replace it every… single… time. Good luck with that. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) 🙂
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Well done!! I don’t get rid of all of them, Steven. For the most part, I zap them when it doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence. Occasionally, I’ll do a bit of rewording it there are too many in a row. Wow, I wrote four sentences without using the dreaded word once! We’re on a roll. 😀
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Arghh… I don’t envy you, my friend, but have no doubt you’ll get through it, no matter how mind-numbing it can get. 🙂
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Yes was can be quite a trap, and that can be too! What’s to be done? LOL!!!
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It’s a part of writing that certainly isn’t glamorous, Marje. If readers only knew. 🙂 Blogging is a good break between stretches of that. Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend! 🙂
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Yes, I have to say it is my least favourite part of writing.. Have a great weekend too Diana. 🙂
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Commiserations! ‘Just’ is my bete noir. My fingers insist that ‘just’ gives a sentence that little bit more emphasis…or something. What a pity my head doesn’t agree. Just not good enough…:(
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I’m a big fan of “just” too. Funny how it sneaks in there! I think we all have these favorite lame and filler words. The important part is recognizing, so we can fix it. Happy Writing and enjoy your weekend!
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So true. Have a great weekend as well. 🙂
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I love that you put so much thought into every word. It really shows in the vibrancy of your writing. I went back to your post where you point out the words you try to replace and added it to my list of “things to do when editing”. It may be a terrible drag to do, but it’s worth every bit.
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It is a drag, Alecia. But I really do think it makes a difference in the prose. And the good part is the more sensitive you become to the “lame” words, the less you use them in the first place!
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Have fun! 😀
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The fun part is the blogging breaks, Bette. You all keep me my brain from congealing. Ha ha. Thanks for visiting. Happy Writing.
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Oh yes! That is that!
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Thanks for visiting. Glad you enjoyed my little lament about that. Blogging has been a nice break from that 🙂 Have a great Friday and wonderful weekend! ❤
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Thank you!
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Funnily enough, my daughter’s homework last week was rewriting sentences with ‘that’ omitted.
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Wow. I’m impressed, Frank. Her teacher must know something about writing. So much of this feels natural until someone points it out. I remember when another writer pointed out to me that I had 3 that’s in one sentence. What an eye-opener. Your daughter will be a better writer for the lesson 😀
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Good luck with cutting down “that”. Other than “was” what are the other 31 words you cut out?
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Thanks for stopping by Roseylinn. I did a post about the Word Police a while ago. It has a bunch of words to avoid. My 33 are among them. Here it is: https://mythsofthemirror.com/2015/08/03/the-word-police/
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Thanks for the link. That is a good list. The only word I would add is “and”. Overuse can result in run on sentences. 🙂
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I’m glad it was helpful. We all have our favorites for some reason. An “and” in every sentence can definitely get repetitive. I try to address that with reading aloud. If the sentences all sound alike, there’s a problem.
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I had a good laugh with this one, Diana. I’ve always been that girl who has a problem with that (the word). I use it way too much!
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Well, you’re not alone, Lana, that’s for sure. It’s a funny word because it’s invisible until all of a sudden it’s not. Then they’re all over the place. Ha ha! Happy Friday and Happy Writing!
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Happy Friday and Happy Writing right back at ya, my friend!
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Haha! That is better then “which”
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I actually changed some of my that’s to which’s, Erika. Not many though as the way I write is more that-prone. Ha ha. Mostly, I just see if I can delete them altogether. Your book is giving me a nice break from editing. 😀
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Really? That makes me happy to hear. I hope it isn’t too difficult to get through. I am really immersing myself in reading right now to help my sentence craft. As far as that and which, I think a mix of the two is just fine. But when which is over done, I think it sounds a bit more harsh than that. 🙂
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I agree, Erika, plus there are rules about when to use that or which, just to make it all the more complicated! Reading aloud is a great way to smooth out prose and catch problems. Good for you for taking that step! Happy Editing 😀
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Reading aloud only helps if one’s spoken language is above a certain level. I had students for whom anything but street-English sounded strange to their ears.
Great post – an amusing take on a dreary task. Thanks for sharing the secrets of why your writing is so compelling. THAT was helpful. 🙂
Do you find it improves writing in real time, or does the editing process remain essentially the same?
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
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In my experience, it does improve real-time writing, Madelyn. As I become more sensitive to my dull and filler words, I use them less to begin with. That saves lots on time on this step. 🙂 I still have those 33, though, that need special attention!
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As I “liked” my way down the comments – while you were leaving this comment – I found the answer below. Still, I appreciate the time to respond.
xx,
mgh
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You’re not a wuss facing so many wuzzes!! 😀😀 That is one amazing work load and I’m dizzy just reading how many books you’re working on and the long hours! Please take a break now and then…That is all!
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Blogging is actually a fun break, Annika. This WP community cracks me up and I do a lot of laughing in between the that’s and wuzzes. 😀 Thanks as always for visiting and adding to the giggles. Have a great weekend!
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So who is telling you that something is wrong with “that?” 🙂
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Ha ha. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as that isn’t every fourth word that I write. I’ll do a word search on Word and every page will light up with 12 that’s! Ha ha. Thanks for joining in the fun, Bridget. I’m enjoying my blogging distraction this morning. 🙂
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Oh yes, I am equally fond of that. That word is just so appealing. Now that I am nearly done with my most recent manuscript, I guess I too will be joining you in that oh so enjoyable editing process.
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Welcome to the club, Allie. It’s grueling, but when it’s over, what a delight! I think part of the overuse of that is that we use that when we speak. Ha ha. It just feels so natural, like was. Thanks for the visit.
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… and you’ve just given me reason #345 of why I will never publish a book 😉
I’m a lazy writer. There. I admitted it 🙂
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Ha ha ha. Only reason #345? You are one of the least lazy people I know, Joanne. You make me feel like a recliner-potato! It takes all kinds of people to make an interesting world. Thanks for making me laugh. 🙂
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I’m sure you’ve seen this sentence, Diana, but it came to mind again here:
“James, while John had had “had”, had had “had had”; “had had” had a better effect on the teacher.
(Some people add one more “had,” but it’s actually grammatically incorrect to do so.)
I applaud your commitment. My biggest problem in editing seems to be the opposite: Will readers understand “omphaloskepsis”? (at least I know Sean feels my pain.)
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I don’t like had and you only reinforced that opinion. 😀 Omphaloskepsis sent me to the dictionary. Navel-gazing?? Ha ha ha. I had no idea there’s a term for it.
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Good luck, Diana. What a task! I love your dedication.
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I think it’s something most writers can relate to, Mary. Especially the wuzzes. This is a part of writing readers don’t see. I shall forge ahead. Happy Writing, my friend. ❤
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Lots of luck. And, I tend to love the word “that” as well.
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I didn’t notice it in your writing, Adele, so you’ve done a good job dealing with that. Ha ha. Thanks for the visit! 🙂
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My pleasure Diana. x
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A great laugh today, though I’m sure it is far from a good time for you. Best to you as you snip away and enliven.
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Thanks, Russell. Blogging is a great distraction! A couple more hours and I’ll get back into dealing with that. 😀 Have a great weekend.
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Hahaha, this is brilliant, and certainly takes a lot of dedication, Diana.
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I’m glad you got a laugh out of my struggles with that. Ha ha. Thanks for visiting, Lenora, and Happy Writing!
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I didn’t mean to laugh at your pain!! 🙂 Happy Writing to you too, Diana, I wish you well in your endeavours 🙂
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❤
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I feel your pain! I, too, am locked in editland while working on a major rewrite… I also do an editing pass to expunge THAT from my m/s. Luckily I can completely do away with said word at least half the time. But those passes are something of a trial – and DON’T get me started on the ellipsis cull…
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Ha ha. I have 33 words that I try to significantly reduce. What??? I like ellispses. 🙂 I have hundreds of them… only kidding, but now I’m going to take a look just to be sure! Happy Editing.
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Yes – but sadly ellipses are definitely a vice with me – moderation in all things. And I scatter them around with gay abandon.
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I added them to my list after that. 😀
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Good luck:).
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I feel your pain. I found over 2200 ‘was’ words in my latest WIP. I had to exorcise them. ‘That’–don’t even want to think about that word.
Good luck! My experience is the book comes out much more exciting when all those passive boring words are replaced.
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2200 was words! Yikes. Me too when I add together the was, were, is, are, have been, had been, etc. Ugh! The work is worth it, though. I couldn’t agree more that a book is a better read without those lame verbs. Happy Writing!
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Well done you! I’m exhausted just reading about it!
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Thanks for stopping by, Sarah. It is sort of exhausting. Ha ha. My list is almost done though! By the end of the weekend, the “that’s” will be vanquished. Hope you are feeling well. Keep smiling. ❤
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The bit about “that” made me laugh, Diana. So well written that you could excuse yourself for using “that”. Good luck with the boring task of editing, 🙂
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Thanks, Sebnem. Thank goodness I’m not quite THAT bad. Ha ha. Sometimes it feels that way, though. Happy Writing!
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Great post! I feel your pain–I just love the word “just.”
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Me too!! And for some reason “only” is popping up a lot recently! ha ha. At least “just” is an easy one to go through and delete, just like that. 😀 Thanks for the visit. Happy Writing!
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Wuz and that are favs. MS Word is one amazing thing. It helps us eliminate redundant words. You’re almost there. How I wish I could multitask like you. Anyway, I adore you.
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I found this comment in spam this morning! Ugh. I don’t know why WP does that when there is clearly a relationship here. Thanks for much for the visit and the encouragement. I’m finally done with the THAT’s. 🙂
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I also also have a list of repeaters – I’m drafting now and keep trying to substitute words, but telling myself to worry about it in editing. Just get the first draft down. I feel your pain, Diana!
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This is my draft 5, Teri. I don’t worry about it until I’m getting close to the end. I do notice that as the years go by, I tend to write with fewer lame words naturally. But, boy, I still have those favorites that sneak in there! 😀
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Aha – the answer to my question.
xx,
mgh
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😀
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This is a positively brilliant editing idea, though… I never realized how many times I repeated myself until I started doing something similar with proof reading for its/it’s. Plus I read everything out loud and that shows up a lot of garage writing, as well. Good luck, Diana. You’re nearly there!
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I read aloud before and after this step, Meg. It’s amazing what that brings up! The challenge with all this is that I might switch out a bunch of “look’s” and then find that everyone is suddenly “gazing” all over the place. Ha ha. So, some of the gazing has to change to “peering” and “staring.” Too funny.
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Ah, too true! 😀
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I don’t remember if it was in my last batch or the one I’m on now, Diana, but you did have someone “ogling” a door … which made me laugh aloud at 2:00 AM.
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Ha ha ha. Do did mention some misplaced ogling, Erik. Ha! Too funny. 2:00 AM?? I don’t think I’ve stayed up THAT late in about 20 years. Thanks for visiting and making me laugh. 😀
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I would be interested to know, Diane, if any of these are re-edits of previously published work as you mentioned in a previous post and, if they are, how far can re-editing go without some offfical notification of changes to the work? I would really like to revisit my first two books and feel some healthy pruning might tighten up the narrative.
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I did a little looking into your question, Wendy, and related to re-editing an existing book, what I learned is that it depends on the extent of the changes. If it’s just a polish (fixing typos, cutting adverbs and dialog tags, or swapping out wuzzes) then it isn’t necessary to reissue as new edition. If content is changing then it should have a new edition. I’m not an expert on this and someone may correct me, but since I was just polishing, I simply uploaded the corrected version. Hope that helps 🙂
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Thanks for that, Diana, I didn’t mean to send you off on a quest! When I have finished the third book in my series I do intend to go back. As you pointed out in a previous post, an awful lot is learned in the process of writing and I would like to re-edit. (Well, not ‘like’ but feel the need) I will look into this question of ‘new editions’ but thank you, in the meantime for your thoughts on the subject!
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What I hate is when I wind up with two “that’s” in a row and cant figure out which one to take out. “I understand that that’s an issue” Should it be: “I understand that it’s an issue?” Or “I understand if that’s an issue?” One is pained to ponder “that.” Dyslexia kicks in after a while, not to mention other internal nemeses.
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Or “I understand it’s an issue.” (?) You’re right. After a while, it just twists the head up and I start second guessing myself. I set arbitary thresholds (like one “was” per page on average) and then I try to get there – with mixed success. 🙂 Happy Writing!
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Right. As you said originally, if one can leave out the “that” entirely, more power to them. Sometimes I feel that the “that” needs to be there to avoid ambiguity – but perhaps I complicate things. Simple solutions tend to be good ones, in general.
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Believe me, A.P., I leave plenty of “that’s” in place. You’re right that sometimes they’re necessary grammatically or to avoid ambiguity or to support a sentence’s flow. There is definitely a need for that 😀
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I can assure you that “that that” is perfectly acceptable (and sometimes necessary) as it would be had you had “had had.”
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Well, I can tell you honestly that that has been a problem for me. I decided a long time ago that I had had enough of — that.
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Ha ha ha Well said. 😀
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Yes, grammatically, but there’s usually a work around. I try to avoid the had-had’s too. I don’t know why this makes me laugh. Maybe because only writers find this utterly fascinating.
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What a task Diana! Can I say wow more than once wow wow!
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It’s a big task and not very creative, Lynn. More like drudgery, lol, but worth it in the end. Thanks for visiting, my friend.
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Yes I am sure it is worth it and I will remember this lesson in the future
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Your writing is naturally fabulous, Lynn. 🙂
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awwe Diana you are such an inspiration I wish I could even come close to your writing! xx
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pfft. (Did I spell that right?) hehe. Don’t sell yourself short, my dear. Your story is riveting. ❤
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haha love it! pfft
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Please edit second “wow” for variety. 😀
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hahaha thanks! oh my?
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Lol! Love it!
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So glad I made you laugh 🙂 A silly peek into my process. It really is kind of mind-numbing, so it’s a good thing I’m in love with words. ❤
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So am I! Thank you fir sharing xx
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Im so looking forward to the day when I’m fine tuning the Wizard of Yonkers looking for all my wuzzes and thats…Great post to start of my morning! Thanks!
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Thanks for reading. It’s a boring step to be sure, but it makes a difference in the polish of the final product. Good luck with your book! 😀
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Well, I guess that’s that.
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Ha ha. I know. Too funny. Thanks for reading and have a great day!
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Check out what a Professional Editor says about ‘that’ Diana:
https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2016/09/16/editing-101-03-thats-the-problem-in-revising/
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Thanks, Chris. It’s great advise, on more than just that.That’s exactly what I do – read each sentence and see if it works without that. Hitting delete on the that’s is far easier than swapping out wuzzes. Ha ha.
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😄😄
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Ouch… ouch..and ouch. I feel your pain.
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Thanks for commiserating. It is a bit mind-numbing. Almost there, though. Have a great day and lovely weekend. 🙂
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Quite a process to describe. Good luck with all “that”, D.
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😀 Thanks, Van. It’s just part of the process. The spit and polish. A few more days and that will be under control!
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A Herculean task! I feel your pain 😊
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Thanks, Wendy. I figure most writers will relate. It’s the grueling work behind the beautiful words 🙂
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A well deserved break from your tedious job. I hope you notice I didn’t use the words, was, had or that. I hope you have a great day.☺☺☺
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Good advice. I can’t seem to get rid of all my wases. They follow me everywhere.
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They’re like dog hair, Andrew. They’re everywhere and impossible to remove completely 🙂
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Ha ha. Well done. My eyeballs dry out doing this stuff. Hope that you have a great day too! 😀
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