Editing Tip: Cutting the Word 'Very' to Strengthen Writing

Many writers struggle more with finishing than starting. One of the questions writers ask most is, How do I know when this piece is finished? The honest answer is writing rarely feels finished but there are signs that a piece is ready to be released to readers. One sign is consistency, when your message stays the same from beginning to end, without contradicting itself or drifting off topic, the writing is usually in a good place. Another sign is when editing starts to become cosmetic instead of meaningful. If you are only changing single words, moving commas or rephrasing sentences without improving meaning, the writing may already be ready. Good writing also reaches a point were removing more starts to weaken it instead of strengthening it. Strong writing is not about making something as short as possible, it is about keeping what is necessary and removing what is not. There is also a point where you can step away from the work, return later and still recognise your message clearly, that distance often tells you whether the writing is stable or still needs shaping. Writing is not about reaching perfection. It is about reaching a point where the work can stand on its own and communicate what it was meant to communicate.

The one question every writer should ask before publishing If your writing needs to be reread, it isn’t clear enough. Let me show you what I mean. Between these two sentences, which is easier to read and understand? Sentence 1: True growth happens when intention aligns with possibility in meaningful ways. Sentence 2: You grow when you know what you want and work towards it. Take another look. Sentence 1 or 2? I’m guessing the second one. The first sentence is vague and abstract. It doesn’t communicate a specific idea, and you probably had to read it twice to grasp the meaning. The second sentence, on the other hand, is crisp and clear. You understand it immediately. As a writer, your goal is clarity. Your readers should understand your point the first time they read it. That’s where your power lies. Your greatest achievement is making complex ideas simple and easy to understand. After all, information only matters when it’s understood. The moment your audience misses the message, the entire point is lost. Besides, most people don’t have the patience to reread a piece of writing. They want to read, understand, and move on. This leaves writers with one responsibility. Clarity. That's why, before you publish anything, ask yourself: Have I communicated this clearly? Can it be expressed more simply? Great writing isn’t complex. It is simple, clear, and easy to understand.

The Realistic Writing Schedule for when you're truly stuck: 2 hours a day, 4 days a week. Just writing. No emails, no Instagram, no "quick" industry articles. It sounds impossibly small when you're drowning, but it actually gets scripts finished.

Great writing isn't about the writer. It's not about showing how smart and clever you are. It's about giving the reader exactly what they need, to help them understand or to pull them into the next moment.

Writing these years taught me something that not my degree does. It's not completely focused on stylish words, the content should focus on clarity. Anyone who writes must understand people before understanding algorithms. You must listen first before writing. The best content doesn't tries to impress it needs to connect with people and should aid its purpose. A writer never completes their learning I'm still learning Still Writing Refining my draft every day. But on the whole journey one is clear: Words have power when they are written with purpose. If your pen crafts your future (writer) keep going. Your voice is essential more than you think.

Stop over-explaining everything, you’re not being helpful. Yes, I said it. Somewhere along the line, beginner writers are taught that more words = better writing. So you explain. Then explain the explanation. Then add an example… just in case. And suddenly, the point is lost. In actuality Over-explaining can confuse. Instead of helping your reader, you overwhelm them. Instead of clarifying, you dilute the message. Knowing what not to say is part of writing. It shows confidence, clarity and respect for your reader’s time. Say the point. Trust the reader. Move on.

I’ve definitely been guilty of over-explaining early in my writing journey. Clarity and specificity is such an underrated skill in writing. But the fact is this: knowing what to remove is just as important as knowing what to add.

When it comes to writing, flow comes naturally when you write on what you truly know. A writer does not struggle with expression when the subject is familiar, lived, studied, or deeply understood. Ideas connect easily, thoughts move smoothly, and words find their place without force. Writing becomes difficult when you chase topics only because they are trending, not because they are part of you. But when you write from knowledge, experience, and conviction, your voice is clear and authentic. You do not need to impress anyone, you simply communicate. As writers, our strength is not in how many topics we can touch, but in how well we can handle the ones we understand. Master your field. Read widely. Live the story. Let your writing flow from insight, not imitation. When you know your subject, writing stops being a struggle and becomes a conversation. That is where impact begins.

One thing I wish more authors were told about early on: Struggling with a manuscript doesn’t mean you’re bad at writing. More often than not, it just means you’re too close to the story. I’ve had the chance to work with authors who have worked on their stories for years. The issue here is that when you’ve lived inside a book for that long, it becomes hard to see what’s actually landing on the page versus what exists clearly in your head. That’s where outside eyes matter—not to “fix” the story, but to reflect it back to you honestly. Most of my work as an editor is simply helping authors see their own story more clearly, so they can make decisions with confidence instead of doubt. And that shift alone can change everything about how revision feels to them, because let’s be honest, the process can feel quite overwhelming. ———————— #editing #freelancing #authors #developmentalediting #editorialservices #bookediting

The best writers don’t use the biggest words. They help you understand the biggest ideas. If you want to be more like them, here's how you'd start: 1 - Have an idea that YOU find interesting. You've already put in the time and energy breaking down ideas you like. You know all the different ways to make it click. If you don't want to talk about it you probably can't write about it. 2 - Write like YOU talk. Imagine trying to explain something using someone else's dictionary. Tough, right? Stick to words that you use on a regular basis. Read your work out loud and if it sounds forced, rewrite it. This last step is the hardest one that even the greatest writers struggle with... 3 - Keep writing. No matter how many likes you get or don't get. No matter how stupid you think you sound. No matter if you think people are judging you. (I promise those people aren't writing and don't even think about you.) Your writing will get better the MORE you do it. There's suck trapped inside of you and you've got to get it out. Keep writing. You got this.