Trimming Words

Tight writing doesn't happen by accident. It comes by examining every aspect of the story and focusing on what words you need in order to convey the story you want to tell. Here are some articles that discuss how to trim out unnecessary words to tighten and polish a novel, and also how to cut out words on a novel that's just too long.

A sampling of articles on trimming words

• Break it Down: Trimming Words From a Too-Long Manuscript
• Get Over Overstating: Trimming Unnecessary Words
• That Sounds Familiar: Eliminating Often-Used Words
• Lighten Up! Cutting Down Your Word Count
• Slash and Burn: Cutting Words

See all articles on trimming words