Repetition: The Unintentional Eyesore
For this blog post, I have decided to talk about something that is not only my biggest pet peeve, but something I am also very guilty of. REPETITION. What is repetition? Repetition is repeating something that has already been said or written. How does repetition effect your writing?
Well, the flow and readability are the first victims. There’s nothing worse than being immersed in a scene and fumbling over the same word repeated 2 to 3 times on a single page. Second, you will appear less skilled in the craft. So, what are some ways we can fix those overly repeated words in your WIP?
Fixing Repetition
Looking over this blog, I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that most of the repetitive words are highlighted. No, this wasn’t done to burn your retinas. I purposely used repetition and highlighted the words for two reasons:
1. To show what your book baby will look like after coming from an editor if you don’t take the time to eliminate repetition. I thought I was fairly good with repetition, until I received the first and second round of edits for Breachers. So much red. Everywhere…
2. To help train your eyes to notice these flaws. If you know what words you usually lean on, these crutch words will be easier to spot not only while writing, but while editing as well.
How will you know if your writing carries certain repetitive flaws? Truth is, usually you won’t until someone else points it out. Whether it’s a single word used multiple times throughout multiple sentences or pages, or starting multiple sentences or paragraphs with the same word. This kind of repetition is sure to disrupt the flow of your WIP.
Example #1
She opened the door. She walked inside. She gasped at the sight of a monster.
Possible Fix-
She lifted a shaky hand for the doorknob, turned it, and tiptoed inside. A gasp escaped her throat at the sight of horrendous yellow eyes staring back.
Notice how it flows more like writing and less like a grocery list? Now I’m not saying you shouldn’t start a sentence the same way as the previous, but do so sparingly. An abundance of these sentences can become an eyesore for your readers, and you’ll have to work extra hard to keep them turning the page.
Example #2
She slammed her eyes shut, fearful the fear in her eyes was too obvious.
-If you’re like me, this sentence had you reaching for something to vomit in. Let’s try and fix it.
Possible Fix-
She slammed her eyes shut, desperate to conceal the frightened tears rolling down her cheeks.
-Here you get the point across: A girl is scared and closes her eyes. But this way, you eliminate the repetition, and you show more than tell. YAY! Two birds with one stone.
Why is eliminating repetition important?
-Allows for better flow.
-Resolves any potential eyesores.
-Shows clean, professional writing.
What is a surefire way to notice repetition in your writing?
-Read out loud!
It’s so simple, yet so effective. It took me a while to read my own writing out loud, but once I did, I noticed flaws I had skimmed over so many times before. Whether you’re reading it yourself, or using a text-to-talk app to read for you while going about your busy day, things you didn’t catch before will jump out at you and have you scratching your head trying to figure out what the hell you were trying to write.
-Get a beta reader/critique partner
Having a second, and possibly a third pair of eyes, will help you hone in on the pesky overused words disrupting your flow. This should be something you always ask any of your betas/CPs to be on the lookout for when reading over your work. I promise they will find repetition easier than you will.
-Search in document
Chances are, if you notice a common word overly used (such as like, through, as, etc.) these words will be sprinkled throughout your WIP without your knowledge. Run a quick search and try and replace these words with something else. Either rework the sentence, or find a synonym to replace the repetition. The thesaurus is your FRIEND!
Eliminating repetition is necessary to any author aiming to have their novel self-published or published traditionally. It’s our job to plunge the reader into a new world, and that becomes impossible when they keep snagging on the same word over and over again.
Breachers by Anthony Thomas
Fiery Seas Publishing
Science Fiction
Coming 2018
Jason Conners is the last person you’d expect to run into a burning building, unless of course there was something inside worth stealing. Call him what you want: criminal, thief, asshole, but hero? Absolutely not. Jason’s questionable behavior and disturbing antics can only be attributed to one secret.
He can change the future, but with great power comes great responsibility? Hell no. His ability makes him the best thief in the city, and nothing is off-limits. Until Jason’s carefree attitude gains the attention of the Rogues, and the government.
The Rogues want him to stop catastrophic events from taking place, and the government has their own agenda. When the hunt begins, Jason is caught in the crosshairs and learns that breaching is not as limitless as he thought.
Can this anti-hero give up a life of easy money and become the savior the Rogues need, or will it cost him everything—even his immortality?
About the Author:
Anthony Thomas settled in the city of sin, though part of him will always remain in the small farming town in Northern California. When he’s not hunched over a keyboard, Anthony enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter and two dogs.
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