Even experienced writers can be overwhelmed by the sheer number of words available to them. While it’s tempting to just start writing and see what happens – especially if you’ve been inspired by a particular work – eventually, you’ll start running out of words.
In this article, we’ll discuss some practical tips to keep your writing fresh and interesting by limiting the amount of words you use. By mastering this technique, you can significantly boost your productivity and quality of work – resulting in better and faster results.
Find Your Zone
The first step to becoming a better writer is identifying your writing zone. In general, stick to a regular schedule when writing – at least five hours a day, three days a week – and don’t skip a day even when you feel like you have the time. By establishing this routine, you’ll automatically begin to see improvements in your writing craft.
If you’re looking for inspiration, don’t just visit Wikipedia or other online dictionaries. Instead, find a quiet space where you can read and re-read books. If possible, attend literary festivals and conferences to expose yourself to as many different perspectives and influences as possible. The more you read and the more you practise, the better you’ll become.
Cut Your Word Count In Half
Even if you limit your daily word count, eventually – if you write enough – you’ll start to run out of words. To avoid this, cut your word count in half. Don’t worry, you won’t lose quality; it’ll just mean you’re writing faster. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to be limited to only using two or three sentences per paragraph. In fact, the opposite is usually the case. As a writer, you should aim to write as much as possible without resorting to repetitive sentences or phrases. Your writing will be more impressive when it’s unique and well-crafted, rather than when it’s a copy of someone else’s work.
Reduce The Number Of Times You Use Prepositions And Articles
The English language is filled with words that can end up meaning exactly the same thing. For example, the prepositions “on” and “at” often mean “in” or “near,” depending on the context. Similarly, the article “a” can mean “an” or “one.” These words can often be replaced by simpler, more effective alternatives. Instead of writing, “On the table,” you could write, “On the table.” Instead of writing, “This book is about dogs,” you could write, “This dog book is about.”
Reducing the amount of unnecessary words you use can make a world of difference. Not only will it improve the readability of your work, but it’ll also significantly boost your productivity. In general, you should aim to replace every unnecessary word with a simpler, more effective alternative. For example, instead of writing, “I like dogs,” you could write, “I like dogs.” Not only is this sentence shorter, but it eliminates the need to use a whole list of prepositions and articles to explain your liking for canines.
Avoid The Easiest Words
Another useful tool to maintain freshness and variety in your writing is to avoid the easiest words. The easiest words are the ones that other people use when they talk or write about something – words that are commonly found in the dictionary and even some of the common phrases such as Hello, how are you, how’s it going, and so on. If you want to keep your writing fresh, don’t just Google the words you need. Instead, look for a thesaurus or dictionary and find the meaning of each word. You can also consult your peers for help – other writers who can give you a different perspective on your topic. If you’re looking for an easy and commonly used word, you can use a thesaurus to find its synonyms.
Use The Right Grammar
Another tip to make your writing more elegant is to use the correct grammar. Even experienced writers can fall prey to the most subtle of grammatical errors. They may use words incorrectly, contractions where they shouldn’t, or leave out important words. One of the simplest ways to spot these errors is by using a spell checker. Many editors, proofreaders, and copywriters are trained to look for spelling errors, so they’ll definitely point out any grammar mistakes you make accidentally.
Some of the most common errors you make are verb tenses. If you’re not sure which verb tense to use, it’s usually best to choose the present tense. Never use the past tense to refer to past events unless you’re certain that the listener/reader will understand what you’re trying to tell them. For example, instead of writing, “We went to the park yesterday,” you could write, “We are going to the park tomorrow.” This ensures that everyone understands what you mean, and it keeps the story relevant even now. In the same way, never use the future tense to describe something that has not yet happened. For example, instead of writing, “I will meet you at the movie at eight,” you could write, “I will meet you at the movie at 8:00 pm.” This ensures that everyone understands what you mean – that is, that you will meet them at the movie at 8:00 pm – while also preventing you from misusing the tense.
Grammar can be tricky, so try to be as meticulous as possible when editing your work. Don’t just look for spelling errors and grammatical mistakes – carefully review your entire manuscript for any other issues that may arise. You can ask other people to proofread your work or use a tool like Grammarly – which is what most people use when writing emails anyway, so it’s probably the most convenient solution for you.
Use Short, Pithy Sentences
A good writer knows how to use short, pithy sentences. A pithy sentence is defined as a sentence containing fewer than seven words. The key is to keep your sentences short and to the point. Don’t just throw together a bunch of words – craft a short, snappy sentence that says what you need to say. While you should avoid using more than four or five words per sentence, sometimes the simplest sentences are the best. When you have lots of words, it can be tricky to keep your sentence short and snappy. Sometimes, the most effective approach is to break down your text and pull out individual words or phrases to form new, short sentences. Short sentences make for easy reading and improve the flow of your writing. They can also make your writing more concise – which is important for cutting down on word count and keeping your writing unique.
Organize Your Material
To keep your material fresh, you need to keep it organized. Instead of just writing what you know, get out your notebook and make some notes about the plot, characters, and so on. If you’re worried that jotting down some random thoughts will make it harder to follow the progression of the story, don’t be. Writing down a few key points can actually help you follow along more easily. You don’t have to go overboard and turn it into a full-blown outline – simply make some notes where you’ll need to go back and add more detail later. Once you’ve got your outline, you can begin to flesh out the details of your story.
If you’re a new writer, it can be difficult to know where to start. Instead of panicking and starting from the very beginning, take a step back. Organize your notes about the story and plot into something that makes sense. If you’ve got a decent outline, it’ll make writing much easier – you just have to fill in the details. If you want to keep your writing fresh, don’t just rely on your imagination – find as many sources of inspiration as possible and make some notes about what you find compelling about each story. Make sure to save all your work in a separate folder so you don’t lose any of it if your computer crashes. And finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are plenty of people out there who would love to see their work published – whether it’s a short story, a novella, or a full-length book. So, by reaching out to these folks and getting their feedback, you can make sure your writing is as polished as possible.