Spotting Overused Words and Phrases

When I’m creating early drafts of a book, I often overuse certain words or phrases. Sometimes, I’m not even aware that I’m doing it until later reads make it glaringly obvious. My biggest offenders are “just,” “that,” “made a beeline for,” and “hustled.”

Here are some ways I try to combat the repetition.

• Create a list of your overused items. When you start reviewing and revising, search and do some rewrites.

• When my critique groups or editors mark words that are too repetitive, I add them to my list to check for.

• When revising, use your search feature to find how many times you used the words on your list. Since I’ve been paying attention to my offenders, I use “just” and “that” less often than I used to. You’ll be shocked when certain words show up multiple times on the same page.

• Run a spellcheck after each major editing session to catch typos and other boo boos.

• Use your word processor’s “read aloud” button to listen to your work. (In Word, it’s on the Review tab (Read Aloud).) More often than not, you will heard your overused or misused words.

What would you add to my list?

Why Writers Need Public Speaking Skills

If you read studies about universal human fears, public speaking is always on the list. In high school and college, I was terrified of it, and it took years for me to overcome that. My company sponsored a Toastmasters group when I was a technical writer, and I signed up. The good thing was that the group was new, and everyone was a novice. We bonded over a “we’re in this together” vibe, and it was the best training that I’ve ever invested time in.

As a writer, you are often asked to do panels, teach workshops, do readings, and speak to groups. The more you practice, the better you will get. If you get the opportunity to join Toastmasters, I highly recommend it. After several certifications, I finally felt comfortable giving speeches or speaking up in group discussions. Here are some things I learned that have helped me along the way.

• Don’t have anything in your hands or put your hands in your pockets. People tend to jiggle their keys or change and play with pens or things in their hands. Don’t clutch the microphone, lectern, or table. It makes you look like you’re hanging on for dear life.

• Practice what you’re going to say in front of a mirror or record it, so you can see if you’re making faces or tripping over certain words. You want to look natural and sound authentic.

• Make sure you’re looking at the audience. If it terrifies you, look at the top of their heads. They think you’re looking at them, and you’re not staring them in the eyes.

• Don’t read your PowerPoint slides verbatim to the audience. Talk about key points and provide examples. And don’t turn your back on the audience to read your slides.

• Watch the “errrrs” and “ummms.” A lot of times, you say them or crutch words (like “you know,” “you see,” or lots of “ands.”) People start paying attention if there are too many, and they listen for them and ignore your message.

• Know your material. It’s okay to have index cards or a few notes (like bulleted items), but don’t take a copy of what you’re going to say verbatim. You will go to where you are most comfortable, and you’ll end up reading your text, and that is the fastest way to put people to sleep.

• If you lose your thought, take a breath or a pause and continue.

• And if you’re on a panel, be a good citizen. Don’t hog the time or the microphone. If you agree with what someone else said, give them a shout out. Be attentive and listen to your fellow panelists’ answers.

Writers who are able to be panelists, guest speakers, or workshop leaders will have more opportunities, and it’s nice to be invited to be a presenter.

Ways to Build Your Author Network

Writing is often a lonely endeavor. You need a network of writer friends to celebrate the amazing times and help you when things aren’t so great. Here are some ideas of ways that you can build or add to your network of writers.

• Follow other writers (especially ones in your genre) online. Sign up for their newsletter.

• Look at the other authors who share your agent.

• Look at the other authors who you share your publisher.

• Meet other authors who live near you.

• Join a writing group. This was the best thing that I did for my writing career. They offered book events, all kinds of training, and camaraderie.

• When you meet an author, follow them on social media. Make sure to add them to your contacts.

Here are some things your network can help you with

• Partner together for in-person and online events.

• Find writing opportunities like anthologies and upcoming events.

• Share each other’s social media announcements.

• Promote each other's events and help them celebrate.

• Partner for newsletter swaps, guest blogs, or other promotional ideas.

• Build up a group who could help you with blurbs.

• Find advice and recommendations on writing, publishing, and agents.

What You Can Learn from Setbacks

The writing journey is really a rollercoaster ride with a lot of highs and lows. Everyone experiences the great and the not-so-great moments. No one likes the latter, but there are things you can learn from them.

• When something disappointing happens, see what advice you can glean from it. Can you make improvements in something you’re doing?

• Allow yourself time to process bad news and to grieve. Sometimes, the news is devastating.

• Don’t reply or respond when you are upset or angry. Take some time to process and craft your response.

• Rejection Slips - If you’re fortunate enough that the agent or publisher provides you with feedback about the reason your work was not accepted, read it when you’re not emotionally charged. See if you can incorporate the advice to improve for next time.

• Bad Reviews - Everyone gets them. You can have hundreds of good reviews, and that one bad one often sends writers into a tailspin. Reviews are nice, but they are mainly for other readers. If you read them, see if there is a nugget of wisdom in the response. If not, ignore it and move on. You will not be everyone’s cup of tea, and you don’t like every book you read. Don’t reply or argue with the reviewer.

• Critique Group Feedback - You will get lots of feedback from your critique groups or partners. Read it when you are not emotional. Change what is wrong or what needs to be improved. But you don’t have to make every change that is mentioned. Make sure you’re not losing your voice in the rewrites.

What have you learned from a setback?

Valuable Lessons Learned from Critique Groups

One of the best things I did early in my career was to find a critique group to help me hone my writing skills and to test out plots. I’ve been in several of all sizes through the years. Some were in person, and others were virtual. Here’s what I learned and what worked for me.

• I write cozy mysteries, and I focus on groups that are made up of mystery writers. I read mysteries and thrillers, and I understand the conventions. I am able to provide good feedback on others’ work when I know the genre.

• When I was starting out, my first critique was a mixed group of published and pre-published folks like me. That was helpful. I was in the same boat as the newer writers. The people with more experience had great insights and ideas to share. As the years went by, critique groups come and go for different reasons. My last two groups have been with published mystery writers, and that helps me at this stage in my journey.

• You will get a lot of feedback and comments about your writing. It took me a while to figure out what changes I should listen to. In the end, it is your work and your voice. If it’s a procedural thing or a plot hole suggestion, then I usually make the change. In my first group, there were fifteen members. When we would go around the table for comments, half would say change something, and then the other half said don’t change it. It was confusing. I finally had to go with the change that would best mesh with where I wanted the story to go.

• You cannot take the critiques personally. It’s hard. You have worked so long on your manuscript, and now someone is tearing it apart. But my goal was always to improve my work and make it the best it could possibly be. It did take a while to build up a thick skin that I could listen to it and not get my feelings hurt.

• It helps to set the rules of the group before you start. For my groups, if you see grammar or spelling errors, point them out in your notes, but don’t spend the group time talking about them. Save your comments for plot holes and the craft of writing.

• Getting a variety of feedback helps me as a writer, and it prepared me for editor, agent, and publisher feedback and reader reviews.

What would you add to my list?

Things New Writers Need to Know

Here’s my list of things new writers need to know (and things I wished I had known when I started.)

1. Start early. I didn’t think about writing a book until after grad school (and I didn’t get published until my forties).

2. Find a writing group. You need the support and opportunities that it can provide you. I have met so many amazing and generous people from my writing groups.

3. Writing is a business, and you have to treat yours like one.

4. There are a lot of administrative and marketing tasks involved in the life of published authors.

5. Get serious about your writing and stay focused. Otherwise, you may never finish that book.

6. Write the first draft. Get it written. Stop revising the first four chapters over and over. You can revise it during the editing stages. (This is why my first book took five years to write.)

7. Guard your writing time. If you don’t, it will slip it away. I have to treat it as work.

8. Keep your computers patched and secure. Make sure you have anti-virus software. Back up your files regularly. There is nothing worse than losing a file, especially if it’s your manuscript.

9. Go through your “how to write” books and keep the ones that speak to you. Give away or sell the others. Sit down and write! (BICFOK - Backside in chair; Fingers on keyboard). I was reading too much about writing and not writing.

10. Read everything you can get your hands on in your genre.

What would you add to my list?

What a Puppy Taught Me...

Last year was rough. We lost both of our beloved Jack Russell Terriers. The Pair of Jacks had lived with us for fifteen years.

When Riley died, we decided to get a puppy, and we brought home a puff ball of a dog, a Mini Aussie Shepherd. We named him Cooper. (He’s our Mini Cooper.) We had forgotten what puppy life was like. We had two Jacks. How much crazier can one puppy be?

Cooper is very active and very bright. But that also means he gets bored easily. We started puppy training early, and it was perfect for teaching good manners and getting him conditioned to being around other dogs and people.

He has such a sweet and loving personality, and he wants to be included in everything.

Here’s what he’s taught me about my writing time.

1. Take breaks. A quick game of catch or a snack trip can provide the opportunity to move around and not be sedintary.

2. People and high-energy dogs need exercise. Build time in your schedule. It’ll get the endorphins going and clear your head.

3. Take a nap or relax when you need it.

4. Never lose your sense of adventure and fun. Everything is a game to a Mini Aussie.

5. Also, don’t lose your sense of wonder and curiosity. They’re part of your essence as a writer.

Cooper is always ready to go outside and check out new things. He loves to have fun. He definitely keeps us on our toes and from being all-business all the time. And he’s also willing to be the star of my social posts.

Tell me about any fuzzy, finned, or feathered sidekicks that help you on your writing journey.

What To Do When You Don't Feel Like Writing

When I’m writing a book, I try to write every day. Sometimes, the universe conspires against me, or I just don’t feel sitting in front of screen. It happens. Here are some things you can do instead.

• Try to have a normal time that you write every day. (Mine is the early morning and my lunch time.) This gets your mind and body into a routine.

• Guard your writing time. Your time is valuable, and you are pulled in so many different directions. Your research, writing, and marketing time is work. Schedule it if you have to.

• If you just can’t write, give yourself some grace. Work on other “writing” tasks. Create blog posts. Make marketing graphics. Clean up files or emails. Make sure that your receipts and tax information are updated.

• I create a tentative schedule when I’m writing a book. My goal is to write 1,000 words on workdays and 3,000 words on weekends/holidays. I try to stick to that to finish my first draft in a reasonable amount of time. Sometimes, I write more to cover for “skip” days or other things I can’t control.

• Exercise. This will clear your head and give you more energy than you realized.

• Do some other project you’ve been dreading. There is always a junk drawer or closet that needs cleaning.

• Work on a craft or make a recipe. These are other creative ways to get your mind working.

What works for you when you don’t feel like sitting down to write?