Last blog I told you I found 175 uses of 'THAT' in a collection of short stories. After checking each one, I reduced the number to 64. A lot of rewriting, but I really believe it makes each story stronger.

Now I'm going after 'THEN.' Another filler word I use too often, especially if used to imply a time just discussed.

EDIT - FIND - 'then' = 56!

Because that is not as many as I feared, I'll go ahead today and look for 'very' and 'really.' These two descriptives never create an image, and they certainly do not evoke the reader's senses.

As I have become more aware of wasted words, I find I use them less as I write more. I only need to check out 27 uses of 'very' and only 12 of 'really.'

Since rewrites are necessary, use the FIND in your EDIT to assist. Discovering new ways, more descriptive ways of reaching your reader makes a better novel, and makes you a better writer.