Simple Word Revisions to Instantly Improve Your Fiction Writing
Hello fellow fiction writers.
When it comes to editing fiction, it’s often the little things that make the biggest difference. Forget grand rewrites for a second—sometimes all your story needs is a few smart word swaps to take it from meh to magnificent.
I like to think of it like cooking. Sure, you can spend hours slow-roasting, braising, and flambéing, but sometimes all your dish needs is a pinch of salt or a squeeze of lemon to wake up the flavour. Writing’s the same way—tiny word tweaks can wake up your prose.
🎯 Why Word Choice Matters
Readers don’t usually notice the individual words you use—unless you get them wrong. Clunky, vague, or overused words drag your story down like soggy socks. Sharp, precise, and fresh word choices, on the other hand, make your sentences sparkle and keep readers hooked.
✏️ Examples of Simple Word Revisions
1. Swap Weak Verbs for Strong Ones
Before:
She quickly ran to the door.
After:
She sprinted to the door.
Stronger verbs cut the clutter. Instead of stacking an adverb on a bland verb, choose one that does the heavy lifting.
2. Cut Redundant Fillers
Before:
He nodded his head in agreement.
After:
He nodded.
The head part is obvious. The “in agreement” is implied. Cleaner is better.
3. Replace Vague Words with Specifics
Before:
She looked at the thing on the table.
After:
She studied the silver locket on the table.
“Thing” tells us nothing. Specific nouns add clarity and atmosphere.
4. Tone Down the Adverbs
Before:
He whispered softly.
After:
He whispered.
Sometimes the verb says it all. Adverbs aren’t evil, but they’re often unnecessary.
5. Refresh Clichés
Before:
Her heart raced like a runaway train.
After:
Her heart thumped like a fist pounding on a locked door.
The first one? We’ve read it a thousand times. The second one paints a fresher, more vivid image.
👣 A Personal Anecdote
In one of my early drafts, I had a character who “looked” at everything. He looked at the clock. He looked at the sky. He looked at his shoes. By the tenth page, he was basically a pair of eyeballs rolling around the story.
During edits, I replaced half those “looked”s with stronger, more precise verbs: glanced, studied, stared, peered, squinted. Suddenly, my character wasn’t just looking—he was alive, reacting, thinking. A simple word swap changed the feel of the whole chapter.
🛠 Tips for Revising Word ChoiceDo a “find” search for your crutch words (just, very, suddenly, really). You’ll be amazed how many sneak in.Read aloud. If a sentence feels clunky, it’s probably word choice, not plot.Keep it simple. Fancy words don’t impress readers—clarity does.Use words that fit your character’s worldview. A soldier, a poet, and a teenager won’t describe the same object in the same way.
🚀 Wrapping It Up
You don’t always need a massive rewrite to improve your novel. Sometimes it’s the smallest word-level revisions—tightening, sharpening, refreshing—that make your prose sing. Think of them as polish on your storytelling.
Your turn: What’s the one word you find yourself overusing in every draft? (Mine used to be “just”—it haunted my manuscripts like a needy ghost.) Drop it in the comments—I’d love to commiserate. I answer each comment personally.
When it comes to editing fiction, it’s often the little things that make the biggest difference. Forget grand rewrites for a second—sometimes all your story needs is a few smart word swaps to take it from meh to magnificent.
I like to think of it like cooking. Sure, you can spend hours slow-roasting, braising, and flambéing, but sometimes all your dish needs is a pinch of salt or a squeeze of lemon to wake up the flavour. Writing’s the same way—tiny word tweaks can wake up your prose.
🎯 Why Word Choice Matters
Readers don’t usually notice the individual words you use—unless you get them wrong. Clunky, vague, or overused words drag your story down like soggy socks. Sharp, precise, and fresh word choices, on the other hand, make your sentences sparkle and keep readers hooked.
✏️ Examples of Simple Word Revisions
1. Swap Weak Verbs for Strong Ones
Before:
She quickly ran to the door.
After:
She sprinted to the door.
Stronger verbs cut the clutter. Instead of stacking an adverb on a bland verb, choose one that does the heavy lifting.
2. Cut Redundant Fillers
Before:
He nodded his head in agreement.
After:
He nodded.
The head part is obvious. The “in agreement” is implied. Cleaner is better.
3. Replace Vague Words with Specifics
Before:
She looked at the thing on the table.
After:
She studied the silver locket on the table.
“Thing” tells us nothing. Specific nouns add clarity and atmosphere.
4. Tone Down the Adverbs
Before:
He whispered softly.
After:
He whispered.
Sometimes the verb says it all. Adverbs aren’t evil, but they’re often unnecessary.
5. Refresh Clichés
Before:
Her heart raced like a runaway train.
After:
Her heart thumped like a fist pounding on a locked door.
The first one? We’ve read it a thousand times. The second one paints a fresher, more vivid image.
👣 A Personal Anecdote
In one of my early drafts, I had a character who “looked” at everything. He looked at the clock. He looked at the sky. He looked at his shoes. By the tenth page, he was basically a pair of eyeballs rolling around the story.
During edits, I replaced half those “looked”s with stronger, more precise verbs: glanced, studied, stared, peered, squinted. Suddenly, my character wasn’t just looking—he was alive, reacting, thinking. A simple word swap changed the feel of the whole chapter.
🛠 Tips for Revising Word ChoiceDo a “find” search for your crutch words (just, very, suddenly, really). You’ll be amazed how many sneak in.Read aloud. If a sentence feels clunky, it’s probably word choice, not plot.Keep it simple. Fancy words don’t impress readers—clarity does.Use words that fit your character’s worldview. A soldier, a poet, and a teenager won’t describe the same object in the same way.
🚀 Wrapping It Up
You don’t always need a massive rewrite to improve your novel. Sometimes it’s the smallest word-level revisions—tightening, sharpening, refreshing—that make your prose sing. Think of them as polish on your storytelling.
Your turn: What’s the one word you find yourself overusing in every draft? (Mine used to be “just”—it haunted my manuscripts like a needy ghost.) Drop it in the comments—I’d love to commiserate. I answer each comment personally.
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