Latest Posts by junaidwarrior - Page 5

“Everybody has a secret world inside of them. All of the people of the world, I mean everybody. No matter how dull and boring they are on the outside, inside them they’ve all got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid, amazing worlds. Not just one world. Hundreds of them. Thousands maybe.”

— Neil Gaiman (via nightlyquotes)

“I may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I am someone’s double shot of tequila.”

— Unknown (via nightlyquotes)

We may love with our hearts, but first we lust with our eyes.

Narrative Botox: Filler Words and Phrases to Look Out For

If you’re planning on publishing traditionally, chances are you keep a sharp eye on your word count. Literary agents and publishing houses are on the hunt for the best quality stories that they can print for the cheapest price (using the least paper and ink), so you have a higher chance of gaining representation if you can crank your novel out in the least words possible.

However, filler words and phrases aren’t only the enemies of aspiring traditional authors; every writer—fanfic, novelist, journalist, you name it!—should try to eliminate filler from their stories to assure more concise and high-quality writing. Oftentimes, filler contributes nothing but clutter, and without it, your narrative can flow smoother and in a more sophisticated manner.

But how do you know what’s filler and what’s not? Here are some tips on how to Ctrl+F and kick this narrative botox to the curb!

I compiled these lists with the help of Infusionmedia, BDR Publishing, and ResetEra !

Filler Words

1. Just

A writer’s worst enemy, and the bane of my manuscripts’ existences. Eliminating all the ‘just’s can cut down your word count by hundreds.

2. “That” as a conjunction

It’s an unnecessary addition to a sentence, which will be more streamlined without it.

Example: “He said that he wouldn’t do it again.”

Revised: “He said he wouldn’t do it again.”

3. “Now” as an adverb

“Now” is essential if you’re talking about the past and present, but when you’re using it to draw attention to a particular statement or point.

Example: “Now, I didn’t think it’d get so out of hand.”

Revised: “I didn’t think it’d get so out of hand.”

4. Redundant adverbs

These adverbs serve no purpose because the verbs they’re describing already imply the way the action is performed.

Whispering softly

Yelling loudly

Crying sadly

Laughing happily

5. “Telling” words

These words are redundant, especially when using first person, because in describing an event, we can already assume that the characters are experiencing it.

Seeing/saw

Feeling/felt

Hearing/heard

Smelling/smelled

6. “Clarifying” words used to portray definiteness or indefiniteness

Although these are meant to help out the readers get their bearings on a situation, all they do is come across as wishy-washy! Be concise and sure of yourself!

About

Absolutely

Accordingly

Actually

Almost

Basically

Certainly

Clearly

Completely

Entirely

Even

Exactly

Fairly

Highly

Hopefully

Literally

Maybe

Only

Often

Oftentimes

Perhaps

Possibly

Probably

Quite

Rather

Really

Reasonably

Relatively

Seem

Seriously

Simply

Slightly

Some

Somehow

Sometimes

Totally

Very

Filler Phrases

1.“Let out (vocal noise)”

Use the verb instead!

Example: “He let out a sigh.”

Revised: “He sighed.”

2. Using passive voice

Passive voice inflates your word count by including various “to be” verbs into the prose. Passive voice involves actions happening to a subject rather than the subject performing an action, and as a result isn’t as riveting to the reader as active voice; even if it wasn’t a matter of word count, you’d still want to get rid of it anyway!

Still don’t know what I’m talking about? Check out this article from Grammarly.

Example: “The boy was bitten by the dog on his arm.”

Revised: “The dog bit the boy on his arm.”

3. Describing the wrong noun

Many writers will be as specific as possible about what “thing” is affected by the event they’re describing, when it’s much simpler to take a step back and write about something more general.

Example: “The level of water rose.”

Revised: “The water rose.”

4. Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are the combination of two or three words from different grammatical categories—a verb and an adverb or a preposition—to form a single action. Usually, these phrasal verbs can be replaced by a single-word verb.

“Ask for” can be replaced with “request”

“Bring down” can be replaced with “reduce”

“Come across” can be replaced with “find”

Etc.

5. Clarifying phrases

Same reason as clarifying words. Get to the point!

A bit

A little

A lot

In a sense

Kind of

Sort of

6. Remember your contractions!

Even if your story takes place in olden times, I can guarantee that if you never use any contractions ever, your story’s gonna be a clunky mess. But sometimes you’re in the moment, consumed by the poetic power of the muses, and forget that this isn’t a soap opera; so make sure you check that you’ve been using your contractions!

It is, it was, it would, she is, would not, should not, is not, does not etc.

7. Inflated phrases

These phrases can be replaced with more concise words.

Along the lines of (shorten to: like)

As a matter of fact (in fact)

As to whether (whether)

At all times (always)

At the present (now or currently)

At this point in time (now or currently)

Be able to/would(n’t) be able to (could or couldn’t)

Because of the fact that (because)

By means of (by)

Due to the fact that (because)

Even though (though or although)

For the purpose of (for)

For the reason that (because)

Have the ability to (could)

In light of the fact that (because)

In order to (to)

In regards to (on or about)

In spite of the fact that (though or although)

In the event that (if)

In the nature of (like)

In the neighborhood of (about)

On the occasion of (when)

On one/two separate occasions (Once/twice)

The/A majority of (most)

There is no doubt that (No doubt)

Wasn(n’t) capable of (could or couldn’t)

Hope this helped, and happy writing!

🎶❤️

“There are persons who honestly do not see the use of books in the home, either for information — have they not radio and even television? — or for decoration — is there not the wallpaper?”

—

Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973) American writer

“Educate yourself. When a question about a certain topic pops up, google it. Watch movies and documentaries. When something sparks your interest, read about it. Read read read. Study, learn, stimulate your brain. Don’t just rely on the school system, educate that beautiful mind of yours.”

— Unknown

“Writers are really people who write books not because they are poor, but because they are dissatisfied with the books which they could buy but do not like.”

— Walter Benjamin, “Unpacking My Library: A Talk About Book Collecting”

101 ways to say i love you

firstly, tysm for 101 (actualy 103, haha) followers! when i started this account i honestly had no intentions of having so many of you lovely people take interest in me, but i'm very grateful nonetheless! this is my gift to you all, and, again, thank you!

i've seen a few other posts like this, but i wanted to go ahead and make my own! this is going to be completely different from the others that i have seen as well, so there's a lesser chance of duplicates for those of you who really enjoy these!

"You don't have to do this alone."

"I won't let you do this alone."

"I'll always be by your side."

"I'll get that for you."

"Let me bandage you up."

"I want you to be a part of my future."

"Here. You look hungry."

"Come here, I'll carry you."

"I fed your pets while you were away."

"Is something wrong?"

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I have an extra ticket... Would you like to go with me?"

"I saw you looking at it last time we were in the store together, so I got it for you."

"Stay with me."

"Thank you for making me smile."

"Your smile is beautiful. I want to see it more often..."

"I want to kiss you."

"You have a beautiful soul."

"No... No! Come on, I can't lose you!"

"You make me feel safe."

"Don't let me go."

"Give me a brush. I'll fix your hair for you."

"I want you, and only you."

"Your hands are too cold, I'll warm them up."

"Kiss me."

"I know you don't feel great, so let's stay home today, okay?"

"You're so beautiful."

"Hold me. Please."

"You're family."

"Marry me."

"I took care of the laundry already."

"Go back to sleep, (term of endearment)."

"I'll protect you."

"Take care of yourself."

"Let's take a break and relax."

"You're the first person I think about when I wake up."

"You smell so nice."

"Let's move in together."

"I wanna know everything about you."

"Don't leave yet."

"Let me see your scars..."

"I remember when we first met..."

"Here's your medication."

"I have a surprise for you."

"I bought this for you. It's in your favorite color..."

"Your skin is so soft."

"I would do anything for you."

"I'll help bring in the groceries."

"Last night your feet were really cold, so I found some of your socks and put them on you."

"I would go anywhere with you."

"You're cold, take my jacket."

"I promise."

"You're so golden."

"No one has ever made me feel like this."

"I missed you... a lot."

"Come back soon."

"I got us matching shirts!"

"I know you can do it."

"I'll never forget you."

"Wait!"

"I've waited so long for this..."

"You look like something's bothering you... You can talk to me if you need to."

"We make the best team."

"I'll hurt whoever did this to you."

"You didn't deserve that... You deserve so much better."

"I want you to meet my family."

"I want to start a family of our own..."

"Your back is so tense. Would you like a massage?"

"This is my favorite picture of us."

"Don't hurt yourself again..."

"You should be more careful."

"Hey, your favorite movie is on. I'll get the popcorn."

"You've never let me down."

"I saw that you were almost out of shampoo, so I went and got some for you."

"You're overworking yourself... Please take a break."

"I named my little plant after you."

"It's an honor just to know you like this."

"I didn't make you uncomfortable, did I?"

"I never imagined that someone's heartbeat could sound so amazing."

"What was your childhood like?"

"You looked so cute when you were little."

"You look just like your mom/dad."

"What happened to you?!"

"Does it hurt?"

"I'm sorry."

"I love waking up next to you."

"Don't be scared. I'm right here."

"Have you been drinking enough water?"

"We can look out for each other."

"I'd like to take you on vacation one day, just the two of us."

"Are you sure you're ready?"

"You're so funny."

"Do you want to help me fix dinner tonight?"

"You don't have to pay me back."

"No, you're sick. You're not doing chores until you're better."

"Your voice is so relaxing."

"Text me when you get home safely."

"I found this meme that I think you'll like. Wanna see it?"

"Can I give you a hug? You look upset."

"I'm yours."

"I love you."

“Nothing ever ends poetically. It ends and we turn it into poetry. All that blood was never once beautiful. It was just red.”

— Kait Rokowski

“And it seems I must always write you letters that I can never send.”

— Sylvia Plath

“Let them judge you. Let them misunderstand you. Let them gossip about you. Their opinions aren’t your problems. You stay kind, committed to love and free in your authenticity. No matter what they do or say, don’t you doubt your worth or the beauty of your truth. Just keep shining like you always do.”

— Scott Stabile

“It’s like when someone says, ‘How are you?’ Do you say, ‘Well, my head hurts and I’m lonely and depressed and I’m worried about everything and the world is collapsing and full of evil’? Or do you say, ‘I’m fine’?”

— Sara Shepard, The Visibles

”I want to write a novel about Silence," he said; “the things people don’t say.”

Virginia Woolf

“You cannot make someone understand a message they are not ready to receive.”

— Unknown

“It’s okay if I’m not your favorite chapter you have written, but I hope you sometimes smile when you flip back to the pages I was still apart of.”

— Unknown

“You are worth finding. Worth knowing. Worth loving. You and your one million layers.”

— Unknown

Delete that old version of me in yo head. It expired

i literally have no problem texting first as long as u make me feel like u actually wanna talk

“I’m not open with many people. I’m usually very quiet and I don’t really like attention. So if I like you enough to show you the real me, you must be very special.”

— Unknown

when people from real life stumble upon your tumblr and you’re just

“At the end of a relationship, it is the one who is not in love that makes the tender speeches.”

— Alain de Botton, Essays in Love

“This is what I like about photographs. They’re proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect.”

— Jodi Picoult

my blog truly reflects my life.. inconsistent.. disorganised… annoying

do you ever get in those moods where you don’t feel like reading and you don’t feel like being on the internet and you don’t feel like watching a show and you don’t feel like sleeping and you don’t feel like existing in general

i wish we were two cats so that we could curl up in a lovely friendship ball

humans are obsessed with escapism - through movies, books, music, art, daydreams. our souls really weren’t made for this world.