Some Tips to Write Tight

I’m continuing to learn about writing every day. To re-work my current manuscript, I’m learning how to write tight. I’m having a wonderful time reducing my word count. Here are some tips:

• Omit all the adjectives and adverbs you can. When you have two adjectives or adverbs, reduce it down to one. Or, eliminate them both and substitute a stronger verb or noun (depending on the modifer).
• While reading your work, think about what you absolutely need to say. Do you need to tell your readers the color of a character’s hair if you’ve done so already? Do you need to repeat the fact that its raining? Imagine yourself reading your book, do you already know something about a character or event?
• Allow your readers to use their imagination. You don’t have to tell them everything.
• It’s nice to have similies and metaphors, but have you over-used them? Be careful not to have too many to a page. One to a page is plenty.
• Does your dialogue move the story along or are your characters talking about things that don’t really matter.

Writing tight takes discipline. You must be willing to use that red pen. Try it! It feels wonderful.

What tips to write tight do you have? Share some with me!