Writing Excuses Writing Excuses 4.29: Line Editing
Jul 26, 2010
The podcast dives into the art of line editing, showcasing techniques to tighten prose while maintaining original intent. Common pitfalls like overusing adverbs and adjectives are discussed, with practical examples to enhance clarity and reader engagement. The importance of active voice is emphasized, highlighting how sentence structure impacts clarity. Furthermore, the speakers analyze descriptive language to improve character portrayal and narrative perspective, providing listeners with valuable editing insights and a creative writing prompt.
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Purpose of Line Editing
- Line editing focuses on tightening prose by cutting unnecessary words and improving clarity.
- Avoid passive voice and excessive adverbs to make sentences more concise and vivid.
Save Line Edits for Last
- Avoid line editing during story editing because major content changes often make line edits moot.
- Save line editing for final polishing after story and copy edits are done.
Cut Adverbs for Clarity
- Adverbs often add unnecessary fluff and can usually be removed without losing meaning.
- Starting a story with the wind blowing is common but doesn't always convey important information.