I am a self taught writer ask me anything

[Undertaildoof34]

I taught myself how to write with an old grammar book from 1940's only used part of it and started writing when I was ten ask away

[Pan]

I have a question! How do you deal with filter words on your first/final editing pass?

[Undertaildoof34]

Filter words? im not quite sure what a filter word is? Could you clarify please?

[domisotto]

Filter words are verbs that place the filter between the reader and the action, delaying an action. Like: think, feel, start, finish, hear, see etc. Instead, the advice is to use strong verbs that describe the action itself right away, instead of tiptoeing to it.

[Undertaildoof34]

Oh, i see I've never heard that term for it before.

@Pan
So I try to put something that comes to mind for filter words in my first go and then when I go back through I use a digital thesaurus in word to see if I find anything I like better. I always find expanding one's vocab makes the writing a lot less repetitive. But something on a side note is to not pick stuff too extravagant so you don't make your reader go and grab a dictionary.

[Pan]

I see! Personally I tend to rearrange the sentence to exclude the event/sensation being filtered through the character's eyes at all, as I find it creates much stronger writing. I typically save a look through my thesaurus for a final pass when I'm switching out adjectives. Neat!