How to Make Your Writing Less Wordy (6 Easy Tips)

Cut down wordy sentences and phrases with these easy tips.

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0:00 Intro
0:35 Tip #1 Make Large-Scale Cuts First
1:27 Tip #2 Cut Unneeded Words From Dialogue
2:16 Tip #3 Avoid Adverbs & Use Stronger Verbs/Adjs
3:36 Tip #4 Cut Prepositional Phrases
4:56 Tip #5 Active Voice vs. Passive Voice
6:07 Tip #6 Trim Down BLOATED Phrases

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Credit to SkyDilen for my video intro.

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[barbaravenkataraman]

As a writing exercise, I like to write flash fiction: tell a story in 200 words. Then cut it down to 100. Then cut it down to 50. It's hard but it's really helpful.

[TheThinkersBible]

Your first tip -- cut large portions first -- is the most helpful for me. I did that last night editing my next video but didn't think of it as a specific part of the process -- now I'll do it intentionally, thanks! Next is "instead of using adverbs, use a stronger verb." Great approach!

[romacordon]

Thank you, Brandon, for posting these 6 tips. I really needed it! Editing a manuscript now, and I've made peace with large scale cuts of unnecessary scenes. But the finer points of making sentences stronger and leaner is driving me crazy. This video is a tremendous help! It gives me something to work towards. Your suggestion on dialogue trimming is brilliant! Prepositional and bloated phrases - is one of my downfalls, so I appreciate you including these. I had an issue with passive sentences and weakening adverbs - but have been fixing these. Your examples on prepositional and bloated phrases are an eye opener for me and will prove supremely useful in the future. Thanks again! ~ Roma C.

[eriktucsok]

Have to say, I'm very happy that Brandon actually gives examples. Had to subscribe!

[ryanfinnerty]

Your channel ❤Thank you so much for doing the work and helping us writers like no other authors do. Less gatekeeping more love.

[liviemillie]

I love to write flowery, and naturally do, because I pretty much just read Victorian novels and my writing is influenced ... but I do NOT want wordiness and purple prose, so I appreciate this.

[peanut]

Wowwie I needed this so bad, , thanks for the advice!

[WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Which of these tips did you need to hear the most? Let us know!

[davidaleshire]

Tips 5 and 6 are definitely going to come in handy in cleaning up my current project. Thank you. I’d be interested in learning about some of your favorite, and least favorite fiction novels, of different genres. Horror, fantasy, rom-com, etc. A good or bad book can be a good learning tool.

[chaz]

The adverb vs verb really helped me thanks man. Also are there any circumstances where it’s ok to use passive over active voice?

[warmflash]

Love the new look and sound of your channel. ❤❤ ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[corkandi]

Great advice - thanks, man. Tips 3 & 4!

[barbaravenkataraman]

Great video! In his book, "On Writing", Stephen King said the best advice he got when starting out was: Second draft=first draft minus 10%

[piecrumbs]

Do you have a video on exposition and how to relay it realistically? I'm not a huge fan of exposition dumps, even though some of my favorite stories employ them. I like stories that give little bits of exposition here and there and make you piece the story together yourself, and I'm currently trying to employ this in my story. I would love a video on it.

[stevecarter]

... and then you get Susanna Clarke taking all these tips then doing a 180 and running in the opposite direction to great effect! What a wonderful art

[SoldatDuChristChannel]

Im confused, some of the longer sentences just sounded better? Whats the point of obsessively shortening every sentance as much as possible? Wordyness is not arbitrary if it sounds nice and flows well, its stylized

[avivastudios]

Hi there. I'm here cause you replied to me. Thank u. I hope I can be just as good a writer as you.

[sammott]

I'm a bloater. The last tip helps me the most. Thanks!

[RitaSaghen]

Share this video with a friend you know ;)

[barbd]

Best way to determine passive voice - can you put "by zombies" at the end and it still makes sense.