Filler Words and Their Negative Impact in Fiction Writing
- Hayley Rushbrook
- May 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 17
As a fiction author, your aim is to create immersive worlds and engaging characters that draw readers in.
However, one common challenge that many writers face is the use of filler words. These unnecessary words can clutter your writing, making it harder for readers to connect with your story.
In this post, we'll look at why you should remove filler words from your story and provide actionable steps to help you sharpen your writing style.
What Are Filler Words?
Filler words are unnecessary words or phrases that do not enhance your writing, just bump up the word count.
Common examples include 'just', 'very', 'really', 'actually', and 'that'.
Although they're individually quite harmless, when used excessively and unnecessarily, they can negatively impact your storytelling.
When writing fiction, every word matters. Your goal is to paint a vivid picture in the reader's mind. Words that serve no purpose can interfere with that image and prevent the reader from fully engaging with the narrative. By removing filler words, not only do you hone your prose, but the reader can immerse themselves in a more compelling story.
The Negative Impact of Filler Words on Your Writing
1. Clarity
Filler words can dilute the power of your sentences and/or muddle your message, making it challenging for readers to follow your story.
For example, instead of saying, 'She was really very excited about the party,' you could rewrite it as, 'She was excited about the party.' This revision is more straightforward and impactful.
2. Engagement
Readers are naturally drawn to concise and compelling writing, retaining more information when it is presented clearly.
Filler words can create a sluggish, drawn-out reading experience, affecting the rhythm and cadence, causing readers to lose interest, disengage or skip over words. By cutting filler words, you allow your narrative to flow smoothly and improve readability.
3. Emotional Impact
Filler words dilute your message, creating a barrier between your reader and the emotional impact your storytelling is trying to convey. By using a more straightforward delivery, your writing will hold more weight, allowing the reader to feel every bit as they should.
How to Identify Filler Words in Your Writing
Before you begin removing filler words from your narrative, you first need to identify them.
This can be tricky, but there are a few ways you can do this.
1. Read Aloud
Reading in your head and reading out loud provide very different insights into your writing. What goes unnoticed when silent reading can become glaringly obvious when spoken aloud. Pay attention to phrases that seem clunky, awkward or long-winded. This often indicates the presence of a filler word or words.
2. Use Editing Tools
Now, I don't advocate these as an alternative to professional editing, but they can help you spot some issues. Tools, such as Grammarly, can highlight unnecessary language and suggest more concise phrasing. Consider these suggestions wisely, though, as they are often incorrect and completely misinterpret the meaning, context, nuance, etc.
3. Seek Feedback
There is no more valuable insight into your writing than having a fresh set of eyes on it. You could ask fellow writing group members or trusted beta readers to read your work. Their input may help you refine your writing so that it's cleaner and sharper before you send it to your editor.
Tackling Filler Words
Now you've identified them, how do you tackle removing them?
1. Be Direct
We've already established that concise writing is the aim, so be more direct with your statements.
For instance, replace 'I just think that this is a really great idea' with 'This is a great idea.'
2. Use Strong Verbs
Replacing weak phrases and filler terms with strong verbs paints a much more powerful picture in the reader's mind.
For example, instead of saying, 'She was very happy', consider writing, 'She beamed'.
3. Show, Don’t Tell
Instead of relying on filler words to describe emotions or actions, swap them for descriptive language and sensory details.
For instance, instead of saying, 'He was really scared', illustrate his fear: 'His hands trembled, and his heartbeat quickened.' This method not only removes filler words but also amplifies emotional impact.
Wrapping Up
In the realm of fiction writing, every word matters for reader engagement.
Filler words can hinder your ability to connect with readers and convey your story effectively. By recognising the negative impact of these words and effectively removing them, you can elevate your writing quality, creating a more immersive experience for your audience.
Hayley Rushbrook is a respectful, human fiction line and copyeditor and proofreader specialising in mystery, crime and thriller, romance and general fiction, children's, middle grade and YA.
She gives your hard work the careful attention it deserves, so it is recognised for all the right reasons.
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Very insightful. I like the way you write, Hayley!