Chapter Text
I just cut one of my friend chapters from 5000 words to 3000. Nothing important was lost.
The reason was simple. The writing was not tight.
Tighter is better. Tight writing makes every word earn its place. Here’s how to cut what doesn’t serve the story without losing depth or voice. Don't let AI do that for you because it will make your writing soulless and introduce AIsm.
1. Remove What Characters Don’t Do
If an action or reaction doesn’t affect the plot, mood, or character, cut it.
Before:
She stood up, walked to the door, hesitated, thought about what she might say, then opened it.
After:
She opened the door.
Keep actions that change something emotionally, physically, or narratively.
Ask:
- Does this action reveal character?
- Does it move the scene forward?
If not, delete or compress it.
2. Cut “Stage Directions”
Readers don’t need a camera feed. No one need a camera feed. We aren't filming an AV.
Before:
He turned his head, raised his eyebrows, and looked at her in surprise.
After:
He stared at her.
Stronger verbs replace multiple weak actions. Weakness is a sin. Sin makes you stupid.
3. Eliminate Redundant Information
Say it once. Say it well.
Before:
She was angry. Her face was red with anger, and her voice sounded angry.
After:
Her voice shook.
Trust the reader to connect the dots. They are not made of stupid.
4. Remove Filler Words and Phrases
Common culprits:
- really, very, quite
- began to, started to
- seemed to, felt like
- a bit, kind of, sort of
Before:
He began to run very quickly.
After:
He ran.
5. Cut Unnecessary Description
Description should serve a purpose: mood, character, or plot.
Before:
The room had beige walls, a brown couch, two lamps, and a wooden table.
After:
The room felt temporary.
If an object never matters again, it probably doesn’t need describing.
6. Replace Explanations with Evidence
Don’t explain what the reader can infer.
Before:
She was nervous because she didn’t trust him.
After:
She kept her phone unlocked and face-down on the table.
7. Compress Dialogue
Cut greetings, small talk, and on-the-nose lines.
Before:
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi,” she replied.
“How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
After:
“You’re late,” she said.
Start where the tension starts.
8. One Beat per Moment
Avoid stacking multiple reactions.
Before:
He gasped, stepped back, and felt his heart race as fear flooded him.
After:
He stepped back.
Let the reader feel the rest.
9. Read Aloud with a Knife
When reading aloud:
- If you stumble → cut or rewrite
- If a sentence can be removed with no loss → delete it
- If two sentences do the same job → keep the stronger one
10. Less is More
For every paragraph, ask:
What is this doing for the story?
If the answer isn’t plot, character, tension, or tone, it’s probably excess.