I’m revising a paragraph and it doesn’t read well. I take out a complex phrase and, voila, the paragraph flows. Fewer words can energize writing and increase the pace; more words slow it down. When editing, I ask myself:
- What descriptive text can I remove, yet retain the setting?
- Do I need this action or does it detract from the plot?
- Is there a better way to convey this character’s mood?
- Can I break a long chapter into two shorter ones?
- Does the sentence length vary enough?