I hope over the weeks this blog will become a useful resource for both new and experienced authors. My own students often contact me with questions and problems - some of which crop up over and over again. Bringing the answers together in this blog might prove useful to others too.
So, let's get started:
Words editors love to hate .1. - very. This word is often seen as a lazy word, but it also often slips in when it isn't required.
The 'lazy' argument says that authors use 'very' to add emphasis rather than looking for a more descriptive or accurate word (e.g. 'very fat' rather than 'obese' or 'whale-like'; 'very pretty' rather than 'beautiful' or 'stunning'). I don't necessarily agree that 'very' is lazy, but it does crop up with frightening frequency in the work of some authors. I suspect the reason for this is often simply that they use 'very' a lot in their everyday speech too.
Whatever the explanation, however, it is worth looking out for this rogue in your writing. When you see it an alarm bell should ring - is 'very' really the best option or can you think of a more effective word? For instance He was very cross... has more impact when rewritten as He was furious ...
Sometimes 'very' is just unnecessary. An experience may be amazing, but you won't make it more so by adding 'very'. Equally a leaf is green or not - it doesn't make sense to write 'very green' anymore than it would to write 'a little bit green' or 'a lot green'.