Before a beta reader flaked on me she actually did give me something to be aware of. Filter words, I had no idea what in the world she was talking about. I went hunting to find out what in the world a filter word is.
A filter word is something that goes between an action and the reader.
Some Examples:
(with filter phrase) I see the bee dance around the flower.
(without filter phrase) The bee dances around the flower.
(without filter phrase) The bee dances around the flower.
(with filter phrase) I feel angry.
(without filter phrase) I am angry.
(without filter phrase) I am angry.
(with filter phrase) I hear a cry from the next room. The baby has woken up.
(without filter phrase) A cry from the next room alerts me the baby has woken up.
(without filter phrase) A cry from the next room alerts me the baby has woken up.
As you can see although there isn't a huge difference, it makes the impact is there. One seems a bit rough, the other more refined.
To help you out here are some filter words to be aware of:
to see
to hear
to think
to decide
to watch
can
to decide
sound like
to notice
to be able to
to realize
to wonder
to touch
to seem
Just another something to watch out for when you are editing.
Happy writing!
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