Removing Filter Words in Fiction

​Is your manuscript filled with too many filter words: I wondered, I felt, I saw, I noticed? Have you ever thought about that aspect of your writing? Maybe you’re in the middle of developing an idea for a story or have just finished writing a book. If your manuscript is finished and you haven’t hired an editor yet, here’s a quick trick to remove filter words.

What Are Filter Words?

These are words that remind your reader they’re being told a story, rather than experiencing the story for themselves. Filter words add distance between the reader and the thing that’s occurring. Sometimes, filter words can be used on purpose for various reasons. This blog post will be short and sweet, but if you want to go into more depth, check out Filter words in fiction: Purposeful inclusion and dramatic restriction.

Removing 4 Filter Words

​For this particular tip, search for: 

1. Wondered
2. Felt
3. Saw
4. Noticed

If you’re using Microsoft Word, you can locate the find button beneath the Home toolbar. Each time you come across one of those four words (wondered, felt, saw, noticed), ask yourself if the sentence or paragraph would be better off with or without the filter word. Many times, you’ll want to remove the filter. But sometimes, you’ll keep the sentence the way it is. 

Removing the Filter

Here are a few basic examples of how to replace these filter words, thus helping the reader remain more engaged with your story. The examples below are not complicated. For the purposes of this blog post, I wanted the examples to be easy to understand.

• Filter: I wondered if he was having a good time.
  • No filter: Was he having a good time?
• Filter: I saw the water cascade off the rocks.
  • No filter: The water cascaded over the rocks.
• Filter: I felt a grin spread across my face.
  • No filter: A grin spread across my face.
• Filter: I noticed she was wearing the same clothes as the day before.
  • No filter: She wore the same clothes as the day before.
  • No filter: She had on the same clothes as the day before.

By removing filter words, you allow the reader to experience the scene. In other words, the reader gets a closer view of what’s occurring—rather than being told what’s happening by the character. These examples are all written in first person POV, but the same tip can be applied to third person POV as well.
​
This trick might sound simple and like a no-brainer, but the fix can go a long way. Have you searched for these words yet? 

I hope this blog helps you tighten your prose. If you need a second opinion, contact me to edit your work. I also offer free sample edits for the first 500 words.
​Have fun writing!

Author

Dawn Husted progressed into offering her editing services to clients in 2016, eventually opening Yaupon Berry Press LLC. She's constantly learning new ways of helping clients stay relevant in today’s market, whether by using an SEO strategy targeting high-trafficked keywords or simply editing their content. ​Dawn lives in central Texas with her husband, two energetic kids and an adorable golden retriever.

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