The Inkcheck Blog
Self-Editing Guides for Fiction Writers
Practical craft advice — no fluff, no AI rewrites. Just honest editing guidance for writers who want to improve their own prose.
5 articles — newest first
How to Do a First-Pass Edit on Your Manuscript
The right order to edit — mechanical first, style second, clichés third. A step-by-step process with practical tips for each pass, time estimates by word count, and the tools that help.
Filler Words That Weaken Your Prose
Just, very, suddenly, began to — a practical cut list for fiction writers. Includes the "just" problem, why "suddenly" kills tension, and a step-by-step filler word pass.
Passive Voice in Fiction: When It Hurts and When It's Fine
How to spot it, when to cut it, and the rare cases where passive voice actually serves the story. Includes the quick identifier formula and 3 active rewrites.
Said Bookisms: 40 Dialogue Tags to Avoid
Why "said" is invisible and "laughed", "growled", "hissed" aren't — and a list of 40 bookisms grouped by how they fail, plus the case for action beats as the real alternative.
50 Clichés to Cut From Your Novel
Heart pounding, deafening silence, time stood still — 50 overused phrases across 8 categories, what makes each one fail, and what to write instead.
While you're here, check your manuscript
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