How to Declutter Your Writing

Member

By Terria Fleming
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (53 Ratings)

uncluttered beauty

Declutter is one of those words we all know the meaning of, as well as how it pertains to our possessions, but how can decluttering your writing help? Find out.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

a desire to declutter your writing.
time and energy

Step 1

beautiful cardinal

What do I mean by "declutter your writing"? Get rid of all the things you don't need in your writing, that's what! For example, if you are going to declutter your writing, then you need to let go of the use of excessive words, using duplicate words, and words that don't add anything to your articles.
I constantly re-read my articles, and there are times when I don't notice that I have used a particular word three or four times in one paragraph. I will usually catch it in the end though, because using a word over and over is boring and it bogs down your articles.
Maybe you tend to use the word, "however" too much, for example, or a phrase like, "in other words." If you find that you're guilty of this, then cut out all the duplicated words or phrases. Your writing will be the better for it.

Long, meandering, convoluted sentences and paragraphs should be ruthlessly cut out too. Say what you mean clearly, in an easy-to-understand way. This is especially important in eHow articles, where you are showing someone else how to do something. If they get bogged down in that mass of excess words you wrote, then you haven't helped anyone. Least of all yourself.
Step 2

seascape

Clear and declutter your writing space, or your desk, also. Your surroundings influence you unconsciously so the writing you do while in the midst of disorder and chaos is apt to take on a bit of that disorder and chaotic flavor. The reverse is true as well, writing in clean, well-organized, and beautiful work areas is bound to subtly, (or not so subtly!) put its mark on the words you write there too.
Step 3

sunrise

Clear and declutter your mind and emotions. You reveal who you are in your writing, whether you mean to or not, so if your mind is full of negative memories or emotions; things that you haven't released and moved on from, your writing will reflect that negative energy. Forgive and forget is a good motto for living, unless you want to live in bitterness and grief. Do whatever it takes to move on. You, and your writing, will benefit from the healing work you do on yourself.
Step 4

beautiful tree

Clear and declutter your time and your life to make the time and space in your life for the best writing you are capable of. Writers write. They don't talk about writing, they just get on with it. So do all the things you need to in your world and in your surroundings to carve out the necessary time and space for you to write, regularly and for as long a time as you are able to.