Hey fellow writers!
Welcome to the IABX Wednesday Writing Tip! Today, we’re diving into a technique to pull readers into your scene.
One of the keys to engaging storytelling is making readers feel like they are inside the scene, rather than merely observing it. A simple yet powerful way to achieve this is by eliminating filter words.
What Are Filter Words?
Filter words are phrases like she heard, she saw, she thought, or she felt. These words create a layer of distance between the reader and the character’s experience. Instead of immersing the reader directly in the scene, filter words remind them that they are watching the character go through the experience rather than living it themselves.
Compare These Two Versions:
Modified (With Filter Words): "She heard the cathedral bell begin to toll, unnervingly loud, making the air shake around her. She stood and gazed up at the glowing window. She could feel her toes and the tips of her fingers going numb from the cold, and she saw her breath flare before her in the frosted air. What would she say to him, she asked herself—how would she form the questions that were crowding in her mind? How, she wondered, was she even to let him know she was here?"
Original (Without Filter Words): "The cathedral bell began to toll, unnervingly loud, making the air shake around her. She stood and gazed up at the glowing window. Her toes and the tips of her fingers were going numb from the cold. Her breath flared before her in the frosted air. What would she say to him? How would she form the questions crowding her mind? How was she even to let him know she was here?"
Can you feel the difference? The first version pulls the reader deeper into the moment, while the second creates a sense of detachment. By removing filter words, the reader experiences the scene more intimately, as though they are the character rather than just observing them.
How to Apply This Tip to Your Writing:
Remove unnecessary filter words to create a stronger emotional connection.
Keep the scene focused on one character’s point of view to avoid confusion.
Ensure that all descriptions and sensations come naturally from the character’s experience.
Try rewriting a scene from your own work, removing filter words to see how it changes the depth of engagement!
Happy Writing!
From IABX
***Source: creative-writing-now.com
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