Episode 41: Cutting Word Count Effectively: How to Avoid Repetition in Writing

In this week’s Story Savvy Series episode, we explore cutting word count effectively and how to avoid repetition in writing—a must-listen Podcast for fantasy writers. Through developmental editing advice and storytelling improvement tips, Rebecca and Agnes discuss editing with integrity, sharing real examples from fantasy novel editing that show how to polish your manuscript with precision.

In this episode of the Story Savvy Self-Editing Series, developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and aspiring fantasy author Agnes Wolfe [agneswolfeauthor.com] explore the importance of reducing redundancy in your manuscript. Rebecca explains what counts as repetition, how to identify word echoes and overused phrases, and why trimming these moments can strengthen pacing and polish your final draft.

In this episode:
How to tell when something’s actually repetitive
Spotting when you’ve both shown and told a moment
Cutting out overused words and echo phrases
Slimming your story without losing its voice
Using repetition purposefully to strengthen key moments