For many people, reading a book is a relaxing, enjoyable activity.

They research books before buying them or borrowing them from the library. Knowing they’ll be investing hours into reading, it’s important that they get an idea of what type of book it is, if it is similar to other books they’ve enjoyed in the past, and even the negative reviews (without spoiling anything, of course). 

After getting the book, most people take it home and eagerly sit down in a comfy spot and start reading. At the beginning they’re testing the story, looking for any weak spots or anything that pulls them out of the world that’s being created.

A big reason people complain about books and DNF (did not finish) them is because of repetitiveness.

Many writers fall prey to this issue but there are some things you can keep at the top of your mind when writing and editing to make sure your writing isn’t repetitive.

Watch out for nicknames

All writers have seen how appealing nicknames or “pet” names can be for readers. Often, the alternate name takes over as a book becomes more popular and merchandise is created.

Quotes are immortalized based on nicknames.

Pet names are canonized in fanfiction.

Readers obsess over epithets.

It’s an amazing thing when your audience connects with the alternate name that you’ve created for a character. The question is:

How many times can you use a nickname before it loses its charm?

After the tenth time in fifteen pages, does ‘darling’ still evoke the same feeling? Will we continue to clutch our pearls when she calls him ‘sir’ after saying it at the end of every sentence?

One of the most disheartening things is realizing halfway through a book that you feel nothing when a character’s nickname is used.

Keep track of uncommon words or phrases

You don’t have to be a literary master to recognize words or phrases that stick out in your work.

A lot of times, these are synonyms you’ve found to put in place of more common words that you think will make your writing sound too simple.

Readers notice when you use ‘assail’ twenty times or ‘cheshire’ 4 times in your book. It can be a 700-page book and they’ll likely still remember that word. It’s a minor, nitpicky, thing but reducing repetitiveness can improve your writing immensely.

You may want to ask your beta readers about any repetitive words or phrases they notice in your book. Writers tend to have one or two of these that they should address while they edit.

Don’t overdo foreshadowing

Alluding to future events, even those in a future book, is one of the greatest skills a writer can have. When everything finally clicks for a reader and they realize the meaning of all the hints you put in before the big reveal, it’s a magical experience.

However, there is a line. It is possible to foreshadow too much and make the ending obvious, even for those who aren’t as good at deciphering plots.

Repeating key moments of foreshadowing can draw the reader’s attention too much and, as the story moves along, they find themselves anticipating plot points before they happen. It makes it less enjoyable for them.

Your book doesn’t have to shock the reader but you want to keep certain elements behind the curtain until the correct moment. It’s part of the joy of reading a book – not exactly knowing what’s going to happen.

We all know books aren’t the same as search engine optimized articles that are packed with keywords to rank higher. Your book doesn’t need the same repetitive nature that other writing formats do.

However, if you have shorter works that you would like to be discovered online, StudioLink gives you the ability to separate your keywords from the writing itself. That allows people to find it easier and may even help you make connections in the book industry.

Keeping repetitiveness to a minimum when crafting your story will keep readers drawn into the world and characters that you create.

If you’re ready to publish your book, we are accepting new submissions. Our editors are ready to help you cut down on repeated words and phrases so that your writing shines.