S13E5 - Red Flag Words

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it's one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question.

Some words bring clarity and motion to a story. They draw the reader in and paint exquisite details of the world inside the mind. Others are just dead space. Each author has their own set of what we call Red Flag words. These are ones that are used too often, incorrectly, or should simply be avoided by any author. This episode is all about figuring out how to identify these problem words and then how to fix it.

First aired August 17, 2020.