By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Last week I finished a book and sent it to my publisher. Celebration time! Relief and satisfaction soared through me for completing the writing project. As always it was difficult from the time I researched my story idea until the editing stage.
Editing is as much a part of a writer’s life as characterization and plot. Transforming a first draft into an entertaining story or valuable nonfiction book is an exciting process, a challenge I welcome.
And I want you to experience the same adventure.
One of the weaknesses plaguing writers is overused and pet words. I’m so guilty! When I discover the flaw in my writing, I’m so disappointed. After all a writer is supposed to be in the word business. Finding the perfect word is part of the thrill for the writer and a joy to the reader.
I wanted to share an indispensable tool to help you conquer the dreaded problem of, “How many times did I use that word?” It’s called the Word Frequency Counter: http://www.writewords.org.uk/word_count.asp
And I’m sure you will appreciate it as much as I do. I’ve typed a ridiculous paragraph here to demonstrate the site’s usefulness.
Now hit “submit.”
Take a look at what this marvelous editing tool did for me.
Oh my! So many overused words are in the list. Now to edit my paragraph and find the right words to polish my work.
Now you try! Copy and paste your work into the Word Frequency Counter and see what you find. How did the tool help your writing?
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been 
finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Suspense Sister, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson. She teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.
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