How to Eliminate Filler in Your AC Articles

By Steve Thompson, published Feb 05, 2007
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All writers are guilty of working on an article or a story and intermittently clicking on the Word Count button to see just how many more they have to write. What is usually considered an enjoyable and fulfilling career becomes an exercise in anxiety, trying to make the 500-, 600- or 1,000-word minimum. I've seen it quite often in AC articles-CP's padding their articles with filler-though it is certainly not something of which you should make a habit.

Eliminate Filler in Your AC Articles: Make Sure Your Topic is Broad Enough

On AC, we are always hearing about how our articles need to be unique. This is true because the Internet is flooded with information on every topic, large or small, and if your article subject is too general, it can't be found. But there is also something to be said for a topic that is too specific; if you can't come up with anything else to say, it's time to broaden the topic.

Eliminate Filler in Your AC Articles: Cut Unnecessary Words

You don't have to have an adverb, an adjective and a synonym for every noun in your articles; it's just too much "fluff". The point of writing articles is to give advice, information or your opinion in as few words as possible. This is especially true for AC articles because Internet readers have the attention span of a fly. So if you've said it over and over again, think of something else.

Eliminate Filler in Your AC Articles: Use Headlines

One of the best ways to focus your writing is using headlines to section your article into different parts. For example, this article is sectioned into different ways in which you can eliminate filler. I've used headlines to focus my article into different categories and to make sure that I don't go off on a tangent.

Eliminate Filler in Your AC Articles: Create Short Paragraphs

Have you ever looked over one of your AC articles and noticed one paragraph that was particularly long? If most of your paragraphs are five or six lines long, then you have one that spans eighteen lines, this might be an indication that you've used too much filler. Streamline each paragraph so that it says what it needs to say, then moves on.

Comments
Comments 1 - 8 of 8
 
 
Wow, I have been checking out some of your work and you are very informative. I can see that you have a lot of fans. Keep up the good work.

Posted on 02/20/2007 at 5:02:00 PM

 
Well covered subject and thanks for the hints!

Posted on 02/06/2007 at 9:02:00 PM

 
I realize you're trying to increase your keyword frequency, but did you really need to repeat 7 times "Eliminate Filler in Your AC Articles"? ...in bold. That seems like filler to me.

Posted on 02/05/2007 at 9:02:00 PM

 
Clear and concise article! I'm not sure but I think I may have to pay attention to the whole "active/passive" voice thing. Time to do some more research. I'm chatty and often find myself going off on a tangent. I re-read and try to make sure it's not too wordy. Thanks for the great reminders. I think articles with short paragraphs, broken up with headlines or bullets make them more reader friendly too.

Posted on 02/05/2007 at 8:02:00 PM

 
Great suggestions. Thanks~ :)

Posted on 02/05/2007 at 2:02:00 PM

 
Ah yes, the passive voice. When you come from a background of government writing, it's hard to get rid of!

Posted on 02/05/2007 at 12:02:00 PM

 
I was just trying to explain this to another CP recently. Great job explaining this. I'll forward the article to a few people.

Posted on 02/05/2007 at 12:02:00 PM

 
Great article! Using filler words and details can be a trap. I keep trying not to do it, but now it'll be easier with your suggestions. Thanks!

Posted on 02/05/2007 at 11:02:00 AM

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