Topic: Filter Words
Chapter Written By: Xanaphia00
Level: Intermediate
Related genre(s): All.

Continuing on the discussion of "Show, don't tell", today I will discuss filter words, and why you shouldn't use them.

This is actually one of my favorite writing/ editing tricks, and ever since I've learned this technique, I personally feel like my writing has reached another level.

What are filter words?

Filter words are words that filter experiences through a character. Most of the sensory verbs are filter words, so see, hear, taste, smell, feel, and think are the big ones.

Wait, I thought I was supposed to use sensory details in my writing?

You do want to use sensory details in your writing, but you want to avoid using sensory verbs. Confused yet? The problem is, when you filter the sensory details through the characters, you take the immediacy out of the scene, and detach the reader from experiencing the story alongside the characters. The important thing to remember is that you don't have to explicitly start that the character is experiencing a sensation. Just state that the experience is occurring. For example:

She smelled his body odor.

In this situation, the sensation of body odor is filtered through the character, instead of presented directly. Now, while it might be nice to avoid the sensation of someone's sweaty stank, this sentence doesn't immerse the reader in the character's experience. Contrast it with this:

His pungent body odor made Amy crinkle her nose.

Now the reader is in Amy's shoes, sharing in her experience. Many sentences with filter words can be rewritten to be more vibrant and immediate. Plus, I find they tend to be more interesting to write. Take this example.

He heard her coming down the hall.

Boring.

Let's spice it up:

The clicking of heels on wood flooring announced her arrival.

Look at that! Not only did I make the sensation more dynamic, but I was also able to fill in details about the setting and characters. I didn't have to tell you the character is wearing heels or the floors are wood. Instead, I wove the details into the narration.

Practice: Rewrite the sentences to show the experiences, rather than tell them.

She felt cold.

He tasted his dinner.

She saw the sunset.