Do you have a writing weakness? I have many that I recognize and work on. But recently I discovered two new ones.

It all started when my chapter hosted a Margie Lawson conference a year or more ago. After that session, I followed up with additional lecture packets and a class from her. And then, last summer, another chapter member and I joined four other writers for one of Margie’s Immersion Classes at her home in the mountains outside Denver. What a fantastic experience. Let me just say, if you ever get the chance to do an Margie Lawson Immersion Class, take it!

During this class I identified two weaknesses I hadn’t realized-- using “as” and “with a.” We all know that in one use, ‘as’ indicates simultaneity. But very few things actually occur at the exact same time. I was surprised at how often that little word sneaked into my writing (in that context) even when I knew better. Margie is an ‘as’ purist. Ax it, revise, make the sentence stronger. Use the word as sparingly as possible (those are approved uses.)

She’s right. Finding that word and forcing myself to rewrite the sentence did result in a better passage.

As for the other--(that’s an ok use, too)--well, I’ve joined a “with a” recovery group. LOL. Those weasel words lurk in the most unexpected of places, places I would swear were strong and vibrant and pristine. But “with a” quick “Find All,” I find way too many I didn’t even realize I’d used.

Now if I can just train myself to block both those tendencies before the words ever hit the page. You’d think little bells would sound with a ring as the words entered my mind. Nope. Still workin’ on it.

How about you? Do you have idiosyncrasies you watch for in your writing?