Line Editing for Filter Words

Filter words in fiction are words that get in the way of the reader experiencing the moment. These often relate to senses: “I saw John get out of the car” instead of “John got out of the car.”

Typically, the unfiltered version (in this case, the second version) allows the reader to experience the scene more directly, as if they are right there themselves watching John get out of the car.

Similarly, “Roger heard the bell ring” versus “The bell rang.” In the first case, we are a step back from the bell, and in the second, we’re right there as the bell rings.

One of the most common filtering phrases you’ll encounter as a line editor is pronoun + felt:

Here’s an example:

“I told you not to call me that name!” I shouted. I felt my blood boil.

Removing the filter words, it becomes:

“I told you not to call me that name!” I shouted. My blood boiled.

Or:

“I told you not to call me that name!” I shouted, my blood boiling.

Sometimes we might have to suggest rephrasing to get rid of the “felt”:

I stood up to greet the man who killed my father and suddenly I felt dizzy.

In this case, we can’t simply remove “I felt” and we probably don’t want to just replace it with another verb:

I stood up to greet the man who killed my father and suddenly I was dizzy.

I stood up to greet the man who killed my father and suddenly dizziness ensued.

That’s not actually better.

But we could rephrase, or suggest a rephrase, to something like:

I stood up to greet the man who killed my father. Suddenly the world dipped and spun around me.

The rephrase puts us more immediately into the moment of the narrator’s experience.

A writer colleague of mine once gave me words to live by: “Never let a character feel something unless they’re actually touching it.”

Intermediate Line Editing – Starts June 2!

$330 (Member price: $297) | How to line edit | 4 weeks | Instructor-led | Intermediate

This is a class about exploring how the use of effective, evocative language can support storytelling; it is not a class about where the commas go. (That’s Beginning Copyediting for Fiction.)

We’ll dig into more complex line editing issues in this class, moving from the lighter line edits of Beginning LE to heavier line edits that require an excellent ear for the author’s voice.

We’ll investigate the how line editing can solve common developmental/story problems, like pacing problems, too much exposition, perspective issues, and more. We’ll explore when and how to use line editing to aid characterization and how to help the author rein in purple prose.

You’ll get plenty of practice in line editing during the weekly assignments.

Each week includes a new lesson and a new assignment to be submitted for the instructor’s feedback along with online discussions about developmental issues.

This class picks up where Beginning Line Editing for Fiction leaves off. Please take that class first.

The class is entirely online and asynchronous (you don’t have to be in any particular place at any particular time to participate) but weekly assignments are due by specific deadlines.

For more information and to register, click here.

Buy More, Save More!

I try to make a special offer exclusive to newsletter subscribers about once a month, because that’s what a lot of you are here for. But sometimes I run out of ideas about what the special offer should be.

This week, however, my favorite shoe store saved me: they just ran a “Buy more, save more” offer and I decided to steal this idea.

Here’s how it works:

*Spend $100 to $199 and get 10% off. Use the coupon code: TEN

*Spend $200 to $299 and get 20% off. Use the coupon code: TWENTY

*Spend $300-$399 and get 30% off. Use the coupon code: THIRTY

*Spend $400 and up and get 40% off. Use the coupon code: FORTY

This applies to all classes (including instructor-led and self-paced) and expires Sunday, May 25, 2025, at midnight Pacific time. Only one coupon code can be used per order. Sorry, the offer can’t be combined with your membership discount or other coupons.

Let me know if you have any questions: info@ClubEdFreelancers.com

Links to the different class catalogs:

For fiction self-paced classes, click here.

For fiction instructor-led classes, click here

For nonfiction self-paced classes, click here

For nonfiction instructor-led classes, click here

For on-demand instructor-led classes, fiction and nonfiction, click here

For Members

Find the coupon code for the new Mid-Year Review in the Membership Program classroom. (This class costs just $15 for members!)

New discount for PerfectIt and Draftsmith software! Save 30% off your purchase of PerfectIt and 20% off your purchase of Draftsmith. PerfectIt is a well-regarded program that many copy editors use to help ensure their edits are applied correctly across an entire manuscript. Use the coupon code you’ll find in the Membership Program classroom.

The new instructor-led class, Freelancing Through Tough Times, is available to members for just $75, but you have to use the coupon code that you’ll find on the membership program classroom page.

Upcoming Classes

Instructor-led classes starting soon:

• Intermediate Line Editing for Fiction, starts Jun 2, 2025

• Getting Editorial Work from Book Publishers and Packagers, starts Jun 4, 2025

• Freelancing Through Tough Times, starts Jun 30, 2025

• Mid-Year Review, starts Jul 7, 2025

• Editorial Toolkit: Beta Reading, starts Sep 3, 2025

About Jennifer Lawler

I help editors figure out what the hell they’re doing.

If you’re an aspiring, new, or established book editor or story coach, I can probably help you learn how to do the work better and more profitably.

Through Club Ed, I offer developmental editing classes, a freelance editor membership program/support group, and a slightly bony shoulder to cry on.

I’ve worked as an editor for more than twenty years. I learned how to edit in the trenches of traditional publishing with its insane deadlines, pitiless competition, and crushing bureaucracy. To that I added a Ph.D in English literature with a specialization in medieval literature because of a long story.

Editorial clients have included Simon & Schuster, Girl Friday Productions, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, Barnes and Noble Custom Publishing, and others, along with many independent authors. 

For fiction self-paced classes, click here.

For fiction instructor-led classes, click here

For nonfiction self-paced classes, click here

For nonfiction instructor-led classes, click here

For on-demand instructor-led classes, fiction and nonfiction, click here