Filter Words in Fiction
When we write about a character’s experience in the world, it’s natural to want to tell the reader what’s being done and how. Maybe the character is noticing something suspicious, maybe they’re wondering what the heck is going on, or maybe they’re hearing a sound that’s out of place. The writer has to convey these insights, but the way it’s done can make all the difference. One technique to make these experiences more immediate for the reader is to remove filter words.
What are filter words?
Filter words show how a scene is happening through the lens of the viewpoint character. As the name suggests, these words serve as a filter between the events in the story and the reader’s experience.
Here are some common ones:
saw
noticed
heard
felt
thought
wondered
realized
Why should filter words be avoided?
Filter words aren’t inherently bad, but they’re often unnecessary. The reader already knows that the viewpoint character is the one experiencing whatever is happening, and if there’s no accidental head-hopping in the writing, then it’s also implied that if a non-viewpoint character is doing or saying something, it’s because the viewpoint character is present and aware of them. Therefore, filter words can act as small and unneeded reminders that say “Hey! The viewpoint character is the one doing these things!” Filter words also increase the narrative distance between the reader and the story, and the result may be a less immersive experience.
To show how removing filter words can make a difference in writing, here’s a made-up example—the first with filter words and the second with them removed.
Original example:
Julian checked his watch as he hurried through the park the next day. He wondered if Aisha would show up or if she’d been joking about agreeing to meet him here. He saw a bench and thought it’d make a perfect spot to wait.
As soon as he sat down, he heard a voice call out from behind him.
Example with filter words removed:
Julian checked his watch as he hurried through the park the next day. Would Aisha show up, or had she been joking about agreeing to meet him here? The bench standing before him would make a perfect spot to wait.
As soon as he sat down, a voice called out from behind him.
In just a few sentences, four filters can be removed. The rest of the words are mostly the same, but simply adjusting the use of filter words makes the second example more immediate. The reader knows that Julian is the viewpoint character and is in the middle of the action, so the second example trusts them to understand that he’s the one wondering, seeing, thinking, and hearing—without being explicitly told so.
Are filter words ever okay?
Even though filter words can often be removed, it doesn’t mean that they’re never okay to write. They can be especially useful if the emphasis does need to be on what the character is doing to experience what’s happening. The key is to evaluate whether they serve a purpose.
Final thoughts
It may seem daunting to remove filter words in writing because they’re incredibly common, but I encourage you to give it a try. While it can be challenging to figure out how to rework sentences without using filter words, the result can be a more immediate, immersive experience for your readers.
