Echoes in Writing and How to Fix Them
“So, my advice to other young writers: Read widely. Study other writers. Be thoughtful, then go out and do the work of changing the form, finding your own voice, and saying what you need to say. Be fearless. And care.”
The Most Underrated Advice for Authors
There’s a lot of writing advice floating around on YouTube, TikTok, and every corner of the internet. You’ve probably heard the basics: “Show, don’t tell,” “Kill your darlings,” “Write every day.” But what about the advice that doesn’t get nearly enough attention? The small but mighty tips that can transform your writing but rarely make it into mainstream discussions?
That’s where this series comes in—welcome to The Most Underrated Advice for Authors. And today, we’re talking about echoes.
Yes, echoes. Not the cool, mysterious kind that bounce off canyon walls but the sneaky, unintentional ones in your manuscript that make your writing feel redundant, sluggish, and repetitive in ways you didn’t even realize.
What Are Writing Echoes?
Echoes by definition is a reference that recalls a word, phrase, or sound in text.
Most writers hear “echoes” and immediately think of repeated words or the above definition. And while that’s part of it, echoes can be much more insidious. They show up in:
Words and phrases
Sentence structures
Descriptions
Places
Thoughts
Emotions
Themes
Now, before you panic, let me clarify:
Reinforcing themes and emotions is not the same as creating echoes. In fact, themes should weave throughout your story.
The problem arises when the same thought, phrase, or description is used back-to-back, turning your manuscript into an unintentional echo chamber.
Let's go over the top four examples of echoes and how to fix them:
Word-Level Echoes:
Echo: I walked to the store. I walked past a bakery. I walked home.
Instead use: I headed to the store. The scent of fresh bread wafted past as I strolled by the bakery. By the time I made it home, my feet ached.
By removing the "I walked" and adding sensory details, we not only get the sense of the character, but also some world building.
Sentence-Structure Echoes:
Echo: She sat down. She picked up the book. She flipped through the pages.
Instead: Settling into the chair, she picked up the book and thumbed through its pages.
Not only did we remove "She plus action verb" but we also broke up the repetitive sentence structure.
Description Echoes:
Echo: The sky was dark and ominous. A foreboding sense of danger filled the air. The shadows seemed menacing.
Instead: The sky was an ink spill stretching across the horizon, thick with the promise of an approaching storm.
By adding in "an ink spill stretching across the horizon" it triggers a deeper imagery in the reader's head and heightens the atmosphere.
Lastly, and probably the trickiest one of them all,
Thematic Echoes:
Let’s say your main character is afraid of the dark. Instead of saying it repeatedly in every chapter, build on it. For example,
Chapter 1: The MC mentions their fear of the dark.
Chapter 2: They avoid dark places.
Chapter 3: They sleep with a candle burning.
Chapter 4: A hint at the traumatic event that caused this fear.
Chapter 5: Introduce a character who helps them cope.
Chapter 6: Force them into a situation where they must confront the dark.
Chapter 7: Show them struggling.
Chapter 8: Show them failing.
Chapter 9: Show them succeeding—or succumbing.
Notice how the information grows? Readers don’t need a constant reminder of the same fact; they need layers that develop character growth and deepen engagement.
How to Fix Echoes
The answer is variety. Mix up your sentences. If you are one of the many people who struggle with first person point of view and that repetitive I—rewrite some of the sentences to focus on action or setting instead. Here's an example:
Sentence Starters:
Echo: I ran through the alley. I ducked behind a dumpster. I held my breath.
Instead: The alley reeked of garbage. Footsteps pounded behind me. Heart racing, I ducked behind a dumpster.
Watch for Word Repetition: If you see the same word more than twice in close proximity, switch it up.
Echo: The street was empty. The empty houses loomed. An empty feeling settled in my chest.
Instead: The street was deserted. The houses loomed, vacant and silent. An ache settled in my chest.
Don't hammer the same idea, build upon it and reveal new aspects over time.
Common Pitfall: False Variety
Some writers think they’re fixing repetition by rewording a sentence slightly. No.
Echo: I am afraid of the dark. The dark frightens me. (You're saying the same thing.)
Instead: I am afraid of the dark. At night, I double-check every lock and leave my bedroom light on.
See the difference? The second version shows rather than tells the fear.
I know this was a lot of information, but you got this.
Echoes are sneaky little things, but once you train your eye to catch them, your prose will instantly feel fresher, tighter, and more engaging. So next time you edit, keep an eye out for those sneaky repetitions and give your writing the variety it deserves. (Did anyone catch what I did there?")
I hope this helps! If you have questions, drop them below—maybe I’ll do an echo part two.
