Definition
Tightening prose is the revision practice of making every sentence as strong and efficient as possible. It means cutting filler words, replacing weak verb constructions with direct ones, eliminating redundancies, and ensuring each sentence earns its place. This isn't about making prose minimal or stripped down - it's about making sure no word is wasted, whether you write lush literary fiction or spare thrillers.
Why It Matters
Tight prose respects the reader's time and attention. Every unnecessary word is a tiny friction point that slows comprehension and weakens your voice. Writers who learn to tighten their sentences find that their writing becomes not just shorter but clearer, more confident, and more pleasurable to read.
Types of Tightening Prose
Try It Yourself
Take a single paragraph from your draft and rewrite it at half its current word count without losing any meaning. Compare the two versions side by side. Then try a third version at 75% of the original length, which is usually the sweet spot between tight and natural.
Want to spot every loose sentence in your draft?
Novelium's Manuscript Editor highlights filter words, passive constructions, and redundant phrases across your full manuscript so you can tighten with precision instead of guesswork.