Writing a novel can sometimes feel like wandering through a thick forest. You know the story you want to tell, but finding your way to it can be tricky. You might have brilliant ideas, strong characters, and a powerful message, but when it comes to putting words together, the rhythm, structure, or clarity might not feel right. That’s where algorithms come in not to write your story for you, but to help you write it better.
Today’s writing tools, powered by intelligent algorithms, can act like invisible editors. They don’t change your voice; they polish it. They highlight what’s slowing you down, what could be sharper, and where your sentences might breathe better. They work quietly in the background, analyzing patterns, word usage, pacing, and tone, helping you see your work the way a fresh reader might.
But remember: algorithms are not replacements for creativity. They can suggest improvements, but they can’t feel emotion, experience heartbreak, or capture the subtle hesitation in a character’s voice. What they can do, though, is help you deliver your story in its clearest, most engaging form.
Let’s explore the different ways algorithms can make your novel stronger and how something as small as a “glue word” can change the way readers experience your prose.
Understanding Glue Words: The Hidden Weight in Your Sentences
Before diving deeper into what algorithms can do, let’s talk about one of the biggest culprits of weak writing glue words.
Every sentence has two kinds of words: working words that carry meaning and glue words that hold everything together. Glue words are small connecting words like in, of, to, the, by, and, was, that, for, from, and with. They’re necessary for grammar, but when they start to crowd your sentences, they make your writing heavy and slow.
Readable.com explains that too many glue words can “stick” your sentences together in a way that makes them dense and harder to follow. They act like molasses in the gears of your story necessary in small amounts, but too much makes everything sluggish.
For example:
“She was able to use the information that she had in her files to make a decision.”
Now, if you strip away the glue and focus on the core meaning:
“She used the information in her files to decide.”
The second version feels cleaner and more natural. Nothing important was lost; you simply removed the stickiness.
Richard Wydick, in his book Plain English for Lawyers, described glue words as indicators of weak structure. He noted that when a sentence has too many connectors and too few active, meaningful words, it’s a sign that the writer hasn’t yet shaped the idea clearly.
Glue words aren’t evil, they’re part of every language but too much of them can suffocate your sentences. When algorithms analyze your text, they can show you how much of it is made of glue words versus working words. If more than about 40–50% of your words are glue, your sentence likely needs trimming or rephrasing.
How Glue Words Affect Readability
Imagine walking through thick mud. It’s not impossible, but it’s exhausting. Reading glue-heavy sentences feels the same. The reader has to push through extra little words before getting to the point. Glue words also hide weak verbs and vague phrasing. Instead of saying “She was able to,” you could simply say “She could.” Instead of “It was decided by the team,” write “The team decided.”
When you reduce glue words, your writing becomes more confident and direct. It helps the reader move effortlessly through your story without tripping over unnecessary phrasing.
Readable.com points out that glue words can lower your readability score, making even good writing feel complex or dull. Algorithms in editing tools help you identify them instantly, often marking them in color or percentage so you can decide whether a sentence needs cleaning.
The beauty of learning to spot glue words yourself is that, over time, you start catching them before you even run your text through a tool. You begin to think leaner, and your natural writing rhythm sharpens.
How to Cut Down Glue Words Naturally
Reducing glue words doesn’t mean stripping sentences bare or making them sound robotic. It means finding a smoother balance between clarity and rhythm.
One of the easiest ways is to identify your sentence’s main idea first. Ask yourself: What am I really trying to say here? Once you know that, it becomes easier to spot the extra words that don’t serve it.
Let’s look at another example:
“She found that the sky was darker than she had expected.”
Now try trimming the unnecessary glue:
“She found the sky darker than she expected.”
The message stays the same, but it reads faster and stronger.
Sometimes you can replace a phrase made of glue words with a single, more powerful word. Instead of saying “used too much,” say “overused.” Instead of “in order to,” say “to.”
Words like that, really, just, very, and actually often sneak in without purpose. Removing them often strengthens the sentence instantly. For instance, “I think that she is very brave” becomes “I think she is brave.”
The goal isn’t to delete every small word. Glue words help sentences flow when used with purpose. The trick is knowing when they’re helping and when they’re just padding.
Here’s a simple before-and-after comparison to show the difference:
Before:
“She was able to walk through the forest in the early morning, and she saw that there were birds in the trees, some perched on branches and some flying overhead. She felt that the air was fresher than she had expected it to be.”
After:
“She walked through the forest at dawn. Birds perched on branches or flew overhead. The air felt fresher than she expected.”
The rewrite removes about half the glue words, yet the story becomes clearer and more vivid.
1. Removing Filler Words and Simplifying Sentences
Once you understand glue words, you realize that filler words are part of the same family. Algorithms can detect these weak spots instantly. When your manuscript is filled with “that,” “just,” “really,” or “perhaps,” the reading pace slows down.
A good tool will highlight these fillers and show how many times you’ve used them, allowing you to focus your energy on the ones that repeat the most. Over time, your brain learns to self-edit, and your first drafts become cleaner.
This doesn’t make your writing robotic; it simply lets the true rhythm of your story shine without unnecessary noise.
2. Strengthening Word Choice; From Vague to Vivid
Readers crave sensory detail. But vague words like “nice,” “good,” or “bad” make your scenes blur together. Algorithms can flag these soft spots and remind you to be specific. Instead of “The room looked nice,” you might say, “The room glowed with soft amber light.”
Concrete words build images; abstract ones dissolve them. When algorithms suggest alternatives, they aren’t rewriting your work, they’re helping you see where you could be more alive, more visual, and more intentional with your language.
3. Trimming Adverbs and Strengthening Verbs
Adverbs aren’t villains, but when they appear too often, they cover for weak verbs. A writing tool can quickly identify patterns like “ran quickly” or “shouted loudly.”
Replacing them with stronger verbs like “sprinted” or “yelled” creates punchier, more cinematic writing. Algorithms help you see your habits and habits, once recognized, can be changed.
You begin to ask yourself with every edit: Can I show this action instead of explaining it? That question alone elevates your storytelling.
4. Balancing Sentence Length and Flow
Every story breathes through its rhythm and rhythm is shaped by sentence length. When all your sentences look alike, the reader unconsciously feels monotony.
Algorithms can map out the variation in your writing, showing whether you’ve fallen into repetitive patterns. A chapter full of long sentences might feel heavy; one full of short bursts can feel choppy.
By alternating lengths long for description, short for tension you create a natural pulse that keeps readers engaged. Tools can visualize that balance, but the artistry lies in how you shape it.
5. Fixing Passive Voice for Energy and Clarity
Passive voice isn’t wrong, but it often hides who’s doing the action. “The door was slammed by John” feels distant compared to “John slammed the door.”
An algorithm can identify passive structures across your novel and show their percentage. That doesn’t mean you should remove them all sometimes, you want that detached tone but awareness helps you control the energy of your prose.
Using active voice gives immediacy; using passive voice gives distance. The trick is knowing when to use which and algorithms help you see that pattern clearly.
6. Cleaning Up Dialogue Tags for Natural Conversation
Dialogue gives life to characters, but over-tagging (“he said,” “she said quietly,” “they said softly”) can make it feel forced. Algorithms detect overused dialogue tags and adverbs, letting you focus on the emotion behind the words rather than the tags themselves.
Instead of “I’m fine,” she said softly, you might write, “I’m fine.” She turned away, rubbing her sleeve.
The second version doesn’t tell the reader the tone; it shows it. When you start noticing patterns in dialogue, your characters begin to sound more distinct and believable.
7. Avoiding Clichés and Redundant Expressions
Clichés creep in unnoticed “cold as ice,” “heart of gold,” “time will tell.” Algorithms highlight them because they weaken originality.
Similarly, redundant phrases like “past history” or “end result” add nothing but bulk. A quick scan from a writing tool can show you where you’re repeating meaning. Replacing those with cleaner phrasing keeps your prose sharp and confident.
As with glue words, the goal isn’t to sound mechanical but to keep your sentences purposeful.
8. Maintaining Consistency in Tone, Tense, and Style
Even the best writers occasionally slip switching from past to present tense, changing a name spelling, or mixing formal and casual tone. Algorithms catch these inconsistencies before your editor does.
They compare sections of your text and show where tone or structure shifts subtly. You decide whether to adjust it or leave it for effect. The end result is smoother, more professional writing.
9. Checking Readability and Reader Flow
After a while, you become too close to your manuscript to see it clearly. Algorithms provide a fresh set of “eyes” ; they show how easily someone can read your story, whether your sentences flow or stumble, and whether your paragraphs balance dialogue and exposition.
A readability score is not a grade; it’s a guide. It tells you whether your sentences breathe or suffocate. It’s about rhythm and clarity and about making sure your story carries readers along effortlessly.
Algorithms as Partners, Not Replacements
At the end of the day, algorithms are tools, not storytellers. They don’t dream, they don’t imagine, and they don’t understand the emotion behind a sentence like “She missed him even when he stood beside her.”
But they help you see the technical side of writing the patterns you miss when you’re too deep in your story. They make you aware of pacing, flow, and readability. They save time so you can focus on the creative side: world-building, emotion, and voice.
The most successful writers use algorithms not as crutches, but as mirrors. They let the tools reflect their habits back at them, so they can refine their craft.
Final Thoughts: The Art of Writing Smarter
Writing is both emotion and engineering. You pour your heart into words, and then you polish those words with precision. Algorithms belong in that second stage. They help you see the scaffolding behind your story, the structure that holds your imagination in place.
By identifying glue words, trimming filler, balancing flow, and checking tone, algorithms help you shape writing that feels effortless to read. But the story, the soul, the spark, the heartbeat that’s still yours.
So use them wisely. Let them teach you to notice what slows your reader down, what makes your sentence sing, and what pulls your story forward. In the end, a good novel is not just written, it’s refined. And every algorithm is simply another tool helping you find the best version of your own voice.