Punch Up and Unstuff Your Writing

"Punch Up and Unstuff Your Writing"

She was very unhappy … vs

She was sad.

She was miserable.

It was a series of totally unfortunate events … vs

It was a series of unfortunate events.

The glass was filled completely with water … vs

The glass was filled to the brim with water.

He just couldn’t do it …  vs

He couldn’t do it.

Short is the new black … Less is more … Fewer words often say more and are “chewier” for the reader.

Dump the “fillers” in your writing.

Dr. Judith Briles is the award-winning and bestselling author of 49 books and calls Colorado home. When she’s not in the kitchen or in the garden, she’s working with clients as The Book Shepherd, a book and publishing consulting and project management firm that works with authors at all stages of their book to create and publish a book they never regret! She’s the founder of the first Authors’ Hall of Fame exclusively dedicated to ensuring the legacy of authors connected in some way with Colorado.

Judith’s books have been translated into 17 countries with over 1,000,000 copies sold! They have been featured in over 2,000 radio and TV shows including repeat appearances on CNN, CNBC, and Oprah. She has worked with over 1,500 authors and created 500 plus bestsellers. Print publications include Newsweek, People, Time, The Wall Street Journal and … The National Enquirer! Her popular podcast, AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing is dedicated to authors and writers and their success and is ranked in the top ten in four categories on GoodPods.

©2026 Judith Briles – The Book Shepherd™ All Rights Reserved.