This YouTube video (The Secret of Filter Words) explains what "filter words" are and why writers—especially when crafting ads or blurbs—should avoid them because they distance readers and break immersion. The speaker gives concrete examples (e.g., "He felt...", "She just knew...") and recommends replacing filter phrases with specific sensory/action details (e.g., lowered brow, angry breath) so readers can visualize events and understand characters' reactions without being told.
Chapters
And I also talk about filter words. And filter words are really important to know as well. They're more okay to have them inside your book because you can get a lot of context around. But in ads, in your blurb, you don't want to use them. And that could be a word like felt. He felt that something was wrong. And so you've got that in your blurb. You know, for you, you might know why they felt something was wrong, because you have the setting in your mind. You know where the character is, you know what their face looks like. For the reader, they're going to be like, I don't know why they felt like that. And it actually pulls them out of the blurb. And now they're having to think about, like, what did I just read? Is there any text in what I just read that would help me understand what would cause a person to feel this way and then. And then proceed. Or like, you know, she just knew that. That he was upset with her. You could say that, or you could be like, you know, his brow lowered. He blew out an angry breath. You know, because then now the reader can visualize the scene. They know the actual event that caused her to know this, versus just saying she knew it.
