G̶e̶t̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶r̶i̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ Removing Get/Got/Went/Things/Stuff
Weak words create stumbling points and a lack of vivid imagery. As I've mentioned before, I tend to write by the seat of my pants, g̶e̶t̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ purging the idea onto paper and editing extensively afterward. Ask an author for a list of weak words and you'll g̶e̶t̶ receive a different set each time. The intersection of these lists will likely contain get, got, went, things, and stuff. You will see "to be verbs" listed frequently, however, attempts at their absolute removal