Simply
Shortly
Barely
Nearly
Briefly
Almost
Really
GONE.
While we’re at it, to hell with perception!!!
It seemed
She felt
He believed
And kill those linking verbs!
Is
Am
Was
Were
Are
Be
Being
Been
Looks
Appears
Seems
Becomes
(did I really have 60 of these memorized in grade school?)
Oh, and those verb tenses!!!
Ne’er again will past perfect be seen!!! EASY tenses!
I suppose on the up side... strike that... The benefit (2 words, rather than 6)... it is forcing me to choose more precise verbs and take a stronger voice, so paring down isn’t all bad. And I suppose as a dedicated nudist, I should appreciate the story stripped to essentials. If I have to remove a limb though, I’m going to be mighty miffed (even though I can't suppose it and won’t be allowed to use mighty to express it)