Filler words also play a role in the development of the narrative voice. An omniscient narrator might use different filler words compared to a first - person narrator. The choice of filler words can also change over the course of the novel as the character grows or the situation changes. For instance, a character who becomes more confident might use fewer filler words as the story progresses.
In novels, filler words can also be used for character differentiation. A nervous character might use more 'um's and 'ah's compared to a confident one. They can be a subtle tool for characterization. Moreover, in some cases, filler words can be used to create a regional or social dialect. For example, certain words might be more common in a rural setting's dialogue, which can help to paint a more vivid picture of the world in the novel.
Well, common filler words like 'um', 'uh', 'like' in a more informal sense, and overly used adverbs such as 'very' can often be cut. For example, instead of saying 'He was very tired', you could say 'He was tired'. Also, words that don't add much meaning to the sentence, like some redundant prepositional phrases, should be considered for removal. Look at your sentences closely and see if words can be removed without changing the core meaning.
Well, 'just', 'maybe', and 'sort of' are among the filler words to cut. 'Just' is used so often but often doesn't add much. For instance, 'I just wanted to say' could be 'I wanted to say'. 'Maybe' can make a statement seem less certain than it should be in a novel. 'Sort of' is a very weak expression. Instead of 'He was sort of angry', you could be more definitive like 'He was angry'. By removing these filler words, your novel can have a more direct and engaging style.
One filler horror story could be about a haunted doll. The doll was found in an old attic. It had a cracked porcelain face and empty eyes. At night, it would move on its own, and people in the house could hear faint giggles coming from the room where it was placed. Another could be a story of a cursed mirror. Anyone who looked into it for too long would see a distorted version of themselves and then strange things would start to happen around them, like objects moving on their own.