50 Tips for Writing.
32. Check that you're not repeating yourself
Sometimes, you might find you're describing something you've already illustrated a few paragraphs before. It happens to everyone. Nothing to be ashamed about but it does pay to check once or twice and save yourself from making an ass of yourself as well as a bunch of messages pointing your mistake from readers. Remember how I said the thesaurus is your friend? Well, it's true. If you describe the big house as 'big' six times in just one chapter, people will get bored of you very quick. Large, lofty, grand, elevated = all words that are basically synonyms to big. In mathematics, a graphic calculator is your lifeline. In creative writing, a dictionary/thesaurus combination will help you go a LO-O-O-O-ONG way. And, yes a LO-O-O-O-ONG way is where you should be aiming. Show your dictionary some lovin'.