‘Just’ (as in ‘Only’) is a deceptively dangerous word. It looks harmless, but it isn’t. It shies away from commitment, bypasses action, and dodges responsibility. It weakens everything it touches.

And yet it keeps edging its way into our writing, into the way we think about our writing, and into the way we discuss our writing. Mine included. It’s easy, and it’s lazy. Most of all, it’s deceptive – it makes you feel that you’re saying something when actually you are avoiding saying something.

‘This is just entertainment,’ says the writer.

Meaning, ‘I am actively reaffirming the unquestioned values and prejudices of my society and peer group.’

Or ‘What’s that character doing now?’

‘Oh, she’s just making conversation.’

How would you measure the success of ‘just making conversation’?

You could measure the success of flirting. You could measure the success of distracting someone while your colleague picks his pocket. You could measure the success of getting him to reveal a secret.

But you can’t measure the success of just making conversation.

If a character has no way of measuring the success of their actions, they’re not doing anything.

If the audience can’t measure the success of their actions, they’re not doing anything.

Nobody in a drama or comedy is ever ‘just’ doing anything. They are either trying to change the world; or trying to stop the world from changing.

They need to know whether they are succeeding or failing. If they can’t measure whether they are succeeding or failing, they’re not doing anything.

Beware ‘just.’

Watch out for using ‘just’ when you discuss your work – with yourself or others.

‘Just’ minimises the power of your choices.

If you want to make something that has strength and soul and heart, then wash that word right out of your mouth.