Deadwood (more than "was," were," and "just")

Just as there will be times you will want to use each of the above words, many early drafts contain far too many of these, diluting your writing.

Just as pruning a purple rose bush makes it blossom, trimming back words that add little to your story can make your stronger words really stand out.

Do I use these words in my stories? Of course. But when self-editing, consider eliminating - or at least paring back - the following:
(Note: Occasionally, these will feel natural in dialogue).

   *  said (the preferred dialogue tag, you still need less then half of what your probably used),

   * overuse of pronouns

   *  would be

   *  there was (Do you really want "there" to be the subject of your sentence? Can you write it differently?)

   *  still

   *  now

   *  very

   *  only

   *  whole

   * so

   *  up

   *  down

   *  finally

   *  really

   *  had had

   *  and
 
   *  but

   *  suddenly

   *  some

   *  even

   *  either

   *  any

   *  though

   *  own

   *  felt

   *  thought

   *  who is, who was, etc.

   *  a lot

   *  ever

   *  never

    *  too

   *  all

   *  alreayd

   *  out

  *   anyway

   *  got

   *  deep

   *  such a

   *  pretty

   *  kind of

   *  sort of

   *  a whole other