Answer What It Is

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I had paid for a professional critique to be done on one of my manuscripts years ago. Though it was difficult to digest, I learned a few writing tips from the critique. 

One tip I learned was the use of the word it. The editor painted red circles around the word and in the column wrote, what is it? 

I thought any normal human would understand what I meant by it. For instance, in this phrase, "If the shoe fits, wear it." It is the shoe. 

But, eventually, I saw her point. Now I stop and pause on the word it as often as I am focused to do so and then plug in what the it is I'm referring to. 

Next time you're writing and using the word it make sure a reader will know what it is.