100 ways to improve your writing - Gary Provost 2019
Use active verbs
Twelve ways to give your words power
Active verbs do something. Inactive verbs are something. You will gain power over readers if you change verbs of being such as is, was, and will be to verbs of motion and action.
Bad |
Better |
A grandfather clock was in one corner, and three books were on top of it. |
A grandfather clock towered in one corner, and three books lay on top of it. |
As Samson enters the police station, a burly sergeant is behind the desk, and three rookies are around the corner talking shop, ignoring the murder suspect who is near the open window at the back of the room. |
As Samson enters the police station, a burly sergeant stands behind the front desk, and three rookies hang around the water cooler talking shop, ignoring the murder suspect who edges near the open window at the back of the room. |