 Horror/Scary: May 16, 2018 Issue [#8895] |
  Horror/Scary
This week: The Perfect Verb Edited by: W.D.Wilcox  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
| ASIN: 0910355479 |
|
Amazon's Price: $ 13.99
|
|
In Search Of The Perfect Verb
Do you ever wonder why a grammatically correct sentence you’ve written just lies there like a dead fish? I sure have. Your sentence might even be full of those adjectives and adverbs your teachers and loved ones so admired in your writing when you were a kid.
But still the sentence doesn’t work.
Something simple I learned years ago: “Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs.”
Even Mark Twain was quoted, regarding adjectives: “When in doubt, strike it out.”
That’s not to say there’s no place for adjectives. I used three in the title and first paragraph of this post alone.
The point is that good writing is more about well-chosen nouns and strong verbs than it is about adjectives and adverbs, regardless what you were told as a kid.
There’s no quicker win for you and your manuscript than ferreting out and eliminating flabby verbs and replacing them with vibrant ones.
Three types of verbs to beware of when writing
1)State of Being verbs
These are passive as opposed to powerful:
DON'T USE Is, Am, Are, Was, Were, Be, Being, Been, Have, Has, Had, Do, Does, Did, Shall, Will, Should, Would, May, Might, Must, Can, Could
2)Verbs that rely on adverbs
Powerful verbs are strong enough to stand alone.
Examples: The fox ran quickly dashed through the forest. She menacingly looked glared at her rival. He secretly listened eavesdropped while they discussed their plans.
3)Verbs with -ing suffixes
Examples: He was walking / He walked
She was loving the idea of / She loved the idea of
The family was starting to gather / The family started to gather…
Here's a small list of strong verbs...
USE Dangle, Dash, Demolish, Depart, Detect, Devour, Drag, Drain, Drop, Erase, Explode, Explore, Fight, Fly, Frown, Garble, Gaze, Glare, Glisten, Glitter, Gobble, Grasp, Gravitate, Grip, Groan, Grope, Growl, Gush, Hack, Hobble, Hover, Hurry, Ignite, Illuminate, Inspect, Instruct, Jostle, Journey, Lash, Launch, Leap, Lurch, Lurk, Transform, Trudge, Tussle, Unearth, Unveil
Until Next Time,
|
For Your Entertainment
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2157060 by Not Available. |
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: B083RZJVJ8 |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available. |
|
DEAD LETTERS
dogpack saving 4premium 
Regarding: "REAL LIFE HORROR MOVIE: Helping A Friend"
Thank you for pointing out that sometime the norm can become the horror. Much fodder for creativity.
Quick-Quill 
So true. That nice old man who loves to garden next door and you come to find out he's burying pieces of his victims right next to your fence. After you dog digs a long femur up and brings it into your house.
JayNaNoOhNo 
I'm not all that adept at horror yet, though I try. I have discovered recently that the scariest people are the ones who didn't make your warning bells go off - and then you find that they should have.
The warning bells of hindsight are terrifying!
|
| ASIN: B01DSJSURY |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 5.99
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
This printed copy is for your personal use only. Reproduction
of this work in any other form is not allowed and does violate its copyright. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
