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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/8895-The-Perfect-Verb.html
Horror/Scary: May 16, 2018 Issue [#8895]

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Horror/Scary


 This week: The Perfect Verb
  Edited by: W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

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

About This Newsletter

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Letter from the editor

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*Right* 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*Right* 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,

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Editor's Picks

For Your Entertainment


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A new kind of creature destroys mankind.
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A Terrifying Contest Of Horror And Three Time Quill Award Winner!
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WEIRD TALES CONTEST  Open in new Window. (18+)
A Contest Inspired by the Old Pulp Fiction Covers of Weird Tales Magazine
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Sinister Stories Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
A horror contest for everyone! Can you write a terrifying tale? February Special Round!
#1556724 by Jeff Author IconMail Icon


 
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Ask & Answer

DEAD LETTERS


dogpack saving 4premium Author Icon
Regarding: "REAL LIFE HORROR MOVIE: Helping A Friend" Open in new Window.
Thank you for pointing out that sometime the norm can become the horror. Much fodder for creativity.


Quick-Quill Author Icon
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.


Jayne Author Icon
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!



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