One way to improve prose is to strengthen our verbs. Simple verbs like “walked, ran, hit” are perfectly fine to use on occasion, but juicier verbs really paint an image in a reader’s mind and tend to say more without saying more. He bustled across the room. She bolted out the door. They smashed a battle hammer into their opponent's helmet.
Looking out for the word “was” can help us recognize an opportunity for a strong verb.
“The dresser was in the corner. A vase that was filled with flowers was on the top.” Vs “The dresser towered in the corner. A vase bursting with flowers crowned the top.”
Stronger verbs not only elicit a more vivid image but can feel more emotionally impactful as well.
“My mother cried, holding the tiny blanket.” Vs “My mother keened, clutching the tiny blanket.”
Better verbs help us eliminate weak adverbs.
“I walked over to him confidently.” “I sauntered over to him.” “‘What do you mean?’ he asked firmly.” “‘What do you mean?’ he demanded.”
Strong verbs tighten up our prose.
Eliminating unnecessary words increases the readability of our prose. It helps us avoid jumbled sentences that trip a reader.
“Leo walked quickly toward the castle, but fell clumsily into a man who narrowed his eyes at her in return.” vs “Leo raced toward the castle, but stumbled, crashing into a man who glowered in return.”
And because I am immensely enjoying Bookshelves and Bonedust, I’ll add a quote as an example of prose that uses strong verbs even for simple descriptions.
Books crowded a long, narrow shop–squeezed into leaning shelves, scattered on top of them, teetering in stacks on the floor. Some volumes seemed new, but most were old, with errant threads poking from leather of cloth-covered wooden bindings. -Bookshops & Bonedust, Travis Baldree
Verbs aside, I love the way this description takes you wide and then narrow, focusing on the threads of the bindings.
Remember, there are no absolutes in writing. In the end, the story itself is what matters most. Mossgrovewrites hopes to scrutinize traditional craft wisdom and ponder its pros and cons, alongside offering one writer’s opinions and the experiences that shaped them.
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