Discussions At The Garden Bench

Lesson Six Discussion Questions

What are some of the problems you have with your verbs in writing?

Well, as in much of what I write, it is a matter of staying on top of my writing because I don't like using the words too often, and when it comes to verbs I must get creative as the often used ones are so very excepted by society.

Do you understand the differences between passive voice and active voice in writing? Explain it to us.

Well I would like to just say that the action verbs make for a more exciting story. It is not that simple--the passive verbs can round out a story. It is greatly up to the writer's taste, but we are in luck, as the advices that come with how to write stories almost always mention the writing tecnique of writing the action in lieu of telling the event. The idea to bring the reader into place with the happenings of the story. Action verbs help that technique along.

Research which are the most over-used verbs in the English language. Give us three alternatives for each one that would make them stronger.

amazing-absorbing, astonishing, breathtaking
awesome-inspiring, impressive, stunning
awfully-boldly, poorly, exceedingly
bad-imperfect, poor, bummer
beautiful-atractive, alluring, pretty
big-large, colossal, vast
fine-quality, elegant, rare
good-exceptable, positive, worthy
great-pleasing,considerable, excellent
happy-joyous, cheerful, content
interesting-intriguing, engaging, compelling
look-notice, glance, appearance
nice-tasteful, pleasant, satisfying
quite-certainly, entirely, truly
really-honestly, literally, verily
said-spoke, expressed, accounted
so-true, such, hence
very-much, precise, ideal
well-sound, strong, fit


Why is it important in prose/fiction writing to write in the ACTIVE voice rather than the passive?

It is a known thing that people who are involved in the story as a part of the storey--as like "the main character," stay rerading the story, and generally will be a fan of that kind of writing. Active voice absorbes people and, the result is a better reading experience.