The Writing Life
Verbs don’t only propel the plot forward. They also convey mood. They can paint a picture of what a character is like or of what a relationship is like. They can show the quality of an emotion without having to rely on a direct object, adjective, or adverb.
[Read more…] about Write Right: Use Verbs to Paint a Picture
Even though I edit a lot of fiction, I don’t write fiction, so I’m hesitant to write about dialogue. I was asked my thoughts on the topic, though. I suppose I should give some answers.
“Emigrate” and “immigrate” sometimes are mistaken for one another. No wonder; the two words share a common theme and sound. They, however, do not bear the same meaning.
One of the more troublesome expressions is “could not care less.” It’s frequently written “could care less” even though the three words have an effect opposite what was intended.
Concise writing doesn’t necessarily have to do with too many filler words although that is a component. Concise writing is strong writing. Concise writing demands strong verbs and concrete images. It refuses abstractions. It cuts away the dross of adjectives and adverbs.
A professor once described verbs as poetry in motion. That’s what strong verbs are and do: they convey emotion and create a sense of place and atmosphere. For example, a couple that bickers about what wine to have with their dinner is completely different from the couple that throws their napkins on the table and strides out of the restaurant.
Strong verbs mean losing the adverbs. A writer could say that the couple strode angrily from the restaurant. Sufficient? Perhaps, but something is lost when the situation isn’t built toward that moment. The reader should be able to see the “strode” in her mind. She shouldn’t have to wonder if that’s the way the two people normally walk or if it’s the result of whatever fight occurred only moments before.
Concrete images are concrete nouns. They don’t rely upon adjectives; they stand on their own, like the ruined statue of Ozymandias standing in the desert. Concrete images avoid the abstractions of love and joy and show them in action. What does love look like, taste like, feel like?
Using strong verbs and concrete images doesn’t mean all adjectives and adverbs have to be cut; far from it. Adjectives and adverbs have their places within strong writing, and they can be used to affect a certain style of writing or speech. It’s simply that concise writing demands more attention be given to writing with strong verbs and concrete images and requests that writers stop asking adjectives and adverbs to do all the work.
Image: Frederic Guillory (Creative Commons)
Everyone has filler words. One of mine is “just.” I’m conscious of it because it was brought to my attention during a poetry workshop several years ago. Before that, I didn’t even notice it. It was a “filler” in much the same way that everyone has their own version of a verbal pause. No one notices either the written or verbal pauses unless they’re noticed or corrected by another.