Writing Principles 1, a Post by Joan Adamak

 Don’t use adverbs any more than you have to.  For instance, “he smiled broadly.”  Use a verb that is active and says how he smiled, i.e. grinned.  For instance, “he walked loudly across the road.”  i.e. “He stomped across the road.”  This gives more power to the sentence.  There are instances when an adverb has to be used, but if possible try an active verb and don’t use it too often.  For instance, I read a story by a new author and the hero was always “grinning.”  This is not good writing.  I have a reverse Thesaurus where it takes a word and gives you all sort of words to use instead.  It cost me $50.00 but was worth it.

I am attaching a list of active verbs that will help you write more picturesquely.

Joan Adamak

Blog Master Note:  The file Ms. Adamak has graciously included is available under Reviewers Club Tools, Active Verb List on the Main Menu.  Ms. Adamak’s list has been reformatted to allow for easy downloading from The Book Reviewers Club blog.  If you would like a .doc copy of the list, please send an e-mail to thebookreviewersclub@hotmail.com.  Please specify original list or reformatted list.  You get the same number of verbs in either list.   R. Clint Peters

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