Category: Writing Craft

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Avoid Passive Writing

Passive writing is a common manuscript problem that can make a story seem dull. It occurs when the subject of the sentence is not actively doing the action, but rather having the action done to them. This can make the writing feel weak and distant, and can make the story harder to follow. Using passive voice  means a lot of cleanup work for your editor and higher costs for the author.

The best way to avoid passive writing is to use active voice. In active voice, the subject of the sentence is doing the action. For example, “The dog bit the boy,” uses active voice, while “The boy was bitten by the dog,” is written in passive voice. Active voice makes the writing more direct and lively, and makes it easier for the reader to follow the action.

Another way to avoid passive writing is to use strong verbs. Instead of using weak, generic verbs like “is,” “was,” or “were,” use verbs that are specific and descriptive. For example, instead of saying “The man was walking,” say “The man marched through the streets.” This not only makes the writing more interesting, but it also makes the action more vivid and immediate. Now we can see the character has some purpose as he makes his way down the boulevard.

Try to be specific with the nouns and pronouns while you’re at it. Instead of using vague or generic nouns and pronouns like “it” or “they,” be specific about who or what is doing the action. For example, instead of saying “It was decided,” say “The committee decided.” Now the writing is clear and helps the reader understand who is taking the action.

In addition, it’s important to avoid using passive constructions when describing an action. Instead of writing “The door was opened by him,” try “He opened the door.” This makes the writing direct and lively.

Is all passive voice use bad? Nope. It’s found often in Australian manuscripts. The publishers there are more open to it. For the American markets, it’s not as welcome.

Passive voice can also be used in dialogue, and it can even be useful to craft the style and cadence of how a particular character talks.

If you’re a newer author trying to get your manuscript published, it’s suggested you avoid using passive voice. Well-published authors with a following can play with this technique, but their publishing editor will probably try to get the passive polished out of the manuscript.

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Hiding Description

 

Sandra hated Bob, since the first day he started working in the lab. She looked him up and down. He had reddish hair, green eyes, and a bad complexion. He wore jeans and a blue polo shirt. She never liked how he looked at her. He always seemed to be a know-it-all, and he always had a smirk on his face. They began to fight.

So, what do you think of the opening paragraph? I agree, it’s awful. It’s a classic case of the dreaded information dump.

One of the methods I use to see if a story needs to be tweaked is to check for the laundry list approach. Looking at the opening paragraph, we can see a list of Bob’s physical characteristics, followed by a list of his clothing, and finally a list of why Sandra hates Bob.

B-O-R-I-N-G!

Sometimes it’s fine to put up a two or three item list, if the story calls for it. For example:

When she met Bob, she thought, “Short, bad haircut, stupid and cheap.”

It’s a good, quick first impression, not a huge catalog of personal traits.

So, how can one divulge this laundry list of information without just listing it? It’s easy, if you embed the information in the dialogue and action.

 “You should lower the flame on the Bunsen burner, Sandra,” Bob said, his face twisted in his usual vapid smirk.

Sandra had enough. Ever since the weasel-faced know-it-all started working in the lab, he second-guessed every decision Sandra made. “Bob, get out of my face before I punch some of your pimples out.”

His green eyes darkened and his face reddened. “I don’t have to take that from a hack who got her degree by sleeping her way through organic chemistry!”

Sandra dove over the sink, knocking a small vial of carbon tetrachloride onto Bob’s Wal-Mart polo shirt, staining the blue to a darkened grey. Bob tried to leap back, but his short legs weren’t strong enough to get out of harm’s way. Sandra’s well-toned arm came down quickly, knocking her tormentor unconscious.

You see? The information is all in there, but it’s spread out so the reader isn’t subjected to a list. Of course, this could be spread out more. You can drop descriptive elements in different parts of the story. For example, his complexion is needed here, but the description of his eye color could be moved to another section or chapter—say when they fall in love. Give the information to the reader when it’s needed, not when it’s convenient for you to write. Build the character pebble by pebble, not with an avalanche. It makes the character believable if the parts get added slowly, since it slightly modifies the reader’s mental picture until the image is complete and accurate.