Watch Out for Weak Words

By Elaine L. Orr

Some authors write gently, even with deep drama. I'm thinking of Ann Tyler. Others pack every metaphorical punch with swinging fists. Think James Patterson or John Sandford.

What's not good for either style is diluted text, especially verbs. "I was walking up the stairs after work" connotes a clearer imaged as, "I trudged up the steps after a long day at work." 

Another generic verb is look. We can look at a piece of paper or study it. Look at the sky or glance at it with deep concern. I now do a word search for 'look' at the end of my first draft. 

For my writing style, gerunds have a specific purpose. I like to use them to convey immediacy -- "walking into the deserted house confirmed my fears" puts you with the character more than "I walked into the house feeling fearful." You can edit either of those sentences, but I think constant use of gerunds dilutes their sense of immediacy, perhaps even intimacy, with a character.

My critique mate, Sue, pointed out that I used 'and' a lot. I didn't think so until I counted -- almost 200 times in one chapter. I had some longer sentences that could be separated without making the text choppy. But a big part was using 'and' rather than infinitives. Any style can work, but overuse becomes apparent.

I'll use another blog post to talk about how much more a colorful word conveys than a neutral one. Dropping to the floor is one thing. Crashing is something more. And louder.

                                                *                *                *                *

To learn more about Elaine's writing, visit her website or sign up for her newsletter.