《How to Write Stories People Will Love》19. Use Strong Verbs
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There is a lot of debate on adverbs. Are they good or bad? Rather than continue that debate, the crux of the matter is adverbs are often used as a crutch for weak verbs. Weak verbs have less impact, requiring more words to be added to deliver the same punch. What we want is to deliver that punch as efficiently as possible. Here are a few examples to get you started...
WEAK: He looked over his shoulder angrily.
STRONG: He glared over his shoulder.
WEAK: "I can't just leave," she said sadly.
STRONG: "I can't just leave" she lamented.
WEAK: The day was brilliantly sunny as I looked out the window.
STRONG: The sun cast brilliant rays through the window.
In the last example, we switched out the weak verb "was" for a more active verb, "cast". The adverb "brilliantly" was then transformed into an adjective to modify "rays", which paints us a better picture using fewer words.
Strong verbs can also help us be less wordy. Take this example:
WEAK: His walk had a limp as he made his way to the car.
STRONG: He limped to the car.
Fewer words mean you get your point across faster, making your story easier to read. Stories that are easier to read are also easier to get into, and what reader doesn't want to dive past the words and get into a story? So break out that thesaurus and dig up those strong verbs. Your sentences will thank you for it.
Looking for a reference guide full of strong alternatives to weak verbs? I've created one! It's called The Strong Verb Thesaurus. It's on Amazon and available for free if you have Kindle Unlimited. I'll add a link in the comments and as an External Link (for website users).
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After a space warp gone wrong, the leader of one the most notorious mercenary gangs in the galaxy finds himself stranded on a strange planet. His ship in ruins, he must forge the foreign land on which he crash landed to find a way home. Navigating new relationships with the... fluffy... inhabitants, traversing the untamed countryside, and discovering the secrets of this mysterious world, the mercenary’s journey home begins.**********************************Updated each Friday.
8 123Not So Bold
A store clerk wakes up one day in a body not his own. Then wakes up back in his bed, it was just a dream. Right? He soon finds himself living a duel life, bouncing between his mundane life as a shelf stuffer and a strange new one. One where he has floppy ears and itty bitty paws. Notice of Hiatus: At the moment I'm going though a bit of turbulence and won't be able to update for a while. I'm also unsure about weekly/monthly releases. I'm considering writing a large group of chapters then posting them all at once or otherwise setting up releases in a way that makes sense. I'm still figuring out how to go about this particular endevor and thank you for your patience.
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8 123Azure Tale
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On a stormy night, a figure can be seen appearing in front of a small house."W-Who are you?""His name is Zin, please take care of him for me."Right as the figure finished his sentence, he was gone the next second.The owner was confused but still took in the baby with a smile on his face.Follow along to see how the baby would grow and adapt to the world.-------------------------------------------------------------------Cover by - Balderdact ------------------------------------------------------------------- https://discord.gg/mRM75h7vQy
8 78I am not your Daddy
"Is she your daughter?" a question asked by many."No she is my wife and mine" i said proudly. My little wify is all mine and i am her everything. Her tiny frame looked so seductive. She looked at me with sleepy eyes. "Go to sleep" i said firmly. She did a little action with her hand. "Let's sleep oman, come" I took a sigh. I went near her. Her new forming boobs were visible through sheer cloth and Her legs were exposed. I laid beside her. Her back was aginst my chest. I slowly slide my palm on her waist. "Umm" she moaned."You like it" i took her moan as yes. I pushed my hand towards her little soft stomach. I slowly grabbed her clothed boob and squeezed harder.Oman married 15 year old tara to save her from evil and dirty eyes of men who wanted to take advantage of her as she had no one to take care of her. Oman took her in his care but later on his sister forced him to marry tara. So that she can be safe. But fatima didn't knew, oman is beast himself. He will not stop himself, when he will start developing feelings for his little wife.But the problem was that when people looked at this couple they thaught they were father and daughter because of their big age gap. (18+)Historical novel!!! mature content !!!Read at your own risk.
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