Verbs

No, I'm not running out of ideas for quirky titles. (promise)

Yes, verbs are important enough to constitute their own title. (promise)

About now you're probably thinking, verbs, yeah, I learned about those in first grade. A sentence needs a subject and verb. Got it.

But do you?

A sentence needs a subject and verb to be complete (upon first grade standards), but that doesn't mean your verbs should be toss-away. Let's take a look at an example;

Rough Draft sentence: He walked across the lot.

Revised Draft sentence: He [trundled, stumbled, hopped, promenaded, tottered, etc.] across the lot.

Do you see the difference? The rough draft sentence is fine. It's a sentence. But as far as hard-hitting writing, it lacks voice and stage direction. The revised draft sentence - no matter which new verb you choose - has increased ten fold. Not only can you picture the protagonist more clearly, but the action is more forceful. The flow of the story, the tension you want to keep so effectively high in your reader, is upheld. If someone "walks", you know what's happening, but that's it. Now, if that same someone "stumbles", you infer their mood, their gait, and their personality in that moment. Also, it keeps the reader interested because they aren't bogged down in crappy verbs.

So, yes, verbs are important. When you're revising, don't settle on comfortable verbs. Find a thesaurus and a suitable verb that gives your writing more punch and keeps the action going - tension high, of course. Your manuscript will thank you. (promise)