Creative Writing 101: Get Active!

This week's quick tip to improve your writing is to use an active voice for prose instead of a passive voice. Here's an example:

Passive:

The fish was caught by Bill, and a pail is where he tossed it.

Active:

Bill caught the fish and tossed it in a pail.

Do you notice how strong the difference is between them? The active voice both reads and sounds better than the passive, and helps draw the reader into your story.

The formula for active is:

Subject + Verb + Object

In contrast, passive is:

Object + Verb + Subject

Passive voice does have its uses, such as emphasizing the action itself.

The building exploded when he activated the detonator.

Try this technique and see if it doesn't improve your craft. Happy writing!

CK

Make pages, not excuses!