tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post3545305788578102919..comments2024-01-05T05:25:41.644-05:00Comments on Writing Fiction Right from novelist Gail Gaymer Martin: MAKING PASSIVE WRITING ACTIVEGail Gaymer Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-44512059144299408252009-12-19T00:20:22.736-05:002009-12-19T00:20:22.736-05:00Faithful - Thanks. I'm glad you find it helpf...Faithful - Thanks. I'm glad you find it helpful. You can check out my books on my website at www.gailmartin.com or just look on Amazon.com under books: Gail Gaymer Martin. I also have an anthology in stores now, called Monterey Memories.<br /><br />Happy reading.<br />GailGail Gaymer Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-79198266768606424472009-12-09T09:13:53.255-05:002009-12-09T09:13:53.255-05:00Wow! This was really helpful. I can improve my wri...Wow! This was really helpful. I can improve my writing now! Thanks Gail.<br /><br />P.S. I've nver gotten d chance 2 read ur books, but with all dis great tips, I certainly will!Faithfulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-6705536369640103832009-11-16T09:56:17.492-05:002009-11-16T09:56:17.492-05:00Thanks Gail.
MikeThanks Gail.<br /><br />MikeMiketheBookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539114321586689687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-89595292556581882772009-11-14T12:16:08.071-05:002009-11-14T12:16:08.071-05:00Hi Mike - Since I don't write children's b...Hi Mike - Since I don't write children's books, it's difficult for me to answer this question. Sometimes I think the publisher looks at the story more than the qualities of good writing. Children accept simplicity, but I think action verbs are still important. I would note the qualities in those books of building story and plot, creating tension and conflict and then write with your writers voice which may be to avoid the "to be" verbs.<br /><br />I prefer to use action verbs but I still use many forms of "to be" because it sounds more natural in the way I'm using the words or it is something that can be said more simply and I don't have the need to be more emphatic. Example: She had been quiet as a child. If I avoid had been - it would pull me out of the thought of the character and the scene would have to be dramatized. That isn't necessary for that line. It's a judgment call at times. Use good sense and use action verbs where they will add something important and allow some "to be" verbs when it's a line that's needed but not that important. Hope that makes sense.<br /><br />GailGail Gaymer Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-10475551529514626432009-11-01T05:47:49.054-05:002009-11-01T05:47:49.054-05:00A further note on the Passivator, I've just fo...A further note on the Passivator, I've just found that having run it you can actually cut and paste the colour coded text back on to a Word document which becomes your new manuscript and it is easy then to edit the annotations as you see fit, rather than having to refer to the web page version.<br /><br />Sorry but I have another question on active writing. Since I'm writing a children's book (9-12) I was advised to read more children's books and have just finished reading a highly successful fantasy recommended to me. I was shocked by the prolific use of "was" and "were" etc in virtually every sentence. How did such a novel get published like this or does a good story simply override good writing? Or is such writing more acceptable in children's literature? Do you have any further thoughts on this please?MiketheBookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539114321586689687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-83091625275816035882009-10-04T17:54:44.029-04:002009-10-04T17:54:44.029-04:00Hi Mike - Thanks for the tip on the Passivator. I ...Hi Mike - Thanks for the tip on the Passivator. I think I'll share the link with this site since it is a great tool for writers. I'll give you credit.<br /><br />Thanks again,<br /><br />GailGail Gaymer Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-62604948299204773242009-10-04T03:53:01.104-04:002009-10-04T03:53:01.104-04:00Thanks Gail. That's very helpful. Incidentally...Thanks Gail. That's very helpful. Incidentally, have you ever come across the Passivator, a useful little web-based tool for seeking out all your "to be" verbs as well as "ly's" adverbs though it doesn't pick them all up. A useful scan. You have to save your word doc as a web page and then press the Passivator link. Worth a try. It can be found at: http://www.ftrain.com/ThePassivator.html<br />Mike<br /><br />P.S. Such a great site you have.MiketheBookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539114321586689687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-85664290318271260402009-10-04T00:54:14.971-04:002009-10-04T00:54:14.971-04:00Hi Mikethebook - He was running is appropriate whe...Hi Mikethebook - He was running is appropriate when you are using past continuous tense (also called the past progressive tense). When I arrived in the park, he was running.<br /><br />When I came home, she was reading. <br /><br />It's when two things are happening at the same time and one is not completed. Arrived is completed, but her reading was continuing.<br /><br />I use the to be verbs at times when trying to not use one becomes convoluted. It's better when you can to use a more vivid verb, but is, are, was, were, been, being, and be -- so have a purpose, but use them only when there's no other way. That helps keep your writing vivid, memorable and more active.<br /><br />GailGail Gaymer Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-7157292257772817512009-10-03T04:37:48.205-04:002009-10-03T04:37:48.205-04:00What place does the continuous tense ("he was...What place does the continuous tense ("he was running") have in good creative writing.The verb "to be" crops up again though it is not a passive tense. But is it still a passive voice to be avoided where possible? Indeed, from what you write, it seems that "to be" should be avoided wherever possible except in dialogue or indirect speech.MiketheBookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539114321586689687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-17870482832418933052009-02-04T16:39:00.000-05:002009-02-04T16:39:00.000-05:00Hi Mike - Introspection in deep POV is a person ta...Hi Mike - Introspection in deep POV is a person talking to him or herself -- so it would have the same properties as dialogue. It should sound natural and not be stinted.<BR/><BR/>Narration such as descriptions, transition scenes and action other narrative text should follow the active writing as much as possible.<BR/><BR/>GailGail Gaymer Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-69991539788463785412009-02-04T12:18:00.000-05:002009-02-04T12:18:00.000-05:00Thanks for the helpful answer. As I work on my boo...Thanks for the helpful answer. As I work on my book it occurs to me that the same "rule" probably applies to indirect speech and thoughts, as much as it does to direct dialogue. Am I right? It is the straight narrative that needs to be rid of passive writing and the use of the verb "to be?"MiketheBookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539114321586689687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-65062196577523938382009-02-04T09:11:00.000-05:002009-02-04T09:11:00.000-05:00Hi Mike -- Good question. Dialogue should be natu...Hi Mike -- Good question. Dialogue should be natural and we do use passive voice and passive sentences in our speaking - so there it is acceptable. Normally we want our narrative to be active to arouse vivid word pictures. Not so in dialogue -- unless you have a very well-educated character who spews on about such things, then that would be part of characterization.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the good question.<BR/>GailGail Gaymer Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-76819766269829188202009-02-04T05:04:00.000-05:002009-02-04T05:04:00.000-05:00What are the rules regarding passive writing in di...What are the rules regarding passive writing in dialogue? It seems to me that we all use the verb "to be" so much in our normal speech . . . was, is etc. Should we try and remove these from our writing or will that make the speech sound stilted and formal?<BR/>Thanks for any help you can give. I'm trying to do final edits on my first novel, a Christian fantasy for childrenMiketheBookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539114321586689687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-884043429658531422008-11-13T09:18:00.000-05:002008-11-13T09:18:00.000-05:00The problem with an automtic critque system is tha...The problem with an automtic critque system is that it doesn't always work for fiction. In fiction our deep POV narrative and dialogue is written in the style of the character so grammar will often be wront. We speak in fragments and our line of thought isn't alway the same. A person who critiques work and is a novelist can better understand the uniqueness of fiction rather than a program. <BR/>Gail<BR/>www.gailmartin.comGail Gaymer Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-39217995138150743522008-11-13T01:06:00.000-05:002008-11-13T01:06:00.000-05:00I find passive writing can be hard to identify in ...I find passive writing can be hard to identify in your own writing. <BR/><BR/>That's why I use the AutoCrit Editing Wizard to automatically identify this and dozens of other writing problems. I wouldn't be published without it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-63618018476431386232008-01-14T13:50:00.000-05:002008-01-14T13:50:00.000-05:00Thanks to all of you who've sent positive comments...Thanks to all of you who've sent positive comments. I'm so pleased this was helpful. I've been away for a week's vacation so I'm just now responding.<BR/><BR/>If your clients are writing Christian fiction, I'd love you to tell them about my book Writing the Christian Romance -- which works for all Christian genre that has romance and even some that doesn't. The book covers plain old good writing techniques. <BR/><BR/>GailGail Gaymer Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12299564615451895559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-15411080797045125032008-01-14T13:43:00.000-05:002008-01-14T13:43:00.000-05:00Gail, super examples. And I love that you mention ...Gail, super examples. And I love that you mention there's a place for passive voice in our writing.<BR/><BR/>I'll be sending clients here too. Great job! :-)Susan Lohrerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02359738214722726759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-11511850817778157452008-01-11T15:24:00.000-05:002008-01-11T15:24:00.000-05:00You cover so many bases here.Thanks so much!Sylvia...You cover so many bases here.<BR/><BR/>Thanks so much!<BR/><BR/>Sylvia C.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08568963507380761004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3228061546320890543.post-13224315192016671342008-01-10T13:32:00.000-05:002008-01-10T13:32:00.000-05:00Hey,Great tips for how to avoid passive writing. I...Hey,<BR/><BR/>Great tips for how to avoid passive writing. I'll send some of my coaching clients here to read it. Thanks so much.<BR/><BR/>Suzanne Lieurance<BR/>The Working Writer's Coach<BR/>http://www.workingwriterscoach.comSuzanne Lieurancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844924439366800477noreply@blogger.com