Mslexia

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Writer's tip

#9: CHOOSING VERBS

With adjectives and adverbs so out of fashion, you need to cram as much meaning as possible into your nouns and verbs. Verbs, in particular, can pack a powerful punch. Chosen with care and imagination, they can convey both action and character.

Confirmed adverb junkies might need the methadone of Roget's Thesaurus to start with. But beware: a thesaurus provides workaday alternatives rather than inspired interpretations. So don't become an addict.

Take this simple sentence:
Clare put on her new dress.
Roget's alternatives for the verb 'put on' are: 'wore,' 'tried on,' 'donned,' 'slipped on,' 'got into,' 'clothed herself in.' None of these adds any value to the sentence.

Try the following exercises instead:

• Think of Clare's shape and her personality; imagine the kind of movement she would make getting into the dress.
• Think of an animal this movement reminds you of.
  Clare snaked into her new dress.
• Think of an inanimate object or substance the movement reminds you of
  Clare poured herself into her new dress.
• Think of an aspect of that animal, or substance, that you could use to suggest something about Clare's character
  Clare insinuated herself into her new dress.
• Think of the shape of the dress, or the sound it makes. Is there some aspect of the dress that reminds you of something in Clare's personality?
  Clare rustled herself into her new dress.
  Claire flounced herself into her new dress.

See how simply changing the verb conveys a completely new image of the dress, of Clare's physical appearance, and her personality.