VERBS – The Writing Coach

Acronyms usually don’t help your stories. Besides the obvious ones such as FBI or CIA, they’re confusing to readers and can create a measles effect in your writing. But one acronym will strengthen your writing every time. It’s V.E.R.B.S.

And if you use V.E.R.B.S. you will become a better writer. Here’s the meaning of V.E.R.B.S.:

V = VIGOR. A major component of vigorous writing is verbs-stronger ones. Strengthen your verbs by using ones that are specific, descriptive, show mood and are active: plunge, dive, decide, and kick. Avoid the passive voice. Example: Strong verbs are used by strong writers is passive. The active sentence Strong writers use strong verbs cuts unnecessary words and are much stronger.

Likewise, trim weak linking verbs such as is (there is, for example), has and make. Verbal phrases that carry unnecessary prepositional phrases (free up, check on, shut down), abstract nouns or adjectives Extending verbs with the suffix “ize.” And tagging adverbs such as very to a verb when a stronger word would be better

E = Enthusiasm: The drive to want to learn more the desire to get the interview that no one else can get. The attitude to check all names and facts one last time the joy of seeing your byline on Page 1 Enthusiasm can drive an average editor to become a good editor and a good editor to become an outstanding editor.

William Faulkner should have been a loser. He did poorly in elementary school. Dropped out of high school Dropped out after only three semesters in a University of Mississippi program for World War I veterans Dropped out after a failed attempt to become a poet

But the Mississippi native became one of the greatest writers in the 20th century because he wouldn’t quit. He set short-term goals. Demanded a certain number of words from him every day. Focused on what he wrote about and on minute details.

He was driven-enthusiastic. Enough that his writing eventually won two Pulitzer Prizes and the Nobel Prize in literature

Remember, enthusiasm generates energy breeds experience. Experience creates expectations. And the only way to fulfill those expectations is through enthusiasm. A person with enthusiasm can influence one person, a few people or hundreds, thousands or millions now and in the future. Faulkner died in 1962, but his writing remains with us.

Likewise, your writing, your enthusiasm, will leave a lasting memory.

R = Rewrite, or Edit Yourself: Rewrite your stories and reports as many times as possible. Ernest Hemingway was known for his rewrites, for saying that “Good writing is architecture, not interior decoration.” There- fore, even on deadline, it’s the rewrite that becomes the best story, not the first draft.

That involves editing yourself. Here are a few ways to self-edit (some you may know, but, hey, it won’t hurt to review):

• Double-check, triple-check your facts and spelling of names. (And know the paper’s style, too, because your editors will expect you to know it.)
• Trim your prepositions, adjectives and adverbs: The captain of the police department could easily be police captain. Adverbs usually add baggage to your sentences. And adjectives tend to tell readers what you think; you need to show them through details.
• Limit your clichés and trim or explain the jargon, the vocabulary of a certain profession, and cut the journalese, which is language used by journalists and not anyone else (He faced a fire storm of criticism).
• Get rid of quotes that don’t add to your stories. Quotes filled with numbers, facts and jargon or repeat information already in the story should be paraphrased so you can save a few words for more details. Use quotes to emphasize that are descriptive or provide flow to your story. In an Associated Press story about 8t. Louis Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire, the writer hit a home run of his own by including an excellent quote from McGwire on a recent slump: “I’ve been an ornament the last month.”
• For editors, remember to double-check what you’ve just edited to ensure that you didn’t edit a mistake into a reporter’s story. Don’t rush so much that you’ll have regrets the next day.

B = Be Specific: Find the details-the pertinent details-that will help the reader see, taste, smell or hear your story. When at the scene or interviewing, look for details that will help you show the scene to the reader. Instead of telling readers about a small group of protesters, tell them how many protesters are in the group, the group the protesters are with and what their signs say. If you’re interested in improving your V.E.R.B.S., you’re interested in details and imagery-and good writing.

S = Simplify to Seek Clarity: If you seek clarity, you want the reader to understand your writing.

It means simplicity. Remembering that the best sentences are subject, verb, and object. It means a focus—one idea per sentence. Eliminating the jargon, cliches and journalese that are misunderstood Writing sentences of fewer than 30 words; most 23 to 25 words long placing fewer than three numbers or three prepositions in them.

It means trimming long, confusing words-terms that are not strong and not abstract. Avoiding misplaced modifiers or clauses Avoiding sentences with long backed in clauses that are unnecessary or delay the subject. Using good quotes instead of long, meaningless ones

It means what I wrote earlier: using strong verbs-strong words: He decided instead of he made the decision. She drove the car instead of the car was driven by her-unless, of course, you’re using the passive voice to emphasize the sentence’s object

Use your experience in writing to become better understood- and that’s what we should strive for in everything we write. Strong writing means V.E.R.B.S.

Vigor through Verbs, Enthusiasm, Rewriting, Being Specific and Simplicity to Seek Clarity. Follow these traits and you’re on your way to becoming a Hemingway or Faulkner.