Page 1

- WELCOME

Page 2
- INNER RESEARCH

Page 3
- WHAT'S ON YOUR DESK?
- WRITER MOVIE OF THE MONTH
- SAY WHAT?
- MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF WRITING

Page 4
- MAKING A SCENE

Page 5
- JUST CURIOUS 
- LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT ...

Page 6
- CLEANING UP PROSE
- CURRENT CONTEST
- SAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE

Page 7
- CHALKBOARD

Page 8
- QUIZ CORNER
- CHARITY OF THE MONTH

 

 


VERB Archives


 

The VERB 

subscribe     unsubscribe

 

Do NOT use a spam-blocking address that requires us to respond.

 


CONTACT US




CLEANING UP PROSE

Shouts appear to scream for ALL CAPS, but resist this format overkill. Dialogue presented in capital letters is not only rude, it's downright annoying.

When your characters feel the urge to raise their voices, shut off the Caps Lock and let that simple exclamation point do its job. 

 


 

EXAMPLE:
"JOE!" she shouted, easing up the stairs. "JOE, ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW OR I'M GOING HOME!"

CLEANED UP:
"Joe!" She eased up the stairs. "Joe, answer me right now or I'm going home!" 

EXAMPLE:
The high-pitched voice shrilled, "I DARE YOU TO CROSS MY THRESHOLD AT THIS HOUR OF THE NIGHT!" 

CLEANED UP:
The high-pitched voice shrilled, "I dare you to cross my threshold at this hour of the night!" 

EXAMPLE:
"SIT DOWN!" Thelma shouted, jumping up, wielding a rolling pin. "I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU! I'M NOT TALKING TO ANY OF YOU OVER THERE 'CAUSE YOU'LL NEVER GET IT! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WAKE UP AND SEE YOUR UGLY FACES EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK!"

CLEANED UP:
"Sit down!" Thelma jumped up, wielding a rolling pin. "I'm not talking to you! I'm not talking to any of you over there 'cause you'll never get it! You don't know what it's like to wake up and see your ugly faces every day of the week!"

OUR CURRENT CONTEST

The first chapter is the beginning of the story, but it doesn't necessarily have to begin at the beginning. Its purpose is to grab the attention of the readers. By the time they reach the end of it, they should be tripping over their fingers to get to the second one. Have you begun in the right place? 

All entries receive three Opinions!

Complete details.

 

SAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. 

Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone. 

 

Page 7