How to Upgrade Your Verbs
Upgrading your verbs is the fastest way to turn a "flat" sentence into a cinematic one. By following the principles here you can shift from telling the reader what happened to showing them how it felt.
Here are some fresh examples across different categories to help you level up your writing:
1. Replacing "Be" and Sensory Verbs
Instead of using "was," "is," or "felt," find a verb that embodies the physical manifestation of that emotion or state.
Weak: I was nervous.
Upgraded: My hands trembled.
Weak: The room was messy.
Upgraded: Laundry suffocated the floor.
Weak: I felt the cold wind.
Upgraded: The wind bit through my jacket.
2. Enhancing Specificity
General verbs are "invisible." Specific verbs create a mental image of the character's body language.
| General Verb | Upgraded (Aggressive) | Upgraded (Relaxed) | Upgraded (Secretive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talk | Barked | Drawled | Murmured |
| Sit | Slumped | Perched | Lurked |
| Eat | Devoured | Nibbled | Picked |
| Take | Snatched | Collected | Filched |
3. Implementing the "Rule of Three"
Grouping three verbs creates a rhythmic punch, especially effective in songwriting or dramatic prose.
Weak: He broke my heart.
Upgraded: He shattered, scattered, and discarded my heart.
Weak: I want to succeed.
Upgraded: I will climb, conquer, and claim my spot.
Weak: The storm ruined the garden.
Upgraded: The storm uprooted, drowned, and leveled the garden.
4. Replacing "Lazy" Movement Verbs
The word "went" is often the biggest culprit in weak writing. Swap it for a verb that describes how the movement happened.
Weak: She went into the meeting.
Upgraded: She marched into the meeting. (Confident)
Upgraded: She slipped into the meeting. (Late/Shy)
Upgraded: She stumbled into the meeting. (Disorganized)
Pro-Tip: If you find yourself using an adverb (e.g., "walked quickly"), try to replace the whole phrase with one strong verb (e.g., "sprinted" or "hustled"). This increases the "wattage" of your writing immediately.