Write Better Prose – The Power of the Verb | Writing Tips

ah yes, I am a ~verb hoe

Here's a video on verbs because I love them! Some of this info came from a lecture I took last year, some from a conversation I had with my writing buddy/sister, but most comes from me spending an ungodly amount of time thinking about why verbs are the Ultimate words.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:34 - What is default lexicon?
0:53 - Things to consider before revising your verbs
1:26 - The problem with expected verbs
2:15 - Be in control of your word choice
2:34 - Why are strong verbs important?
2:56 - Verbs as image
4:40 - Verbs as tighteners
5:44 - Verbs as tone & voice
6:25 - What is a language environment?
7:34 - Examples

LINKS

Want to read excerpts from my books?

MY WORK
→ "Primary Organs" in The Malahat Review (short fiction - fc. Winter 2020)
→ "We sell skin on sale" in Augur Magazine (poetry - fc. Winter 2020)
→ "My Wolf Lives on the Windowsill" in Grain Magazine (poetry): [print only]

ABOUT ME
Hi y'all! I'm Rachel, a nineteen-year-old writer from Toronto. I've been writing for six years and am in my second year as a writing undergrad. On my channel, I document my writing journey and try to post once a week (usually on Fridays). You can read my work in issue 25 of Minola Review, Grain Magazine, The Malahat Review (fc. Winter 2020), Augur Magazine (fc. Winter 2020), on my blog, and elsewhere!

Outro: This is not a joke by Monplaisir

My equipment:
→ Vlog camera: iPhone 8
→ Fancy camera: Sony ZV1
→ Vlog mic: Rode Video Micro
→ Sit-down mic: Blue Snowball iCE
→ Editor: Premiere Pro

#authortube

[rachelwritesbooks]

TIMESTAMPS:
0:34 - What is default lexicon?
0:53 - Things to consider before revising your verbs
1:26 - The problem with expected verbs
2:15 - Be in control of your word choice
2:34 - Why are strong verbs important?
2:56 - Verbs as image
4:40 - Verbs as tighteners
5:44 - Verbs as tone & voice
6:25 - What is a language environment?
7:34 - Examples of how to subvert stronger verbs

[ShaelinWrites]

fav verbs that I would die for include: sear, flicker, rust (idk why i am overusing this in every sentence rn), cable, scallop, scalpel, sift, cinch, gum, noose, runnel, etc etc idk i love them all !!!

[margauxb]

The "leaves season" double meaning is killing me it's so good oml

[billyalarie]

you and shaelin should full-on do a collab video.

OR A ZOOM CHAT

[bobbobington]

'The leaves season the grass' is awesome.

[avasghost]

I didn’t know how much I needed this until now

[daltonpatterson]

"Verbs as tighteners" spoke to me the most. I definitely could stand to use better verb choice to cut down the adverb use

[kxrimgh]

ok i have 2 things to say.
1- THE INFO IN THIS VIDEO IS HELPFUL AND AMAZING (thanks lol)
2- THE BLOOPERS AT THE END ARE SO GOOD I'M ACTUALLY WHEEZING

[miggseye]

What a great video! Fresh content. Thank you for sharing this valuable writing info and these tips with us.

[growithjoy]

Thanks so much, just went through my manuscripts and took out as many 'like' as possible.

[yo.johnson]

I love how you mentioned that this becomes easier the more you try. Thank you. So encouraging.

[tia]

the way you’re succinctly incorporating sound, atmosphere and movement w ‘the stream trilled between the rocks’ is mindblowing to me. this is a really quality video and i love how you write.

[maya-gur]

I once heard an advice (I don't even remember where I heard it) that said using verbs with ing at the end is not a good thing, because it ruins the flow of the prose and makes your writing chunky or something like that. I feel like ever since I've heard it, I've been trying to avoid the ing verbs, even just subconsciously, despite the fact that I love using them. I think it gives my prose a good flow and doesn't make it chunky at all.

[kimwicks]

This is SUCH an unique/great video!! Most of the writing vids I see on yt are plot related (how to write action scenes/romance etc) and I'm so happy whenever you make craft videos. Also I LOVE unexpected verbs it improves my life quality in 103%

[smalldewdrops]

this is a truly informative video! i am also a big fan of strong verbs, and this is my first time learning about default lexicon. i'm a hobby writer so i have been learning as i go. your video is so helpful to me and easy to digest. thank you for clarifying better use for them in my writing ♡

[Gcherry]

I never thought of verbs like this before. Thanks Rachel for talking about them! I don't know if I have any favourite verbs. I'll have to think about verbs I like. ShaelinWrites has a good list though!
A verb I really don't like would be "got" or "get." To me it sounds so slangy and awkward in sentences, so I try to avoid it at all costs (unless it makes sense for the character to say it).

[cjpreach]

In her novel "Vinegar Boy, " Alberta Hawse used LIQUIDS as her literary theme. "The morning sun poured out of the jug . ."

[amandagrubbs]

I'm obsessed with this! I loved what you said about relating your verbs to help with voice. My current MC is a monster hunter, and I love the idea of subverting language expectations by using more verbs like "stalk" and "track" and "dress", etc. I'm so going to try a little exercise where I only use verbs as such. Great advice, as always. Thanks, Rachel!

[candidreads]

As a linguistic student I appreciated this video so much! It's a perfect example of how language flows and blooms in time.
As a non native speaker I also got some tips out of it on how to improve my writing in english which is something I have always been pretty insecure about. Thank you so much!

[TurtlesAndTortoises]

Inventing new verbs is my new hobby 😂🤧