Passive Voice VS Active Voice

Today’s tip seems to be a big pain in the neck for all writers. Aspiring, and multi published alike.

Passive Voice: Is basically a second hand report of what has happened.  Passive voice is best served as a brief summery of details that are too small for there own scenes, but vital to the plot. Also used for Narrative Summary. It also goes hand in hand with and usually is telling.

It”s a great, effective way to cover a large time skip, or a good place to add some internal monologue {where your characters reflect on what happened and make their next decision.}

Be warned, too much passive voice leads to bored readers and draggy chapters.  Bored readers, lead to lost sales, leads to lost contracts, well… you get the idea.

Now, let’s go over a few surefire warning signs that the writing is passive:

1. Had been, or was followed by an active verb. {such as “had been sitting”, or “was running”} {This is one of the biggest warning signs.}

2. Words like she looked, instead of she saw. Or, He walked, instead of he strode. {Another strong indication the writing is passive.}

Active Voice:  Adds action to the scene. That is what it boils down to.Also known as showing.  Rather than telling us “he’s angry”, we show his anger through his actions {jaw clenched, swiping books and stacks of papers off his desk, ect}. It pulls your readers into the scene, making them feel like a spectator in the scene.

Be warned, all action and no reflection also makes for bored readers.

Now, let’s discuss some key ways to know the writing is active:

1. The action is unmistakable, and clearly shown.

2. Use of strong action verbs {tantalized, ravaged, discovered, ect}

This isn’t in any of the writing books I’ve read, it’s just my take on things. Honestly, I hate all the technical explanations. I prefer something that really drives the point home and for me, this is it. Boiled down to the bare bones, without the technical mubo jumbo, lol.

Here is what I tell everyone I critique for when I explain why we need to balance them:

As writers it is our duty to find a way to balance the passive with the active, and that varies by story.

This is where we go forth and apply the age old adage: practice, practice, practice.

What do you think of the first Writers Wednesday Tip? What is your take on this subject? Did I explain clearly? Did I miss anything? Feel free to speak up.