200 Ways to Say “Went”
A few weeks ago, I created a graphic poster that listed 100 ways to say “said.” It was quite a hit. But there are plenty of words that young writers settle for, perhaps because they are unaware of the many alternatives.
I doubt there’s another action verb blander than go or it’s past form, went. It seemed to me that there are numerous better, more vivid alternatives, so I started brainstorming. Before long, I not only passed 100, but made it all the way to 200. In fact, I’ve thought of more since, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
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Writing about Literature: Using the Literary Present
Books as presents
When I say literary present, I’m not talking about receiving a Barnes and Noble gift card on your birthday. The literary present refers to the custom of using present tense verbs when writing about events that take place in a work of fiction.
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The Structure of a Good Paper
When we refer to the structure of a paper, we mean the way the paper is organized. Well-structured papers take the time to creatively introduce the subject matter, present the content in a clear and logical order, and conclude by reinforcing the main idea and providing a sense of closure.
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5 Tips for Creating Memorable Characters
The most important aspect of a great fictional character is how much the reader cares about him. Some characters are lovable (Wilbur the pig, Bilbo Baggins, Pinocchio), some are heroic (Odysseus, Paul Bunyan, Superman), some are tragic (Hamlet, Willy Loman, John Henry), and some are just plain evil (Iago, Saruman, The Wicked Witch of the West). The point is, we feel strongly about them one way or another.
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