TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING - PART 2

Use a Simple Tense Instead of a Progressive Tense
Definition = Progressive tenses show continuing action. They include a form of "to be" plus a verb participle (usually is or was with a verb ending in -ing). Progressive tenses show continuing action.


Examples:
1) She was walking down the street.
2) He is doing his homework.


This continuity of the action can also be shown with the verbs "begin/begun" and "start/started."


Examples:
1) She began folding clothes.
2) He starts writing the note.


Whether written either way, unless the action is interrupted, the action comes across better when you use the simple tense.

Examples:
1) She walked down the street.
2) He does his homework.
3) She folded the clothes
4) He writes the note.
Why we should avoid the progressive tense
1) The helping verb used in the progressive tense dillutes the focus on the active verb.
2) Unlike in a movie, where we can see multiple actions at the same time, in writing events can only be described one at a time, even if they happen simultaneously. For example, when a bar room brawl breaks out, a drunk throws the first punch, his girlfriend screams, and the bartender ducks all at the same time, but we have to write about them them one at a time.

Compare the examples below:
Progressive tense = While Billy Bob was throwing a wild punch at Dueling Dan, Sue Ann was letting out a bloodcurdling scream and the bartender was ducking under the counter.
Simple past = When Billy Bob threw a wild punch at Dueling Dan, Sue Ann let out a bloodcurdling scream and the bartender ducked under the counter.

As you can see, the simple tense is less wordy and it shows the action better by keeping the focus on the main verbs.
TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING- PART 3
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Suzanne Hartmann - 2012
Author of PERIL: FAST TRACK THRILLER #1