Michele Knudsen

Whether you write short stories, flash fiction, or complete novels, it’s important to be clear, concise, and interesting enough to keep the attention of your readers. Passive voice occurs when you emphasize the verb and the object of the sentence instead of the subject. It tells what is done to someone or something, and can remove your character from the action. Try to avoid passive verbs such as “to be”, which include “was”, “were”, “is” and “are.”

Passive sentences, puts distance between the reader and your story.

Passive Example: Mary was shrieking and her blood was dripping on the tile floor.

Active Voice tells what a person or thing does and brings the reader into the story.

Active Example: Mary shrieked as her blood dripped on the tile floor.

The Active Voice makes writing clearer, more concise, and uses fewer words. It brings your characters and the action up front to your readers.

Writing in Passive Voice can obscure the subject of the sentence, sometimes confusing the reader. It is very easy to change Passive Voice sentences to Active Voice sentences.

Passive Example: The woman that was tied up on the floor was trying to scream through her gag and was trying to loosen the ties that were binding her hands and feet while three knives were being sharpened by the crazed killer.

Active Example: The woman on the floor screamed through her gag, and tried to loosen the ties binding her hands and feet as the crazed killer sharpened three large knives.

Cutting unnecessary words make the sentence clearer and sharper for your reader.

You can improve your writing, and keep your readers attention by turning Passive Voice into Active Voice.