In a sentence, the active voice refers to a situation where the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb. For example, βThe snake bit the boy.” The subject , βSnake,’ is performing the action of the verb, β bite.’ A passive voice on the other hand makes the subject the receiver of the action. That subject is rather acted upon.
Example: βThe boy was bitten by the snake. β
Here, the grammatical subject of the sentence takes the object position.
In telling a story, these are the two voices you have to choose from. You don’t have to use one while completely ignoring the other, but one should be dominant. We recommend you use the active voice.
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ππ πππππππ π ππππ πππππ πππππ ππ πππ πππππ ππ ππππ πππππππ:
By using the active voice, you make the subject perform an action and then every other thing that comes after either describes the action of the verb or the subject. This way you create a vivid picture of events. Your reader is able to capture your thoughts quicker.
Example: βAda was slapped by her father.” (Passive).
β Twang! Her fathers open palms landed on her cheeks.β (Active).
From the second example, you can literally see the actions that take place. It brings a vivid image of the slap to mind. That is what the active voice does in your story.
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Active verbs help to point the reader’s attention to what is being done at a particular moment. An active voice puts your reader in the middle of the action in your story. This keeps him engaged in whatever is going on in the story. Here, it is advised that the writer sticks to active verbs, to avoid sentences that look passive.
Example:
βMonica was visited by her father.”
β Was” here is not an active verb. When you use verbs like this, the aim of showing instead of telling is defeated. But if you actually use words that explain the action and make it more vivid, the readers won’t be bored. For example:
β Monica’s father visited her.”
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Simple sentences help people to process information faster. Passive voice makes complicated sentences. Your reader might get lost in the wordiness of your work. If your focus is on making the reader better understand your work, then it is best to use the active voice in your sentences.
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In story writing, telling your reader what characters are feeling makes your writing passive. You must describe these feelings. You don’t just have to state the character’s state of being, you have to describe it. This makes readers relate better with the story. It brings them closer to what is happening in the narrative.
If the character is angry, there are facial expressions that are related to the feeling of anger. Some people’s muscles may twitch, they may frown, their body language could change. Bring out these actions using the active voice.
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Bringing in unnecessary words that don’t suggest any action slows down the pace of your story. Active voice on the other hand moves the narrative forward and therefore helps you to create vivid content that does not bore or drag the reader’s imagination.
When you think of writing your book, you should carefully select active verbs that help in your story development and keep your readers alert. Use the active voice more often to get better results from your audience.
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