ABSTRACT
A common perception among young writers is that the adjective, or “describing word,” is the most important element in “colorful” writing. A strong case can be made that it is, in fact, the verb that is the strongest conveyor of the image. Though this contention is debatable, it is true that students tend to string adjectives out like beads on a string to the detriment of the flow of the writing. To give the verb at least equal billing, read aloud descriptive passages from literature that showcase the image value of the verb and make the passages available as models to the students. (The same approach can be used to demonstrate metaphorical style.) Then bring in several pictures depicting action, as well as still scenes from which action can be inferred. Model for students how to write several verbs that reflect some part of a picture and ask them to choose the ones they think best convey the image. On their own, they can do this exercise several times. Observation skills are the key here. (Note: A good source of models for scene writing is The Describer’s Dictionary: A Treasury of Terms and Literary Quotations, 2nd Edition, by David Grambs and Ellen Levine, Norton Press, 2014.)
