Writing Tip- "ing" Words

This has nothing to do with the subject, but I thought it was funny.

I have this really bad habit when it comes to writing my first draft- I fill it with "ing" words. I don't know why, but things always happen in the progressive tense. While sometimes it is ok, it occurs far too often in my first draft.

Once the second draft comes, I go through my manuscript with an ink pen I use specifically to circle every "ing" verb. I do this whether or not it needs to be changed, just so that I know it is there. It helps me to see how many are actually there. I just corrected one paragraph that contained six of them.

Remember, "ing" verbs imply that everything happens at the same time. This often is not the truth.

Ex: Putting toothpaste on his toothbrush, John brushed his teeth.

While it is the tendency to write the above sentence like that, one can not brush their teeth while putting toothpaste on the brush (unless one is just odd). It should read more like:

John out toothpaste on his toothbrush and then brushed his teeth.

"Ing" verbs also can make your manuscript seem to rhyme (even if it doesn't) which will put off readers. Take out as many as you can and often you will find that you have written something much better.


Cool News: I love How to Train Your Dragon. It inspired the dragons in my story, Bonded Souls (I will explain this at a further date). So I am excited to see that there will be a How to Train Your Dragon 2. If you have not seen the teaser trailer, here it is (And I have one word- HICCUP!):