Transcript Strong Modifiers

Strong Modifiers
Strong Modifiers
Another part of showing is using modifiers to describe.
Modifiers is the term for adjectives and adverbs as a
whole.
Just like verbs, there are strong modifiers and weak
ones.
Try to use the strongest ones you can find in your
writing.
Examples:
When Jane's back was turned, the bull snorted
and came after her. She turned and was afraid
when she saw how big it was. He ran very fast.
When Jane's back was turned, the raging bull
snorted and began to charge. Turning, she
flinched in terror at his monstrous size. He tore
across the pasture like lightning.
What specific words make the 2nd one better?
 The monster in your story doesn't have to be ugly...he could be _____.
On the other hand, the princess isn't just pretty, she's _____.
The scenery isn't interesting, it's __.
Something small could be _____.
Instead of a good hero, he could be _____.
Instead of irritating, the class clown could be _____.
Instead of big, make the giant ______.
You may not laugh at something kinda funny, but you'd burst out
laughing at ______.
Not just soft hair, but ______.
Not just long hair, but ______.
Not just bright sky, but_____.
Not only sparkly, but ______.
What about colors? There are so many better colors than plain blue or
green. Try these:
___Red.
-- Blue.
-- Yellow.
-- Purple. -- Green
___Orange. -- Brown.
-- Black.
-- White.
-- any others?
Now put it in a scene.
I met a really nice guy with a great personality
and a good smile. His clothes were interesting,
and he had some wonderful ideas about
awesome places to go on great adventures.
Wow...Can't wait to meet this guy...he sounds
so...um...average.
You try to make him/her come alive!
Use a thesaurus to find the most DESCRIPTIVE
words possible.
Use a thesaurus to find the most DESCRIPTIVE
words possible.
I met a/an ______ guy/girl with a/an
____ personality and a/an ____ smile.
His/Her clothes were _______, and
he/she had ______ of ______ ideas
about ____ places to go on a ______
vacation.
Again...
Now captivate your reader with a
description of your day with this new
friend. Use strong modifiers and verbs
Don't allow even one ordinary, overused
word to creep in!
Here's your opening sentence:
You'll never believe the ____ day we
had!
Remember though...
Great modifiers are no substitute for strong
verbs.
You are better off with just a few modifiers
and more strong verbs.
A good rule is no more than 1 modifier per
noun or verb.
Too many modifiers often seems too "fluffy"
& may actually take away from your story.
Don't let all your hard work go to waste!
Examples of "fluff"
Her tiny, undersized, weak body shook as the
sticky, salty sweat trickled down her tremulous,
frightened face. Her normally luminous, large
eyes looked absolutely enormous as lots of huge
crocodile tears formed in the corners of her
piercing, sky-blue eyes.
Underline all the adjectives in this example.
What words can we eliminate?
What words can we combine using a better word
from the thesaurus?