Brushstroke #5 Active Voice

The gravel road was on the left side of the barn.

The gravel road curled around the left side of the barn.

Rockwell was a beautiful lake.

Canada geese could be heard across the water.

Because active verbs create a sense of motion and vivid imagery, while being verbs can make writing feel static.

Because being verbs are grammatically incorrect.

Because active verbs are always shorter than being verbs.

Because being verbs are only used in poetry.

It crawled across the floor up onto his nightstand.

He reached for a nearby copy of Sports Illustrated.

Hands trembling, sweat dripping from his face, he flung the magazine left and right.

He could just see a thick, black blanket of movement.