Motivate Modifiers into Nouns and Verbs

Avoid the temptation to over-modify your writing. Instead of writing about a beautiful, cloud-filled, morning sky, show an example. Make the reader feel what you do. Let clouds ramble across the sky. Turn them into elephants, ducks and alligators.

Make lists of nouns and verbs to use when you feel the temptation to add adjectives or adverbs to your sentences.  Add to the list when you come across words with rhythm or sensation.

Silversmith    Flee            Wilderness    Peridot    

Gravel           Tromp          Tendril           Parka

Vagabond     Gaze             Leopard         Sprinkle

Arabesque     Trellis          Topple           Triumph

Baroque        Warp             Rattle            Jasmine

Wasp             Guess            Yearn            Maroon        

Marionette     Hunger         Appeal          Monsoon    

Feelers           Ratchet         Jingle            Locks

Fire                Rust             Shuffle          Trapeze     

Leotard         Smoke          Traipse         Sapphire

When you do a freewrite, play with nouns that can serve as verbs.  Add raspberries and gleam with truffles.

Creative Write:  Write for ten minutes using the words above. Try drawing vertical lines to connect them. Look for words in crosses. Circle words and let your eyes decide.  Bump and drive them across the page.