Become An ‘Active’ Writer And Make Money

Do you want to learn how to write in the active voice, but don’t want to be bombarded with boring, hard to remember stuff about action verbs, intransitive verbs and direct objects? OK. Then this article is for you!
Below, you will find a simple exercise that will get you thinking and then writing in the active voice. So that active voice writing becomes second nature, the article places most emphasis upon learning through repetition. Above all, you’ll learn that active voice writing is a frame of mind. Adopt that mindset each time you write and, in time, you’ll become an active writer by instinct.
Here we go then:
Which of these two sentences do you think is more concise?
1. The piano player played my favourite song.
Or
2. My favourite song was played by the piano player.
Gotta be the first one (written in the active voice), don’t you think? The writing somehow moves forward more, whereas in sentence 2 (written in the passive voice) the information feels like it is being conveyed in reverse. Sentence 1 also feels smoother, clearer… It is quicker to read and requires less effort.
‘Warning’ words
Be vigilant for sentences with ‘was’ or ‘that’ in them – passive writing indicators!
My best shirt was ironed first for me by my wife.
To become:
My wife ironed my best shirt first.
The car that was red came first in the race.
To become:
The red car won the race.
Active Voice Writing Exercise
Grab some fresh paper and have a go at rewriting the following 10 (passive voice) sentences in the active voice. As you do so, imagine you are in a rush and need to convey the info as quickly and succinctly as possible to someone on the other end of a phone. You must run! You’ve got a train to catch! There isn’t time for any long-winded flowery stuff!
1. The Grapes of Wrath was read by the teacher.
2. Birmingham was the city where Natalie grew up.
3. The Joshua Tree was recorded by U2 in 1986.
4. My arms were covered with elaborate tattoos.
5. Countless artists were influenced by Vermeer’s style.
6. It is easy to learn French compared to learning many other languages.
7. It was through writing her novel Lucky that Alice Sebold first gained fame.
8. The judge dismissed the case.
9. In the first travel brochure I picked up I found the best information about Ireland.
10. The reluctance by waste disposal companies to work over Christmas is something that local residents can’t stand.
(Answers at foot of article)
How Active Voice Writing Can Make You Money
For online writers, being able to write in the active voice is essential. Web site pages, blog posts, articles, product descriptions, online press releases. All these require write short, gusty sentences. Active voice writing is exactly that.
Practice, Practice, Practice…
Why not take a piece of existing online writing and see if you can recognise sentences (or even headings, subheadings etc.) that may need some magic active voice dust sprinkled in them?
Good luck with getting active.
Answers to exercises:
1. The teacher read The Grapes of Wrath.
2. Natalie grew up in Birmingham.
3. U2 recorded The Joshua Tree in 1986.
4. Elaborate tattoos covered my arms.
5. Vermeer influenced countless artists.
6. Compared to learning other languages, French is easy.
7. Alice Sebold first gained fame after writing Lucky.
8. The case was dismissed.
9. The best information about Ireland was in the first travel brochure.
10. Local residents can’t stand waste disposal companies’ reluctance to work over Christmas.