WRITE LIKE A PRO USE APPOSITIVES An appositive

WRITE LIKE A PRO

USE APPOSITIVES • An appositive is a noun that adds a second image to a preceding noun. Ex. The raccoon enjoys eating turtle eggs. Better Sentence: The raccoon, a scavenger, enjoys eating turtle eggs. Best Sentence: The raccoon, a scavenger whom roams lake shorelines in a quest to fill its belly, enjoys eating turtle eggs.

EXAMPLES OF APPOSITIVES USED IN LITERATURE • “So Cherry Valance, the cheerleader, Bob’s girl, the Soc, was trying to help us. ” – S. E. Hinton, The Outsiders • “Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction. “ – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

USE ADJECTIVES OUT OF ORDER What to do: Instead of stringing three adjectives in a row, place on before the noun and two after the noun. Ex. The large, red-eyed, angry bull chased the matador. Better: The large bull, red-eyed angry, charged the matador.

EXAMPLES USED IN LITERATURE • “He ceased, but at once Boromir stood up, tall and proud, before them. ” – J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring • “As the light faded, deep blue gaps of night peered through like an upside-down ocean, bottomless and cold. ” – Scott Westerfeld, Uglies

USE VIVID VERBS Avoid “to be” verbs (is, was, were, been, being) Instead ENERGIZE your writing with more VIVID verb choices! Ex. The gravel road was on the left side of the barn. Better: The gravel road curled around the left side of the barn.

EXAMPLES OF VIVID VERBS IN LITERATURE “Wind whips through my clothes, making the fabric snap. ” – Veronica Roth, Divergent “He craned his neck, scanning the mob. ” – Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl

USE SIMILES AND METAPHORS • Comparing two dissimilar things for the sake of creating an image in the reader’s mind Ex. The wind cut through my scarf and froze my neck. Better: The wind, as icy as a witch’s curse, cut through my scarf and froze my neck.

EXAMPLES OF SIMILES AND METAPHORS IN LITERATURE • “The tray falls on the floor and the cake breaks apart, like soil falling from roots. ” – Ally Condie, Matched • “Zero was a mole as he dug his five-foot deep hole. ” – Louis Sachar, Holes

VARY YOUR SENTENCE BEGINNINGS If you start every sentence the same way, your writing becomes bland repetitive. Consider using the following techniques to begin sentences within your paragraphs. 1. Start with a dependent clause. Ex. As I looked all around me, I realized I was the only one still singing. 2. Start with a prepositional phrase. Ex. Of all the places I did not want to be in that moment, this had to be number one. 3. Start with an adjective or adverb. Ex. Fearless, I edged my way to the end of the pier, ready to jump in to save the drowning girl.

EXAMPLES FROM LITERATURE 1. Start with a clause “When she caught up with them, she put her arms around their waists as if they were three schoolgirls just walking the yard. ” -The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen 2. Start with a prepositional phrase “With a happy woop, I did a no-hands cartwheel off the porch steps, hit the ground, and rolled to my feet. ” -The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton 3. Start with an adjective or adverb “Sadly, Garvey placed a hand on Cole’s shoulder. ” -Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

NOW YOU ARE READY TO Write like a PRO!