Aug. 30th, 2011

meridian_rose: pen on letter background  with text  saying 'writer' (Default)
8 - Do you use the passive voice or active voice? Both? Do you make a conscious decision to do it, or is it simply something that happens? When do you use passive voice versus active voice, and why? Example of passive voice: The ball was thrown by the boy. Example of active voice: The boy threw the ball.

I don't know. Sometimes Word insists I'm using the passive voice – but Word is often wrong about grammar, especially when it comes to creative works rather than formal letters. Sometimes the passive voice works – maybe the ball is the important object here; the ball lands in a clump of grass and lies hidden for years... until the protagonist finds it.

Some of these questions, more so than the previous meme, are harder for me to answer – if anyone who has read my work wants to differ on my interpretations, feel free. I might be doing things that I'm not aware of :D

ETA: I found an article that gives some examples of when passive voice is undesirable as well as some examples of where it can be useful.

I'll make an index post when I've completed the meme with links to all my answers; they will all be tagged #how fiction works meme. You can find the full set of questions at [livejournal.com profile] pristineungift's entry:here
meridian_rose: pen on letter background  with text  saying 'writer' (Default)
I'm starting to feel a bit like a fraud, completing the writing meme. This is because I don't feel I've written anything in a long time. That's not strictly true, but feelings often aren't the same as reality.
writing, what counts as writing, original fic vs fanfic, and blank page syndrome )

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