Using Unicorns to Improve Your Writing

The first manuscript I ever wrote was a sweet little rags to riches historical romance. I thought surely it was the next Great American Novel. . . until I sent it off to publishers and received back rejection after rejection with the same complaint.


The writing was too passive.
Huh? What the heck did that mean?

A decade later and with many more manuscripts under my belt, I know the difference between passive and active writing without even thinking about it. How did I become so incredibly wise?

Unicorns.

For handy dandy active writing, simply add in "by unicorns" immediately following a verb as a test. If the sentence makes sense, then it's passive. It if doesn't, bingo! We have a winner.

Example:

She was killed [by unicorns].
Makes sense, right? PASSIVE!

Unicorns killed [by unicorns] her.
Gibberish, eh? ACTIVE!

Yeah. I know. I'm just that awesome. Of course, now you are too. Hey, maybe we should make badges or something?