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URLhttps://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/
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Meta TitleThe Complete Guide to Eliminating Passive Voice - Between the Lines Editorial
Meta DescriptionAs an editor, I correct passive voice every day. It's a common problem and easy to fix. Check out this complete guide to fixing passive voice!
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As an editor, I see nearly everyone using passive voice in their writing. While passive voice isn’t always wrong, it’s wordy and ineffective. It’s weak and doesn’t show any conviction or strength in your language. Quite frankly, it’s annoying – I don’t like trying to figure out the actor in a sentence and as an editor, I just want writers to be clear! Don’t hide your subjects and objects and make everything a mess! Passive voice is the second most common mistake I fix on a daily basis; punctuation is first on that list. If it’s such a pervasive mistake, how do you fix your writing to be clear, easy to understand, and engaging? The key is to switch passive sentences to active sentences. What’s the difference between an active and passive sentence? I’ve outlined the basics below.  What is active voice? What is passive voice? In active voice, the subject is doing the action. Subjects are highlighted in red, actions (aka verbs) are highlighted in blue, and objects are in green. The cat chased the toy . She ate the cookie . He closed the door . In passive voice, the subject is acted upon. It makes the object look like the subject/actor, but that’s not *really* the case. Subjects are highlighted in red, actions are highlighted in blue, and objects are in green. The toy was chased by the cat . The cookie was eaten by her . The door was closed by him . If you compare the examples, you can see that active voice is concise and easy to read, and the subject and action are always close together. There are no extra words or phrases in active voice. Writing in active voice keeps your writing clear. Identifying Passive Voice If you can identify the subject and the object in a sentence, you can easily identify passive voice. If you can’t identify the subject and the object in a sentence, you should probably ask your grade school teacher. Or, if you’re using Microsoft Word, follow these quick steps: Go to File > Options > Proofing Under “When correcting spelling and grammar in word,” go to “writing style” and select “grammar & style.” Next, hit the settings button. Scroll down to “style” and select “passive voice.” Hit “ok” on this dialogue box and then click “ok” again. Now, all passive sentences and phrases will be identified by a blue squiggly line.  Now that you’ve identified sentences with passive voice, you can make changes as necessary. How do you change from passive to active voice? Changing from passive to active voice is easier said than done.  Make the subject do the action. Shift the focus from the direct/indirect object back to the actor. Instead of this: The monument was visited by Hannah . Try this: Hannah visited the monument . Notice in all of the examples that in changing a sentence from passive to active voice, we got rid of variations of “is/was/were.” This is an easy way to identify passive voice. If you have a past participle in front of your verb, chances are that you’re writing in passive voice. When can you use passive voice? Sometimes, passive voice is necessary or just makes more sense. The general rule is that when the person/object being acted upon is more important than the doer, use passive voice. Example: President Lincoln was assassinated . In this example, we don’t really care who assassinated Lincoln. I mean, technically we do, but Lincoln is way more important than John Wilkes Booth. Here, the object, President Lincoln, is more important than the subject/actor, and you can express that with the passive voice. [Ok, maybe this isn’t the best topic for an example, but like I said – you almost never use passive voice!] Takeaway Changing sentences–or paragraphs–from passive to active voice doesn’t have to be hard. Once you’re able to identify the basic parts of the sentence that contribute to passive voice, switching things up becomes a lot easier! By simply moving parts of your sentence around, your writing can take on a whole new life and attract more readers. Whether you’re writing a novel, self-publishing an e-book, or just want to make sure your college paper shines, eliminating passive voice is the easiest trick to take your writing to the next level. And, if you’re still feeling overwhelmed or just want a second set of eyes, pop on over to my contact page or the Between the Lines Facebook group for assistance!
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**[Now booking editing & coaching for 2026](https://btleditorial.com/contact-me/)** [Facebook-f](https://facebook.com/btleditorial) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/btleditorial) [Instagram](https://instagram.com/btleditorial) [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/btleditorial) [Envelope](https://btleditorial.com/contact-me/) ![](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/btleditorial2-e1572569671853.png) - [Home](https://btleditorial.com/) - [About](https://btleditorial.com/about-2/) - [Services](https://btleditorial.com/services-2/) - [Portfolio](https://btleditorial.com/work/) - [Blog](https://btleditorial.com/blog/) - [Shop](https://btleditorial.com/shop/) - [Contact](https://btleditorial.com/contact-me/) [Self-Editing](https://btleditorial.com/category/self-editing/) ## [The Complete Guide to Eliminating Passive Voice](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/ "The Complete Guide to Eliminating Passive Voice") - November 14, 2016 - [19 Comments](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comments) - by Hannah Bauman ![The Complete Guide to Eliminating Passive Voice in Your Writing](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/between-the-lines-eliminate-passive-voice-683x1024.jpg) As an editor, I see nearly everyone using passive voice in their writing. While passive voice isn’t always wrong, it’s wordy and ineffective. It’s weak and doesn’t show any conviction or strength in your language. Quite frankly, it’s annoying – I don’t like trying to figure out the actor in a sentence and as an editor, I just want writers to be clear! Don’t hide your subjects and objects and make everything a mess\! Passive voice is the second most common mistake I fix on a daily basis; punctuation is first on that list. If it’s such a pervasive mistake, how do you fix your writing to be clear, easy to understand, and engaging? The key is to switch passive sentences to active sentences. What’s the difference between an active and passive sentence? I’ve outlined the basics below. ##### What is active voice? What is passive voice? In active voice, the subject is doing the action. Subjects are highlighted in red, actions (aka verbs) are highlighted in blue, and objects are in green. 1. The cat chased the toy. 2. She ate the cookie. 3. He closed the door. In passive voice, the subject is acted upon. It makes the object look like the subject/actor, but that’s not \*really\* the case. Subjects are highlighted in red, actions are highlighted in blue, and objects are in green. 1. The toy was chased by the cat. 2. The cookie was eaten by her. 3. The door was closed by him. If you compare the examples, you can see that active voice is concise and easy to read, and the subject and action are always close together. There are no extra words or phrases in active voice. Writing in active voice keeps your writing clear. ##### Identifying Passive Voice If you can identify the subject and the object in a sentence, you can easily identify passive voice. If you can’t identify the subject and the object in a sentence, you should probably ask your grade school teacher. Or, if you’re using Microsoft Word, follow these quick steps: 1. Go to File \> Options \> Proofing 2. Under “When correcting spelling and grammar in word,” go to “writing style” and select “grammar & style.” Next, hit the settings button. 3. Scroll down to “style” and select “passive voice.” Hit “ok” on this dialogue box and then click “ok” again. Now, all passive sentences and phrases will be identified by a blue squiggly line. Now that you’ve identified sentences with passive voice, you can make changes as necessary. ##### How do you change from passive to active voice? Changing from passive to active voice is easier said than done. Make the subject do the action. Shift the focus from the direct/indirect object back to the actor. Instead of this: The monument was visited by Hannah. Try this: Hannah visited the monument. Notice in all of the examples that in changing a sentence from passive to active voice, we got rid of variations of “is/was/were.” This is an easy way to identify passive voice. If you have a past participle in front of your verb, chances are that you’re writing in passive voice. ##### When can you use passive voice? Sometimes, passive voice is necessary or just makes more sense. The general rule is that when the person/object being acted upon is more important than the doer, use passive voice. Example: President Lincoln was assassinated. In this example, we don’t really care who assassinated Lincoln. I mean, technically we do, but Lincoln is way more important than John Wilkes Booth. Here, the object, President Lincoln, is more important than the subject/actor, and you can express that with the passive voice. \[Ok, maybe this isn’t the best topic for an example, but like I said – you almost never use passive voice!\] ##### Takeaway Changing sentences–or paragraphs–from passive to active voice doesn’t have to be hard. Once you’re able to identify the basic parts of the sentence that contribute to passive voice, switching things up becomes a lot easier! By simply moving parts of your sentence around, your writing can take on a whole new life and attract more readers. Whether you’re writing a novel, self-publishing an e-book, or just want to make sure your college paper shines, eliminating passive voice is the easiest trick to take your writing to the next level. And, if you’re still feeling overwhelmed or just want a second set of eyes, pop on over to my [contact page](https://btleditorial.com/contact/) or the [Between the Lines Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/165401250569890/) for assistance\! [Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The+Complete+Guide+to+Eliminating+Passive+Voice&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbtleditorial.com%2F2016%2F11%2F14%2Feliminating-passive-voice%2F&via=btleditorial) [Pin7K](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbtleditorial.com%2F2016%2F11%2F14%2Feliminating-passive-voice%2F) [Share](https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbtleditorial.com%2F2016%2F11%2F14%2Feliminating-passive-voice%2F) 7K Shares Tags: [passive voice](https://btleditorial.com/tag/passive-voice/), [self-editing](https://btleditorial.com/tag/self-editing/) - « [4 Productivity Hacks for the Busy Blogger](https://btleditorial.com/2016/10/31/productivity-hacks-blogger/) - [How to Pick the Perfect Indie Editor](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/21/indie-editor/) » #### 19 Comments on The Complete Guide to Eliminating Passive Voice 1. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8874e7f5a3fa0bc4ca243268752c89cf5aeeaf202dc1c45b90d3d2b49a57977e?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **[Ruth Bowers](https://yourmessageamplified.com/content-brainstorming/)** says: [November 14, 2016 at 4:12 pm](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-54) Thanks for these tips! Passive voice is a bad habit I’ve fallen into, and need to break out of. I appreciate the MS Word tip. I didn’t know you can check for passive voice in there. [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-54) - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1f922ac729af87980b3661d877344b1ee0f3f258312fdae0abf28b1b73f399ec?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **[Hannah](https://btleditorial.com/)** says: [November 14, 2016 at 8:27 pm](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-55) I’m so glad you found it helpful, Ruth! Please let me know if you have any questions. 🙂 [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-55) 2. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/25958660eb898b5686493cd5ebe2f6176e58950bbf458aa55e58b5759faf5f5b?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **[Nicole](https://nicolebianchi.com/)** says: [November 18, 2016 at 8:23 pm](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-64) Very nice guide, Hannah! Avoiding passive voice is so essential to being able to write more concisely. [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-64) - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1f922ac729af87980b3661d877344b1ee0f3f258312fdae0abf28b1b73f399ec?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **[Hannah](https://btleditorial.com/)** says: [November 19, 2016 at 1:06 am](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-66) Thanks, Nicole! I rework passive voice so much on each project, it’s crazy\! [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-66) 3. Pingback: [5 Grammar Myths You Should Stop Believing Right Now - Between the Lines Editorial](https://btleditorial.com/2016/12/12/5-grammar-myths/) 4. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7e68add9c2913fccddfd7f17b5af72b0b63041133cf291e8314898493d3012f1?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **Tana Buckminster** says: [April 25, 2017 at 4:13 pm](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-187) Thank you so much for the tip in Microsoft Word! I changed my word settings and now my story is filled with tons of squiggles! I have a lot of fixing to do, but it makes me happy to know that there are more corrections I can catch before sending off to editor! Thank you, you are awesome\! [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-187) - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1f922ac729af87980b3661d877344b1ee0f3f258312fdae0abf28b1b73f399ec?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **[Hannah](https://btleditorial.com/)** says: [April 26, 2017 at 10:35 am](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-188) Hi Tana–I’m so glad you found it helpful! Good luck and have fun with your revisions\! [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-188) - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/44c521f30386d272bfd0d59bbbd091dea12de5b957a8052a234c80cb66d346bf?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **Ty** says: [July 2, 2017 at 2:20 am](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-661) I picked up Spanish as a second language way too early. The passive voice haunts my writing and speaking. Thanks for this. [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-661) 5. Pingback: [Quick Guide to Self-Editing - Between the Lines Editorial](https://btleditorial.com/2017/04/27/guide-self-editing/) 6. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b59d0de664adfa285d9c97388fb2c62120eac63fbb9961569d006cba3b972e60?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **Lora Mitchell** says: [January 30, 2019 at 10:45 pm](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-5275) Thank you for this helpful article and the tip in Microsoft Word. [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-5275) - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1f922ac729af87980b3661d877344b1ee0f3f258312fdae0abf28b1b73f399ec?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **[Hannah Bauman](https://btleditorial.com/)** says: [February 6, 2019 at 4:07 pm](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-5332) Hi Lora, I’m so glad you found this helpful! Happy writing. 🙂 [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-5332) 7. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9ea53ae9db41238e95901ebf38f65f40fe4c73f78a1e039eca8fc73a82e1182d?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **[Amazing Gaming Productions](https://amgampro.wordpress.com/)** says: [June 2, 2020 at 8:30 am](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-9206) I just use the Hemingway App. Passive voice appears a different colour text, so I can quickly change the sentence up to fix it. [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-9206) - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1f922ac729af87980b3661d877344b1ee0f3f258312fdae0abf28b1b73f399ec?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **[Hannah Bauman](https://btleditorial.com/)** says: [June 2, 2020 at 10:44 am](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-9209) I’ve never used the Hemingway App, but I know many authors like it! That’s great that it highlights passive voice for you! Very helpful 🙂 [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-9209) 8. Pingback: [🖋 Writing Links Round Up 11/9 – B. Shaun Smith](https://bshaunsmith.wordpress.com/2020/11/09/%F0%9F%96%8B-writing-links-round-up-11-9/) 9. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f5e85157e6bbfc3a50d6377e4bee0c3463e0ff7c8b76bc5403e4a2a9d83d1fff?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **The Preacher** says: [March 30, 2021 at 5:26 am](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-10086) Thank you so much this has has been helpful. [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-10086) 10. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/dca5d1d5d0d22e0971a0b88e4dedf03d7902b47c56971ed70ea716a45ca82785?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **Sau** says: [April 6, 2021 at 2:37 am](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-10100) any tips on how to turn passive voice into active voice? [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-10100) - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1f922ac729af87980b3661d877344b1ee0f3f258312fdae0abf28b1b73f399ec?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **[Hannah Bauman](https://btleditorial.com/)** says: [April 9, 2021 at 2:21 pm](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-10120) Hi Sau! Yes. The ‘How do you change from passive to active voice?’ section of the blog post offers an example, but you want to rewrite the sentence to have the subject performing the action. **Passive voice:** **The coffee was poured by Hannah.** **In that passive sentence, Hannah is the true subject of this sentence, but it looks like ‘coffee’ is. We can flip the sentence to make Hannah perform the action.** **Active voice rewrite:** Hannah poured the coffee. Even in longer and more complex sentences, the key to getting back to active voice is having the true subject perform the action. Hope that helps\! [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-10120) 11. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7164ecdb85ec8391509c1576cad018475facdc6a48600974f1e59b81b45b464b?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **Malinda** says: [December 13, 2021 at 2:06 pm](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-10836) I find it hard to avoid passive voice when doing meeting minutes. Am I the only one? [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-10836) 12. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/68005543f71fcb0480f866adea923079bc11039e534c12ef86c656a83d95c727?s=42&d=mm&r=g) **[Brenda](https://curiositiescastlesandcoffeeshops.wordpress.com/)** says: [April 21, 2025 at 9:10 am](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-12658) I badly need to retrain myself to use the active voice. Your post has been so helpful, giving me a starting point for focus. Thank you. [Reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#comment-12658) ### Leave a Reply [Cancel reply](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/#respond) This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. [Learn how your comment data is processed.](https://akismet.com/privacy/) ##### About Me ![About Me](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hannah-Photo.png) I'm Hannah, an editor, author, and writing coach. I love helping writers like you polish their stories, enhance their craft, and chase their publishing dreams. 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I’ve helped hundreds of authors reach their writing goals. Find out how I can help you. [Learn More](https://btleditorial.com/services-2/) ![](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Productivity-Toolkit-1024x683.png) #### Grab your freebies\! ### Start working on your next project with the help of our library of free worksheets and printables. You'll also receive a bi-weekly newsletter from me, the occasional business update, new freebies, and special editing deals\! [Fantasy Romance vs. Romantic Fantasy - I’m startin ![Fantasy Romance vs. Romantic Fantasy - I’m starting to see more discourse about this, and I \*love\* that! Because even though some people use them interchangeably, there is a difference between these two subgenres. Fantasy Romance is a romance story set in a fantasy world. The romance is the focus of the plot, and if you take that romance away, the story basically breaks down. It’s integral. Romantic Fantasy is a fantasy story with a romantic subplot. Even if you take out the romance, the overarching plot will still make sense to readers and work. Of course, that’s painting with very broad strokes, but that’s the gist of it. The reality is the line between these often blur, especially when we’re thinking about fantasy series. I’ve read many series in which the first book would be solidly Romantic Fantasy, but as the series progresses, subsequent books lean toward Fantasy Romance. Genre lines often blur, and even though we want to think they’re neat, distinct categories, they’re not always clear-cut. Still, you’ll want to think about this distinction when it comes to positioning and marketing your book to readers. If you tell them it’s a Fantasy Romance with a super intense romance, and then it’s just a subplot that’s building toward the eventual romance later in the series, readers might be disappointed and possibly even leave a bad review. QOTD: Do you have a favorite book in either of these subgenres? If so, what do you like about the romance element? 📕📗📘📙 Need help with your fantasy novel, regardless of the level of romance? 😉 Fantasy is one of my favorite genres to edit! I’m booking edits for September through the end of 2023. Send me a DM to set up your free consultation call. \#writershelpingwriters \#bookeditor \#writingcoach \#copyeditor \#lineeditor \#proofreader \#writingtips \#writingtipsandtricks \#indiesareworthit \#indiepublishingcommunity \#amediting \#amrevising \#fictionwriter \#amwritingfantasy \#novelwriting \#amwritingscifi \#fantasyauthor \#fantasywriter \#fantasyeditor \#romanticfantasy \#fantasyromance \#indieauthorsofinstagram \#instawrimo \#tipsforwriters \#indieauthorsofIG \#indieauthorsofinstagram \#selfpubauthors \#selfpublishingcommunity](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/CsjSJ6tLNkS/) [🚨 ATTENTION 🚨 Amazon KDP’s print costs are changin ![🚨 ATTENTION 🚨 Amazon KDP’s print costs are changing, indie authors! Effective June 20, 2023, Amazon KDP’s cost to print your book will go up (or down in limited cases). Costs are going up across industries for labor and materials, and IngramSpark had a similar cost increase in late 2021. So what does this mean for you? 📗 New minimum list price for print books. There’s always a minimum price you must set your print books to so that you don’t \*lose\* money to cover the printing costs. These minimum list prices will largely be going up based on the new print costs, but certain full color ink books may see a price decrease. 📖 Check your KDP dashboard. You’ll need to check \*your\* specific backlist to see how your prices will be affected. Chances are that if you’re printing your novels in B\&W ink, you’ll see fewer royalties if you don’t adjust your for sale price. You can see what the difference will be if you go to your print book’s pricing page in KDP. 🔍 Check KDP’s help section. When you log into your KDP dashboard, you should see a giant banner warning you about these cost increases. (That's how I just found out.) Read KDP’s official article for more specific details, including more information about their bulk price updater for your backlist if you choose to adjust your print prices. What can you do in the meantime? If you’ll need to increase your sale price by the June 20 deadline, you might consider letting readers know paperback and hardcover prices will go up next month. This could motivate people to buy a copy now if they’ve been holding off! And of course, keep an eye on KDP for any future updates! Oh, and if you didn’t hear, IngramSpark is no longer charging set up fees, and file revisions are free for the first 60 days 💃🙌🥳 \#writershelpingwriters \#bookeditor \#writingcoach \#copyeditor \#lineeditor \#proofreader \#writingtips \#writingtipsandtricks \#indiesareworthit \#indiepublishingcommunity \#amediting \#amrevising \#fictionwriter \#amwritingfantasy \#novelwriting \#amwritingscifi \#fantasyauthor \#fantasywriter \#indieauthorsofinstagram \#instawrimo \#tipsforwriters \#indieauthorsofIG \#indieauthorsofinstagram \#selfpubauthors \#selfpublishingcommunity](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/CsRzJwnAor7/) [Whether you’re sharing with your critique partner, ![Whether you’re sharing with your critique partner, working with betas, or hiring an editor, getting feedback is a natural part of the writing process. That doesn’t mean it’s always easy or comfortable, though! How can you make the process a little smoother for yourself? 1. Tell the person what kind of feedback you want. Do you want them to focus very specifically on one plotline? Do you want every single unfiltered thought they have? 2. Look at feedback when you're ready. Receiving comments is an inherently vulnerable process. Take your time. 3. Remember that you aren't looking for a "yes man" - critiques are helpful! When you receive feedback, you should also be receiving compliments, but critiques are useful and help us revise our work. 4. You get to decide if you want to act on a comment/critique or not. Yes, critiques are useful, but ultimately YOU get to decide what you want to act on. You have every right to disregard comments you receive during feedback. (But if you’re inclined to disregard everything… maybe ask yourself why.) 5. And finally, feedback is great, but it's ultimately one person's opinion. Sometimes we get a beta reader who just doesn’t like our story. Don’t take it personally; this doesn’t mean your story is bad! It means someone has a preference. And if you do feel like it’s personal, try to evaluate why. Was it how they delivered the feedback? Were they straight-up mean? Something else? Don’t forget that you can also take breaks as you sort through feedback you’ve received. Going through that much commentary on your work can be hard to process, even if it’s helpful and positive! Take a step back whenever you need to. You’ve got this! 🎉 📚 Need feedback from a pro? I’m booking for late September and through the end of the year. Link in my bio to set up your free consultation! \#writershelpingwriters \#bookeditor \#writingcoach \#copyeditor \#lineeditor \#proofreader \#writingtips \#writingtipsandtricks \#indiesareworthit \#indiepublishingcommunity \#amediting \#amrevising \#fictionwriter \#amwritingfantasy \#novelwriting \#amwritingscifi \#fantasyauthor \#fantasywriter \#indieauthorsofinstagram \#nanowrimo \#instawrimo \#tipsforwriters \#romanceeditor](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/CsEXrwNrqpA/) [In my talks with clients and other authors over th ![In my talks with clients and other authors over the years, I’ve noticed trends in worries and mindsets. These thoughts can sometimes stop us from actually taking the steps we need in order to publish (or continue publishing). 🙈 "Only authors with thousands of followers will find success." So many writers say things like, “Well, I’m a nobody, so I won’t get sales.” We all start somewhere! A small, dedicated, and enthusiastic following is still going to be a boost to your career. Even if that’s five people. Start with them, then work to grow. A book’s success is far, far more just a splashy launch week. 🌟 "You need most of your reviews to be 5 stars to have a career." Not true! Look up a variety of books on Goodreads. Most of them have more 3-star and 4-star reviews than 5-star. Reviews generally signal reader and market preference/personal enjoyment, NOT story or writing quality. 😵‍ "Traditional publishers will do all the marketing for you." Sorry… but it’s just not true. Only the biggest names in publishing get those mega marketing teams and budgets. Everyone else is expected to help market their own book in \*some\* way. Get comfortable with it! 💔 "You’ve got to please everyone." Even when you do all the hard work of editing, revising, researching, readers will STILL critique your work. They will still judge it. It’s just part of being an author. Focus on telling your story and doing your best, then let readers react how they react. (And don’t read your reviews if this stresses you out. Reviews aren't \*for\* authors anyway.) QOTD: Do any of these resonate with you? I’m a recovering perfectionist and people pleaser, so I definitely understand the second and fourth points on a deeeeeep level. 😅🤷‍♀️ \#writershelpingwriters \#bookeditor \#writingcoach \#copyeditor \#lineeditor \#proofreader \#writingtips \#writingtipsandtricks \#indiesareworthit \#indiepublishingcommunity \#amediting \#amrevising \#fictionwriter \#amwritingfantasy \#novelwriting \#amwritingscifi \#fantasyauthor \#fantasywriter \#indieauthorsofinstagram \#romanceeditor \#tipsforwriters \#fantasyeditor \#bookcoach](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr08OsJLR0e/) [Creating a magic system for your fantasy novel is ![Creating a magic system for your fantasy novel is no small task, and there are so many ways you can incorporate magic. Brandon Sanderson’s three laws provide a helpful framework to get started. First Law: An author’s ability to solve conflict with magic is DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL to how well the reader understands said magic. Your magic system may have very clearly defined rules, powers, and limitations. If you have this, you’ll be able to use magic to solve heavy plot points/conflicts in a satisfying way. But if you have a softer magic system with more nebulous powers and no clear rules, using magic to solve conflict feels too convenient. Second Law: Limitations \> Powers. This one is really straightforward! Powers are cool… but limitations on magic are where things start to get interesting. Magical limitations create conflict (both internal and external), highlight character flaws, and allows story to really come into play. Powerful characters are cool… but they’re not nearly as interesting as characters working through their struggles. Third Law: Expand what you already have before you add something new. One thing I see a lot as a fantasy editor is people trying to smash together multiple magic systems to create something really complex. But instead of that, it just leaves each magic type very surface level and unsatisfying. Focus on creating ONE nuanced and developed magic system before you even consider adding another. If you keep these rules in mind, it’ll make creating and implementing your magic system that much easier. QOTD: What’s one of your favorite magic systems? I love bending from Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I also really like ‘witchery’ from Susan Dennard’s Witchlands books. \#writershelpingwriters \#bookeditor \#writingcoach \#copyeditor \#lineeditor \#proofreader \#writingtips \#writingtipsandtricks \#indiesareworthit \#indiepublishingcommunity \#amediting \#amrevising \#fictionwriter \#amwritingfantasy \#novelwriting \#amwritingscifi \#fantasyauthor \#fantasywriter \#indieauthorsofinstagram \#nanowrimo \#instawrimo \#tipsforwriters](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cri5Hh8OvKt/) [Last week, I talked about writers fighting perfect ![Last week, I talked about writers fighting perfectionism and how having compassion for yourself is part of that process. But let’s talk a little more about what self-compassion might look like in the writing, editing, and publishing process: 1. Acknowledge your achievements. Take time to acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. This could be finishing a chapter, receiving positive feedback from a reader or your editor, or even writing for 10 minutes! 2. Be mindful of your self-talk. Pay attention to the way you talk to yourself and try to reframe negative self-talk. For example, instead of saying, "This is a trash draft," try saying, "This is a work in progress, and I can improve it." Treat yourself as you would a friend. 3. Take breaks. Taking breaks from writing can help you recharge and come back to your work with a fresh perspective. Breaks are a necessary part of the creative process. 4. Practice self-care. Take care of yourself both physically and mentally. This could be getting enough sleep, feeding yourself, exercising, or practicing mindfulness and meditation. You know what works best for you. 5. Remember that perfection is impossible. Everyone makes mistakes, and even things that aren’t ‘mistakes’ may not be a reader’s cup of tea. That’s okay. Sharing your stories is an incredibly vulnerable thing, whether that’s sending them to a beta reader or hitting ‘publish.’ The whole process is going to come with a lot of conflicting emotions: pride, fear, excitement, anxiety. Take care of yourself as best you can. \#writershelpingwriters \#bookeditor \#writingcoach \#copyeditor \#lineeditor \#proofreader \#writingtips \#writingtipsandtricks \#indiesareworthit \#indiepublishingcommunity \#amediting \#amrevising \#fictionwriter \#amwritingfantasy \#novelwriting \#amwritingromance \#amwritingscifi \#indieauthorsofinstagram \#nanowrimo \#instawrimo \#tipsforwriters \#fantasyeditor](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/CrdwWOlrJBI/) [In my editing & coaching work, I often see authors ![In my editing & coaching work, I often see authors stuck in perfectionism. I get it. I'm a lifelong perfectionist. I’ve cried over typos. My job as an editor is aiming for error-free books. Hell, I used to try to use a ruler in art class as a kid because I insisted everything had to be “perfect" 🫣😂 But friends, we’ve got to stop trying to be perfect, particularly in our writing. I’ve talked about it before, but I’ll say it forever: Literally no book is perfect. Readers have preferences, opinions, and personal lenses through which they view media. You can’t accommodate all of that to make some mystical, perfect book. In fact, a story trying to accommodate too much ‘stuff’ to please everyone is probably going to lack focus. What you should focus on is telling the story you want, putting in the effort to revise and make it a quality product, and then let readers make of it what they will. But that’s easier said than done 😛 Some tips for fighting back against your perfectionist tendencies: 1. Set a realistic goal for both yourself and your manuscript. 2. Celebrate every milestone and achievement, even the small ones. 3. Allow yourself to make mistakes. A typo isn’t going to destroy your publishing career. 4. Acknowledge your humanness. Making art is messy. 5. Get feedback from editors and beta readers who really understand your vision & love your genre. They’ll best be able to offer constructive feedback while also pointing out what they love. 6. Set a reasonable time limit... or you might just tinker with that manuscript forever. 7. Practice self-compassion as you make mistakes, learn, grow, and even fall back into perfectionist tendencies from time to time. And remember, every author continues to grow with each new book they write. Every author. That doesn’t mean your current story isn’t worth sharing! What are some ways YOU try to combat perfectionism? \#writershelpingwriters \#bookeditor \#writingcoach \#copyeditor \#indieauthor \#writingtips \#writingtipsandtricks \#indiesareworthit \#indiepublishingcommunity \#amwritingfantasy \#amwritingscifi \#instawrimo \#indieauthorsofig \#developmentaleditor \#fantasyeditor](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/CrOTgWdLdDF/) [Does your fantasy novel \*have\* to be super explosi ![Does your fantasy novel \*have\* to be super explosive and fast-paced? 🤔 I get a lot of questions about pacing in my editing work. Authors who are concerned that their book is boring or that they need to cut the first 10 chapters because someone online said they should start “in media res,” just to name two common concerns they bring to me. There are definitely readers looking for those fast-paced books. Something that starts in the middle of a fight scene or something really dramatic or really high stakes introduced right off the bat. And yes, those stories are fun! They’re exciting and full of action. But a slower-paced book isn’t inherently “wrong” or “bad,” even in a genre like fantasy. In fact, some readers prefer slower-paced stories! They like the time it gives them to dig into characters, settle into the world, and explore the interpersonal relationships of your cast. Slower-paced stories can still be engaging, compelling, and fun. This slower pace can also create a sense of anticipation and build tension, especially as you increase the stakes and pacing as the story moves forward. That kind of build can be satisfying! Obviously sometimes pacing \*can\* really drag, like when nothing is really happening for the plot or characters or when there’s a huge infodump. But that’s not the same as purposefully slowing things down while still moving the story forward. Every reader has their own preferences when it comes to pacing, so don’t try to please them all. Think about what works for your story and characters and the journey you want to take readers on, then execute it with purpose. 🙌 QOTD: What kind of pacing do you write, and what do you like to read? I don’t have a preference as a reader; I’m a total mood reader outside of my editing work. 🤷‍♀️ \#writershelpingwriters \#bookeditor \#writingcoach \#copyeditor \#indieauthor \#writingtips \#writingtipsandtricks \#indiesareworthit \#indiepublishingcommunity \#amwritingfantasy \#amwritingscifi \#instawrimo \#indieauthorsofig](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq5tMKLLaBt/) [📚SCHEDULE UPDATE 📚 Hey, writers! I’ve already got ![📚SCHEDULE UPDATE 📚 Hey, writers! I’ve already got projects on my calendar deep into the summer. Here’s where my availability currently stands: 🌱 April - August: BOOKED 🌻 September: 2 spots 🍂 October & beyond: Flexible I offer robust editing and coaching packages at varying price points to suit your needs and budget. Payment plans are also available. If you want to get on my schedule for a full edit, please reach out ASAP! Spots are booked on a first come, first served basis. DM me or go to the link in my bio and fill out the contact form to get started. Not ready for full edits but still looking for the input of a professional editor? 📚 Ignite Your Novel Session: This mini critique looks at your first 5,000 words to help kickstart your revisions. Coaching call included. Booking spots in June and July, and I’ll re-open them at some point later in the year. 📚 One-time coaching call: Sometimes we just need to sit down with a pro to get our questions answered. These one-hour calls are great for talking about all kinds of things: plot, character development, worldbuilding, beta feedback, self-publishing, and more. Available even when my editing spots are booked up. My areas of expertise are fantasy, sci-fi, and romance, but I also work in other genres. Let’s chat! DM me or visit the link in my bio. Happy writing! \#writershelpingwriters \#bookeditor \#writingcoach \#copyeditor \#lineeditor \#proofreader \#writingtips \#writingtipsandtricks \#indiesareworthit \#indiepublishingcommunity \#amediting \#amrevising \#fictionwriter \#amwritingfantasy \#novelwriting \#amwritingromance \#amwritingscifi \#fantasynoveleditor \#fantasyeditor \#scifieditor \#romanceeditor](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/CqyNgMWrsPa/) [Negative book reviews can be tough to swallow. Aft ![Negative book reviews can be tough to swallow. After all, you've poured your heart and soul into your writing, and it can be hard to hear that someone didn't love it as much as you did. But a negative review is ultimately just one reader's opinion. It doesn't mean your book is bad, and it doesn't mean you're a bad writer. If you’ve received a bad review and are feeling poorly about it, try these things: 1. Take a deep breath. It's okay to feel upset or disappointed. Take it slow. 2. Don't respond to the review. It might be tempting to defend your work or argue with the reviewer, but it's not a good idea. All it’s going to do is make you look unprofessional. 3. Focus on the positive reviews. Remember that there are plenty of readers who love your book, and their opinions matter too. You might even save these ones on your phone or in a folder on your computer so you can revisit them when you need a reminder about how many people loved your book. 4. Use the feedback to improve your writing. Reviews are generally for other readers, not the author. Still, if the reviewer had specific criticisms, do consider them. You don't have to take every criticism to heart, but there may be some valuable takeaways or even a lesson for how to market your book to ideal readers. 5. Seek support. It can be embarrassing to admit you received a bad review, but go to your support system. Reach out to a friend, tell your partner, talk to your parents, or even talk about it with your therapist. 6. Move on. As much as we'd like to please everyone, it's just not possible. One reader’s 5⭐ is another’s 1⭐, and you can’t change that. Don't let this hold you back from writing and sharing your stories with the world! Remember: writing is a deeply personal and subjective art form. Not everyone is going to love your work, and that's okay. Keep writing, keep improving, and keep telling your stories. ✨ You got this! \#writershelpingwriters \#bookeditor \#writingcoach \#copyeditor \#indieauthor \#writingtips \#writingtipsandtricks \#indiesareworthit \#indiepublishingcommunity \#amwritingfantasy \#amwritingscifi \#instawrimo \#indieauthorsofig](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/CqnrSgYLsL0/) © Copyright [Between the Lines Editorial](https://btleditorial.com/2016/11/14/eliminating-passive-voice/) 2026. Theme by [Bluchic](http://www.bluchic.com/).
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![The Complete Guide to Eliminating Passive Voice in Your Writing](https://btleditorial.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/between-the-lines-eliminate-passive-voice-683x1024.jpg) As an editor, I see nearly everyone using passive voice in their writing. While passive voice isn’t always wrong, it’s wordy and ineffective. It’s weak and doesn’t show any conviction or strength in your language. Quite frankly, it’s annoying – I don’t like trying to figure out the actor in a sentence and as an editor, I just want writers to be clear! Don’t hide your subjects and objects and make everything a mess\! Passive voice is the second most common mistake I fix on a daily basis; punctuation is first on that list. If it’s such a pervasive mistake, how do you fix your writing to be clear, easy to understand, and engaging? The key is to switch passive sentences to active sentences. What’s the difference between an active and passive sentence? I’ve outlined the basics below. ##### What is active voice? What is passive voice? In active voice, the subject is doing the action. Subjects are highlighted in red, actions (aka verbs) are highlighted in blue, and objects are in green. 1. The cat chased the toy. 2. She ate the cookie. 3. He closed the door. In passive voice, the subject is acted upon. It makes the object look like the subject/actor, but that’s not \*really\* the case. Subjects are highlighted in red, actions are highlighted in blue, and objects are in green. 1. The toy was chased by the cat. 2. The cookie was eaten by her. 3. The door was closed by him. If you compare the examples, you can see that active voice is concise and easy to read, and the subject and action are always close together. There are no extra words or phrases in active voice. Writing in active voice keeps your writing clear. ##### Identifying Passive Voice If you can identify the subject and the object in a sentence, you can easily identify passive voice. If you can’t identify the subject and the object in a sentence, you should probably ask your grade school teacher. Or, if you’re using Microsoft Word, follow these quick steps: 1. Go to File \> Options \> Proofing 2. Under “When correcting spelling and grammar in word,” go to “writing style” and select “grammar & style.” Next, hit the settings button. 3. Scroll down to “style” and select “passive voice.” Hit “ok” on this dialogue box and then click “ok” again. Now, all passive sentences and phrases will be identified by a blue squiggly line. Now that you’ve identified sentences with passive voice, you can make changes as necessary. ##### How do you change from passive to active voice? Changing from passive to active voice is easier said than done. Make the subject do the action. Shift the focus from the direct/indirect object back to the actor. Instead of this: The monument was visited by Hannah. Try this: Hannah visited the monument. Notice in all of the examples that in changing a sentence from passive to active voice, we got rid of variations of “is/was/were.” This is an easy way to identify passive voice. If you have a past participle in front of your verb, chances are that you’re writing in passive voice. ##### When can you use passive voice? Sometimes, passive voice is necessary or just makes more sense. The general rule is that when the person/object being acted upon is more important than the doer, use passive voice. Example: President Lincoln was assassinated. In this example, we don’t really care who assassinated Lincoln. I mean, technically we do, but Lincoln is way more important than John Wilkes Booth. Here, the object, President Lincoln, is more important than the subject/actor, and you can express that with the passive voice. \[Ok, maybe this isn’t the best topic for an example, but like I said – you almost never use passive voice!\] ##### Takeaway Changing sentences–or paragraphs–from passive to active voice doesn’t have to be hard. Once you’re able to identify the basic parts of the sentence that contribute to passive voice, switching things up becomes a lot easier! By simply moving parts of your sentence around, your writing can take on a whole new life and attract more readers. Whether you’re writing a novel, self-publishing an e-book, or just want to make sure your college paper shines, eliminating passive voice is the easiest trick to take your writing to the next level. And, if you’re still feeling overwhelmed or just want a second set of eyes, pop on over to my [contact page](https://btleditorial.com/contact/) or the [Between the Lines Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/165401250569890/) for assistance\!
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