Fit or flabby?

[LettersFromTatyana]

Your prose--not you!

http://www.writersdiet.com/WT.php

Paste between 100 and 1,000 words in the box, click run the test, and voila! Your text will be analyzed by an algorithm that tracks your use of: abstract nouns, to be verbs, "waste words" (it, this, that, there), prepositions, and certain adverbs and adjectives.

Given that it's automated software, I think we can all agree it isn't the best critic out there . . . but I still thought it was pretty nifty.

 

[PayDay]

This is hilariously awesome.

I was Lean on everything but verbs. It said my verb usage was in "Heart Attack Territory."

So my overall rating is flabby and I "May call for editorial liposuction!"

 

[Derroreaper]

I guess I can't gripe, every sample I just gave it came back as "Lean"

Pretty cool tool

 

[_Lynn_]

I ran samples from three different stories and everything came back Lean.

 

[PennLady]

I was "lean" on everything but verbs using an excerpt from my current WIP (681 words) and my verb status was "fit & trim."

A second sample from Ch 1 of my last story (765 words and a lot of dialogue) was lean except for Overall (fit & trim) and Verbs (needs toning). I wonder what my older stories would get.

 

[PayDay]

I was "lean" on everything but verbs using an excerpt from my current WIP (681 words) and my verb status was "fit & trim."

A second sample from Ch 1 of my last story (765 words and a lot of dialogue) was lean except for Overall (fit & trim) and Verbs (needs toning). I wonder what my older stories would get.

I tried it wth three differenty stories (about 1k from each) and got the same rating every time. At least I am consistent.

 

[Derroreaper]

I wouldn't even test my stuff from ten years ago. I know what it would say, "Rest in peace, you died of obesity and high cholesterol" LOL.

I did paste in some text from our more infamous authors, and it was pretty funny...in a sad sort of way

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

I tested five samples and was all over the place. Or rather, my verbs were all over the place--they hit everything but heart attack, while everything else was lean.

Guess I know what to work on.

*conjures mental image of Joan Crawford/Faye Dunaway screeching "no 'to be' verbs, ever!"*

 

[Dual_Triode]

My two most recent submissions came back as "lean" and "fit & trim". I don't know if that is good or bad.

Lean, eh? Now I'm hungry. Time for a sandwich.

 

[blushingtemptation]

Interesting

Either I'm boring but my story is well written. Or someone is wrong about how I write. The test says I'm lean but lit rejected my story. :'(

 

[PennLady]

Either I'm boring but my story is well written. Or someone is wrong about how I write. The test says I'm lean but lit rejected my story. :'(

What was the reason? If you click on the rejected link, you should see a possible reason or two.

 

[PayDay]

I tested five samples and was all over the place. Or rather, my verbs were all over the place--they hit everything but heart attack, while everything else was lean.

Guess I know what to work on.

*conjures mental image of Joan Crawford/Faye Dunaway screeching "no 'to be' verbs, ever!"*

Fuck that.

Adverbs = Win . <--------

 

[sun_sea_sky]

Lean for one story, fit and trim for another. Looks like I use "waste words" a bit too much. A bit of this, a bit of that, there.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

Interesting. My writing is in much better shape than me. I tested three different stories, all came back lean across the board.

 

[oggbashan]

Ouch!

I tested my infamous "How Not To Do It", a single 450 word sentence.

It came back as Fit and Trim.

I tested a couple of my fifty-word stories.

No surprise - Lean.

 

[TxRad]

I figured fat and flabby since i write so long.

Not so according to them.

 

[Quantified]

As someone who reads (and so far has not written) things on Lit, I hope we all can appreciate this application for what it is.

Fit and flabby have nothing to do with "good," though I think overuse of adjectives and prepositions should be avoided in every case. They can become hurdles to the reader in a hurry.

 

[Brunne]

I think I may now use this as my pre-reading test on all Lit stores! Just grab a hunk of text and see how fit it is...

Though as has already been said...it still won't guarantee if it's any good or if I'll like it...*sigh*

Oh, and just ran the test on this entire thread...we gotta cut back on the verbs, folks!

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

No, it's not necessarily "good" to be lean.

However, the problem the software picked up in my writing--that I use too many "to be" verbs--is something that seems to be brought up time and again here when folks talk about how authors can improve their writing. When I went back and re-read the highlighted verbs, I saw ways I could improve the sentences by replacing the "to be" verbs with more active (or interesting?) sentence structures.

For me, I think it will end up being a good tool.

 

[TxRad]

No, it's not necessarily "good" to be lean.

However, the problem the software picked up in my writing--that I use too many "to be" verbs--is something that seems to be brought up time and again here when folks talk about how authors can improve their writing. When I went back and re-read the highlighted verbs, I saw ways I could improve the sentences by replacing the "to be" verbs with more active (or interesting?) sentence structures.

For me, I think it will end up being a good tool.

Two bees or not two bees.

Hey, it worked for that English guy.

 

[MatthewVett]

My writing is lean, although my verbs can get flabby at times. I-I don't know what do with verbs, though. I mean, there's only so many I can cut before I don't have sentences, you know? Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[MatthewVett]

No, it's not necessarily "good" to be lean.

However, the problem the software picked up in my writing--that I use too many "to be" verbs--is something that seems to be brought up time and again here when folks talk about how authors can improve their writing. When I went back and re-read the highlighted verbs, I saw ways I could improve the sentences by replacing the "to be" verbs with more active (or interesting?) sentence structures.

For me, I think it will end up being a good tool.

After a Psychology professor at summer camp made all of kids do an experiment where they were banned from using "to be" verbs in class, I've tried to consciously watch myself and save such verbs for when I can't avoid them. I mean, sometimes you have to, otherwise you can't use stuff like, "I'm doing well," but I do try to leave them as a last resort.

 

[topace]

My latest CIP (chapter-in-progress) is overall fit and trim, but my verbs need toning.

But come on, I'm trying to introduce the triplet gym leaders to Ash and co. I got to use lots of be verbs, unless there's a better way!

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

After a Psychology professor at summer camp made all of kids do an experiment where they were banned from using "to be" verbs in class, I've tried to consciously watch myself and save such verbs for when I can't avoid them. I mean, sometimes you have to, otherwise you can't use stuff like, "I'm doing well," but I do try to leave them as a last resort.

I seem to remember stumbling across an old thread here where someone mentioned writing a story with absolutely no to be verbs, as a sort of experiment. Anyone know who this was? Or am I having weird dreams about this place?

 

[TxRad]

I seem to remember stumbling across an old thread here where someone mentioned writing a story with absolutely no to be verbs, as a sort of experiment. Anyone know who this was? Or am I having weird dreams about this place?

That might have been Ogg, but I'm not sure. I remember seeing the thread also. So you're not dreaming.