• began walking
• started running
• was trying to explain
• continued talking
• seemed to be thinking

are some of the most common culprits in weak, flabby writing. They don’t add meaning. They delay action. And they quietly drain energy from your sentences. Let’s talk about why this happens—and how to fix it.

The Real Problem Isn’t -ING. It’s Hesitation.

The issue isn’t that all -ing verbs are evil. The issue is that many writers stack them behind helper verbs that soften or delay action. Look at this sentence:

“I began walking toward the door.”

What actually happens here? Nothing—at least not right away. The sentence spends time announcing that walking is about to occur instead of just letting it occur. Now compare it to this:

“I walked toward the door.”

Same meaning. More momentum. Less clutter. The second sentence moves. The first one stalls.

“Began” and “Started” Are Usually Redundant

In most cases, readers already understand that an action has a beginning. You don’t need to point it out. When you write:

“She started to cry.”

You’re narrating the concept of crying instead of showing the action. Try this instead:

“She cried.”

Or, if you want more texture:

“Her face crumpled, and tears spilled down her cheeks.”

Notice how the second option gives us emotion, imagery, and motion—all without announcing that crying has commenced.

-ING Constructions Create Distance

Another problem with these constructions is that they create narrative distance. Compare:

“He was running down the street.”

Versus:

“He ran down the street.”

The first version feels like the narrator is hovering above the action, reporting it from a distance. The second drops us directly into motion. That immediacy matters—especially in fiction, memoir, and any writing where engagement is the goal.

Weak Verbs Love to Travel in Packs

These phrases rarely show up alone. They tend to stack:

“She was beginning to feel like she was losing control.”

That sentence is doing Olympic-level gymnastics to avoid committing to a strong verb. A cleaner version:

“She felt herself losing control.”

Or even stronger:

“Control slipped through her fingers.”

Stronger verbs reduce word count, sharpen meaning, and make your writing feel confident instead of tentative.

When Writers Use These Phrases (and Why)

Most writers fall into this habit for one of three reasons:

1. They’re trying to sound more literary
2. They’re afraid of being too direct
3. They’re writing the way they speak

Unfortunately, conversational padding doesn’t translate well to the page. What sounds natural out loud often reads sluggish in print. Direct writing isn’t rude. It’s respectful—to your reader’s time and attention.

How to Fix It: A Simple Editing Pass

Here’s an easy rule of thumb for revisions. Search your manuscript for:

• began
• started
• was
• were
• continued
• seemed
• tried

Then ask one question: Can I delete this phrase and keep the meaning—or improve it? Nine times out of ten, the answer is yes. Here's another example:

“She began to open the letter.”

Here's the fix:

“She opened the letter.”

If deleting the phrase makes the sentence stronger, cleaner, and clearer, it didn’t belong there in the first place.

When -ING Is Actually Fine

Let’s be clear: not all -ing verbs are bad. They work when:

• Two actions are happening simultaneously
• You need to show duration or overlap
• Rhythm genuinely benefits from it

Here are an examples that works:

“She stood at the window, watching the storm roll in.”

That’s doing real work. It’s visual. It’s active. It earns its place. The problem isn’t the -ing form—it’s using it as a crutch instead of choosing a precise verb.

Strong Writing Commits

Weak constructions hedge. Strong writing commits. Instead of easing into action, strong sentences step forward and claim it. So stop beginning to do things. Stop starting to act. Stop announcing movement before it happens. Just let your characters—and your sentences—move.

If your writing feels slow, this is one of the first places to look. Trim the hesitation, sharpen the verbs, and trust your reader to keep up. They will.

The Problem: Emotional Translation Instead of Action

Here’s a familiar example:

“Climbing the stairs, carrying groceries, and holding a conversation all felt like they required an unreasonable amount of effort.”

Nothing is technically wrong here. But the sentence is doing too much work explaining what the reader already understands.

Now compare it to this:

“Climbing the stairs, carrying groceries, and holding a conversation required an unreasonable amount of effort.”

Same meaning. Stronger impact. No emotional coaching needed. The verb required tells us everything we need to know.

Why “Felt Like” Weakens Your Writing

Phrases like “felt like” act as a buffer between the reader and the experience. Instead of letting the reader feel the exhaustion, frustration, or dread, the sentence pauses to explain that the narrator experienced it.

Common offenders include:

• felt like
• seemed
• appeared to be
• I realized
• I noticed
• I became aware that
• it was as if

These phrases rarely add insight. They simply translate the emotion after the sentence has already demonstrated it.

Strong Verbs Carry Emotion Automatically

Emotion doesn’t need to be labeled when it’s embedded in the action. Look at the difference:

“She felt overwhelmed by the workload.”
“The workload crushed her.”

“He felt anxious about the meeting.”
“The meeting tightened his chest.”

“I felt like I was losing control.”
“Control slipped through my fingers.”

In each case, the second sentence removes the emotional narrator and lets the verb do the heavy lifting. That’s what makes writing feel confident instead of tentative.

Why Writers Fall Into This Habit

This shows up so often because writers are trying to be careful. They want to:

• be precise
• avoid ambiguity
• make sure the reader understands the emotion

Ironically, doing this often creates distance instead of clarity. Readers don’t need to be told how to feel. They need enough evidence to feel it themselves.

How to Fix It: A Targeted Editing Pass

This is an easy issue to spot once you know what to look for. Follow these steps to fix this issue in your writing.

Step 1: Search for These Phrases

Do a find search in your manuscript for:

• felt
• felt like
• seemed
• appeared
• realized
• noticed
• became aware

Step 2: Ask One Question

Is the sentence already proving this feeling through action, pressure, or consequence? If yes, delete the emotional explanation.

Step 3: Replace With a Stronger Verb

Instead of explaining the emotion, choose a verb that implies it.

• “felt exhausted” → drained, sagged, faltered
• “felt overwhelmed” → crushed, buried, swamped
• “felt frustrated” → snapped, clenched, bristled

You don’t need more words. You need better ones.

When It’s Okay to Name the Feeling

There are times when emotional labeling works—usually when:

• the emotion is unexpected or contradictory
• the narrator is reflecting rather than experiencing
• clarity is more important than immediacy

But these should be intentional choices, not default habits. If every emotional beat is explained, the writing starts to feel instructional instead of immersive.

The Rule to Remember

If the sentence already shows the emotion, don’t explain it. Trust your verbs. Trust your reader. And let the writing stand on its own without emotional hand-holding. This one change alone can dramatically tighten prose, sharpen pacing, and make your writing feel more confident and professional—without adding a single extra word.