Passive Voice vs Active Voice: Writing Non-Fiction that Engages a Reader

[@fitzness]

Love this. I specialize in blunt-force science-driven advice and I make no apologies about coming off as abrasive. I often hit folks over the head with truth, but they accept it because they know I love them. It’s a unique skill being able to deliver hard news that people embrace. I’ve not been assassinated yet, so it seems to be working for me. In turn, I respond really well when I’m given a hard shove in the right direction.

[@camoflage61821]

Totally loving this! I've been on a crusade to remove passive voice from my own writing. It steals immediacy and it's surprising how many words active voice saves over passive, which is pretty useful if your editor gives you a word count limit.

[@ScullyPop]

This is a fantastic channel for helping people publish nonfiction.

[@BookLaunchers]

WOOHOOOO it's great to see you again. I was thinking the other day that you hadn't commented in awhile. You were missed. :) YIPPEEEEEE - you commented the day a video was released. You’ve made my day AND you’ve also been entered to win our fabulous SWAG! To find out if you won, you’ll have to tune into our next live stream. That’s happening on Tuesday, November 24th at 2pm PST / 5pm EST - really hope you can be there! And, if you can’t, the replay will be available so you can tune in to hear if you won whenever you have a chance! Also - TOMORROW at 10am we are doing a DEEP DIVE TRAINING That is going to be a session all about pre-launch and launch planning for your book!

[@beelinebill]

This is a subtle but excellent topic and video. Thank you!

[@doreenzimmerman7410]

True confession: Your side note was my favorite part of this! :D Thanks for the helpful video, Julie.

[@BookLaunchers]

HAHAH My Mom is SOOOO proud of that story ... we just launched a book called 'How to Keep Your Daughter from Slamming the Door' and my Mom asked if that was inspired by her approach with me?! OIY!! Hahaha YIPPEEEEEE - you commented the day a video was released. You’ve made my day AND you’ve also been entered to win our fabulous SWAG! To find out if you won, you’ll have to tune into our next live stream. That’s happening on Tuesday, November 24th at 2pm PST / 5pm EST - really hope you can be there! And, if you can’t, the replay will be available so you can tune in to hear if you won whenever you have a chance! Also - TOMORROW at 10am we are doing a DEEP DIVE TRAINING That is going to be a session all about pre-launch and launch planning for your book!

[@doreenzimmerman7410]

@@BookLaunchers That's hilarious! Thanks, I missed the training but will try to make the live stream!

[@davidw.mutisya494]

I love this. Great tips indeed!

[@sarz1837]

I couldn't agree more

[@TheShaunHayes]

Thank you for these valuable tips. This was another very informative video.

[@matchingbirthdays4happiness]

Thank you

[@TheShaunHayes]

This was a very informative video. Thank you for the tips.

[@briankreeger9888]

Hmmmm......seems familiar. Great video for a common issue. Big help.

[@BookLaunchers]

Glad it was helpful! YIPPEEEEEE - you commented the day a video was released. You’ve made my day AND you’ve also been entered to win our fabulous SWAG! To find out if you won, you’ll have to tune into our next live stream. That’s happening on Tuesday, November 24th at 2pm PST / 5pm EST - really hope you can be there! And, if you can’t, the replay will be available so you can tune in to hear if you won whenever you have a chance!

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Impact the reader....nice@

[@robertcooper1952]

Thanks for the excellent video, Julie. In self-editing my first book: "The Conscience of An Agnostic," I noticed that Grammarly frowns on the use of passive voice.

[@joycerobinson855]

Great video, Julie! Passive vs active voice...🤔 for me, the passive voice is like giving someone a vacation itinerary, and the active voice is engaging them, inviting them to join you in the experience.

[@BookLaunchers]

Good point! LOVE that analogy

[@lorenhackney9981]

I used to tell my HS students that all the time !

[@BookLaunchers]

Look at you CRUSHING the competition and getting the first comment on the board. :) Happy Friday.

[@lorenhackney9981]

@@BookLaunchers I didn’t even try!

[@secretshaman189]

Great information, thank-you, I enjoy your animated upbeat style of presentation.

[@BookLaunchers]

Thanks for watching! It's great to connect with you. YIPPEEEEEE - you commented the day a video was released. You’ve made my day AND you’ve also been entered to win our fabulous SWAG! To find out if you won, you’ll have to tune into our next live stream. That’s happening on Tuesday, November 24th at 2pm PST / 5pm EST - really hope you can be there! And, if you can’t, the replay will be available so you can tune in to hear if you won whenever you have a chance! Also - TOMORROW at 10am we are doing a DEEP DIVE TRAINING That is going to be a session all about pre-launch and launch planning for your book!

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Hello...Julie

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Thanks...El inmigrante venezolano@

[@JFCotman]

Please do a video on when, where and how to implement data visuals for none fiction.

[@BookLaunchers]

Do you mean charts and graphs? That's coming if you do ....

[@JFCotman]

Book Launchers charts, graphs, portraits ... The whole spectrum of visuals readers may find useful. Looking forward to it!

[@BookLaunchers]

Perfect - I will try to remember to give you a heads up when it's live. Right now I'm just waiting for it to come back from my editor but I'll bump it in the line up when it does come back. Should be before end of the year.

[@JFCotman]

Book Launchers Sweet!

[@antoniodossantos5960]

I am writing full bilingual english/spanish book.....

[@KairosKrystle1]

Starting the editing process soon..... Dear God, please let me be able to identify the passive voice in my writing!!! By the way...totally binging on your videos right now! Thanks for the great content that's easy to understand and implement.

[@BookLaunchers]

If you're working on non-fiction we can help! www.booklaunchers.com/application

[@JustFollowthePetals]

My biggest nemesis!

[@BookLaunchers]

YIPPEEEEEE - you commented the day a video was released. You’ve made my day AND you’ve also been entered to win our fabulous SWAG! To find out if you won, you’ll have to tune into our next live stream. That’s happening on Tuesday, November 24th at 2pm PST / 5pm EST - really hope you can be there! And, if you can’t, the replay will be available so you can tune in to hear if you won whenever you have a chance! Also - TOMORROW at 10am we are doing a DEEP DIVE TRAINING That is going to be a session all about pre-launch and launch planning for your book!

[@andyw1153]

I struggle with this quite often! I do passive voice unconsciously, i have to go through the whole manuscript to identify passive vs active voice lol #NoBoringBooks

[@19676681ed]

Love the video, content and your shirt! Great help! Im an ESL writer...dont see passive voice. Many times searching for it!

[@BookLaunchers]

Awesome! Thank you! :) Glad you don't see passive voice - that is wonderful! YIPPEEEEEE - you commented the day a video was released. You’ve made my day AND you’ve also been entered to win our fabulous SWAG! To find out if you won, you’ll have to tune into our next live stream. That’s happening on Tuesday, November 24th at 2pm PST / 5pm EST - really hope you can be there! And, if you can’t, the replay will be available so you can tune in to hear if you won whenever you have a chance! Also - TOMORROW at 10am we are doing a DEEP DIVE TRAINING That is going to be a session all about pre-launch and launch planning for your book!

[@kidsland2065]

@@BookLaunchers I need to see the passive voice so I can get rid of them! I would like to join tomorrow. I have a series half way and want to launch them!

[@kjedwards2602]

I think some parts of my first book is written in the passive voice, but a lot of things happen. I wrote my book reflecting me and I'm not "bubbly" lol. I've added some humor to my book though. Shouldn't a writer, write how they are in real life?

[@kreshaspence4930]

Note to self: Harmless is bad. I once heard that if you are not a little bit controversial, you are a lot borning. Same with books I guess.

[@BookLaunchers]

YESSSSSS!! YIPPEEEEEE - you commented the day a video was released. You’ve made my day AND you’ve also been entered to win our fabulous SWAG! To find out if you won, you’ll have to tune into our next live stream. That’s happening on Tuesday, November 24th at 2pm PST / 5pm EST - really hope you can be there! And, if you can’t, the replay will be available so you can tune in to hear if you won whenever you have a chance! Also - TOMORROW at 10am we are doing a DEEP DIVE TRAINING That is going to be a session all about pre-launch and launch planning for your book!

[@rachelrobertson7353]

Yes -- so no to passive voice! SUCH an important lesson to learn and brilliant tip. My interns use so much passive voice in their blog posts each week -- probably to add enough fluff to make their word count :-P -- and are always surprised at how much more concise their writing is after I'm done with it. :-D

[@BookLaunchers]

You have interns?! That sounds interesting!! What is there role? Just blog writing or do they do more?

[@rachelrobertson7353]

@@BookLaunchers I do! I'm the Writing Director with a marketing company I helped co-found and have anywhere from 20-30+ interns, depending. :-) It's pretty fun! Lots of editing each week, of course, but Google Calendar helps keep me organized and on top of things. :-D Most of our interns are writing blog posts for our clients right now, but I do have one helping me as an Internship Program Assistant and another who may start helping us out with social media projects soon!

[@BookLaunchers]

That is incredible. :) knowing that makes me even more appreciative of the time you give to the channel and that you are one of my #youtubebesties :)

[@marylynneturner5290]

I learned that passive voice is boring. Edit: Julie explained that writing in passive voice leads to boring text. Am I getting there?

[@BookLaunchers]

Your first sentence wasn't passive but the second is definitely a more interesting sentence. :)

[@jennifergardiner3009]

I'm nervous, this is new to me, I'm hoping I don't use it to much.

[@BookLaunchers]

It's ok if you do - just make sure you get an editor who will help you get rid of most of it. Grammarly also flags passive voice too.

[@anzita7]

Which form you believe is easy and meticulous for writing: active or passive voice?

[@AltcoinAnalysis]

I'm very guilty of this.