The Pyramid for Powerful Writing

by Martin Wiles @LinesFromGod

By volume, the largest pyramid in the world is the Great Pyramid of Cholula, located in Mexico. This monumental pyramid boasts a volume of 4.45 million cubic meters. This is almost twice the volume of the highest pyramid, the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Pyramid of Cholula is so large that it eventually became covered with vegetation and was built over. Now, it appears to be a natural hill topped by a church. The primary purpose of the Egyptian pyramids was to house the bodies of pharaohs and their possessions, providing protection for both in the afterlife. 

Writing pyramids are also critical. As writers, we aim for powerful writing. If we do a little editing, too, we want to help other writers realize dynamic writing as well. A better sentence or sentence structure. A more powerful word. A more impressive character arc or exciting plot. But how? A simple pyramid will help. 

Daily, I read sentences that lack zing. Many of them, I have written. Others are ones I’m editing for other writers. I appeal to my vocabulary, the built-in thesaurus in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Editor, and Grammarly. And, of course, Miriam Webster always avails herself. But I’m wasting my time if I don’t know the pyramid that will make the writing more powerful. My writing and the person’s devotion, article, or manuscript I’m editing will fall short. 

Rather than start at the bottom and work our way up, let’s start at the top and walk down, beginning with the most important words. 

The Writing Pyramid

The Vivid Verb

Of all the parts of speech, the verb is the most important. We must have one to have a sentence, but not all stand on equal footing. At the theater or on YouTube, the right word might not be that essential. After all, we can see what the screenwriter wants. But on paper, words help us see, and of those words, verbs sit on a glorious throne. Without vivid ones, writing slows almost to a halt.

John can walk to the store, but he can also hobble. Now, I see him with a limp and perhaps using a cane or crutches. I wonder what happened to him that put him in that position. An entire range of pictures dances through my mind. 

The Specific Noun 

Subjects (nouns) are also necessary for a sentence to exist. But, like verbs, all nouns are not of equal value. Common nouns are persons, places, or things. But proper nouns are specific persons, places, or things. 

The main character can own a large dog, or he can own a German Shepherd, Doberman, or Rottweiler. Our stories will paint a beautiful picture when the noun is specific and the verb is vivid. 

The Acting Adjective

Adjectives describe or modify our nouns. We won’t need many of them when we use vivid verbs and specific nouns, but they help dress up our sentences. 

The Announcing Adverb

Adverbs get a bad rap—and they are frequently overused. Some are necessary, but not the ones—often those ending in ly—that we use to prop up poor verbs and boring nouns. 

Adverbs that announce time and place (when, where) prove essential. However, we should replace the lyones that crutch a boring verb. A nurse can walk quietly into a patient’s room, but it’s better if she tiptoes. 

When we start at the top of the pyramid and scale our way down, we’ll write powerful fiction and nonfiction—and help others do the same.

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Martin Wiles lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, pastor, and author. He serves as Managing Editor for both Christian Devotions and Vinewords.net and is an instructor for the Christian PEN (professional editor’s network). Wiles is a multi-published author. His most recent book, Hurt, Hope and Healing: 52 Devotions That Will Lead to Spiritual Health, is available on Amazon. He and his wife are parents of two and grandparents of seven. He can be contacted at mandmwiles@gmail.com.