Focus! Focus!

How can a pair of binoculars improve your writing?

Think about what they do. 

Binoculars make a view clearer.

We put on our binoculars and then improved a vague sentence.

Before:
The house was clean.
(This sentence is blurry.  It's hard to picture exactly what the house looks like.)

After:
In the cozy cottage, every window was sparkling, and every bed was neatly made.  Floors were perfectly waxed, and each tabletop gleamed with shine. 

This lesson idea comes from The Reviser's Toolbox by Barry Lane. 

Make the picture clearer by using specific nouns and descriptive adjectives. Help your reader visualize exactly what you mean!

Use your binoculars on this sentence:
The dog was cute.