Sarah L. Kaufman

Sarah L. Kaufman, a Pulitzer Prize–winning dance critic turned author and writing teacher, shares why verbs are a hidden superpower. She explores English’s knack for manner verbs. Short, vivid verbs can shape memory, speed emergency action, and bring interior life to writing. The conversation also touches on child language patterns and when adverbs still matter.

Sarah Kaufman, a Pulitzer Prize–winning critic and writing teacher, shows how stronger verbs turn flat prose into vivid, action-driven writing. She explains why verbs are underrated, how physical and metaphorical verbs show emotion, when passive voice is useful, and practical ways to swap explanation for movement to enliven scenes.