on The Book Designer:

It’s unlikely the classics we grew up studying in school would sell well today. And it’s unlikely the books that hit bestseller lists would have sold a hundred years ago. Why? Because writing evolves and is an ever-changing process. What sold hundreds of years ago doesn’t connect with today’s readers.

In a fast-paced world of 45-minute television episodes and gripping Hollywood movies, writing has much to compete with.

Of course, there are still audiences who appreciate and enjoy a slower-paced read. But speaking generally, it’s important to grab your readers from page one and write in a way that will keep them turning pages until the last one.

One way to do this is by learning what passive voice is, how to find it, and eradicating it from your writing.