Progressive Tenses: Part 2 of a series of 10 articles on common errors new authors make

Past/Present Progressive Tense
Definition = verb phrases consisting of a form of "to be" plus a verb participle. The continuity of the action can also be shown with the verbs "begin/began" or "start/started". Progressive tenses show continuing action.

Examples:
1) She was walking down the street.
2) She began to walk down the street.

Correction = Use the simple past/present tense.
She walked down the street.

Why we should avoid the progressive tense
1) Although technically true that it takes time for something to happen, describing it with the progressive tense takes away the immediacy of the action.
2) Unlike in a movie, where we can see multiple actions at the same time, in a book events can only be described one at a time, even if they happen simultaneously. For example, when a bar room brawl breaks out, a drunk throws the first punch, his girlfriend screams, and the bartender ducks all at the same time, but we have to describe them one at a time.

Compare the examples below:
Progressive tense = While Billy Bob was throwing a wild punch at Dueling Dan, Sue Ann was letting out a bloodcurdling scream and the bartender was ducking under the counter.
Simple past = When Billy Bob threw a wild punch at Dueling Dan, Sue Ann let out a bloodcurdling scream and the bartender ducked under the counter.

The simple past/present strengthens the verb and tightens the writing, which makes it more immediate and exciting.