Throw-Away Words (Part 1 of 4)

Using the word there is the weakest of all sentence starts because readers must wait until at least the third word to find any meaning. Find the noun that follows the verb and bring it to the front so readers can form a picture from the first words.

1. There were two other people in the waiting room.
   Two other people were in the waiting room.
2. There were supposed to be eight to ten guys from church.
   Eight to ten guys from church were supposed to be there.
3. There was a lot of excitement in the air that year.
   Excitement filled the air that year.
4. There was nothing between the two armies but six hundred paces of open grass, a small brook, and half a dozen stunted trees.
   Only six hundred paces of open grass, a small brook, and half a dozen stunted trees separated the two armies.