“Was/were” goes to “emotion word” goes to “involuntary physical reaction.” Got it! Now to go practice…

–Coffee sprayed out of my mouth seconds after I realized somebody had done a lousy job of rinsing the soap out of the pot. Ann scowled at me from across the table, her mascara running as the steaming coffee dripped off her nose.

I was sweating in warm, night air.

As I stared in wonder at the scattered stars tossed across the black canopy of the night sky, I sucked the warm, humid air into my lungs.

I’m going to copy this little chart and apply it when I go back for second draft edits on the WIP. Thanks, Dame Toni!

I’ll take a stab at one:

‘The muscles all around her hairline clenched with the promise of a lowgrade migraine at the scattered proof her kids had swept through the kitchen in search of after-school snacks.’

Writing from real life? Why do you ask?

Description
The house’s paint was faded.

Emotion
She stared at the house, now faded and worn, and cried for her youth.

Involuntary Physical Reaction
She stared at the house, its faded paint, empty, soulless windows, and shuddered at what awaited her inside.