Stalling phrases are things like tried to, seemed to, began to, started to
Ex) The sun's reflection seemed to glisten and waver on the water.
Fixed) The sun's reflection glistened and wavered on the water.
Ex) I took a detour down two short flights of stone stairs and started looking for the Last Chance Saloon.
Fixed) I took a detour down two short flights of stone stairs and looked for the Last Chance Saloon.
In most cases, these expressions merely stall the narrative. By using these phrases you have to say that someone started something, then you have to say they did it. They finished it. It is faster, easier, and neater to simply say that they just did it.
An exception is if your characters action is cut off.
Ex) I started to paint my nails, but the phone rang.
