Your ability to use the right words to get your message across is one of the most important aspects of creative writing. This is why writers are often called “wordsmiths.” We use words to create thoughts, impressions, and scenes in readers’ heads. We use them to inform, inspire, incite or entertain. Using the wrong words can not only confuse your message, it can also weaken your writing. An example of this is the excessive use of adverbs.
Adverbs are often called “-ly words” because they usually end in -ly: usually, mostly, unfairly, etc. By definition, the adverb is the part of speech that “modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.” In his memoir, On Writing, Stephen King says, “Kill your loved ones.” Adverbs are some of the spoiled ones he was referring to.
Don’t get me wrong; the adverb is a valid part of speech. As such, it has its uses. Often, however, we overuse it to the point where it becomes ridiculous. When it gets to that point, it weakens your writing, whether you’re writing fiction, news, essays, or poetry. For example, instead of “She cried a lot,” you might want to say “She sobbed.” Or, better yet, “The sobs wracked her body.” See how much more of an image it creates? The first example is weak; the last two are stronger. They are stronger because they use action verbs and concrete nouns. The reader can imagine what you are writing.
Of course, in the throats of creativity, it is difficult to stop and remove all adverbs. I don’t suggest you do that. (Even Stephen King doesn’t suggest you do that.) Rather, let yourself get your ideas into writing. Once you have captured them in written form, your work begins. Go back over your writing and choose each and every adverb, yes, all, then give the adverb a test. Can the verb-adverb combo be replaced by a stronger verb? If so, replace it. If you can’t find a stronger verb, check and see if the adverb is needed. Often it won’t. For example, in the sentence “He was terribly handsome in an imposing way”, do you need the word “terribly”? Nope.
Well, we’ve talked about the importance of keeping adverbs to a minimum. What about adjectives? Adjectives, of course, are the words that modify or describe nouns: nice, big, angry, small, etc. I’m not going to spend much time on adjectives. I want to point out that while they are not as problematic as adverbs, they can be overused. Like adverbs, they have valid uses but often provide the lazy way out when it comes to descriptive writing.
If you want to know if your adjective is needed, test it the same way you would an adverb. For example, instead of “big house”, you would want to say “mansion”. That’s a simple example, but you get the idea. Here’s a point to remember: never use two words where one will suffice. But that is for another article. For now, work on using the words “write” to strengthen your writing and give it that missing creative edge. You’ll be glad you did.
