TGIF, readers and writers! For today’s writing prompt, I want to focus on the editing stage of writing. Namely, this prompt will deal with tightening our writing and exercising restraint. It’s time to take a look at our use of adverbs.
Adverbs: writers love them, editors loathe them. When used prudently, they can sharpen the reader’s mental image of a scene. However, writers tend to rely on them a little more than we should. For this writing prompt, we’re going to look at one famous author’s advice for how to use adverbs–or, rather, how to keep from using them.
Mark Twain once gave the following quote:
Substitute “damn” every time you’re inclined to write “very;” your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.
–Mark Twain
In this exercise, I want you to do what Mark Twain suggests. However, you will not just substitute the word “very.” Instead, you’ll be replacing every use of any adverb.
The exercise, as usual, is simple:
Take one page from your WIP–whether it be a short story, a novel, or even an essay–and every time you use an adverb, replace it with the word “damn.” CAUTION: Remember to save this new version of the page as a new file. Any time you make changes like this, you will want to keep the original. Otherwise, if you realize that you liked it better the first time, you won’t have the original copy to return to.
Image retrieved from inkonhand.com
Once you have replaced all your adverbs, take a break for a few minutes. Watch TV, put in a load of laundry, walk the dog, whatever. Then, after about five or ten minutes, go back to the page you changed. How many times do you use “damn?” Is it scarce? Or do you find it in almost every line?
After noting how often “damn” appears in this version of the page, make a third version in which you remove every appearance of “damn.” Take another quick break, five or ten minutes like before, and then read over this third version. Now that you’ve seen all three versions, what do you think? Were your adverbs justified or superfluous? Is your writing tighter and cleaner without the adverbs, or does it feel choppy and like something’s missing? Or should you find a version in between these, not using quite so many adverbs but not removing all of them?
While many editors–and even acclaimed writers–claim that adverbs and adjectives can be the death of good writing, this is not always the case. Sometimes adverbs are necessary, as are adjectives (but that’s another story). You have to discover for yourself what works best for your writing style. After all, good writers learn the rules; great writers learn them and then break them. This prompt, though, will help you to see adverbs in a new way and learn to not throw them in willy-nilly.
What was your experience with this prompt? Did you learn anything about your writing style? What do you think of Twain’s advice? Are adverbs overused? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011
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