Warning: This post contains adverbs!
When I attended my first ACFW writing conference nearly a decade ago, I was surprised by the writing “rules” for authors. One of the key rules? No adverbs! We were advised that if we positively must have them, then we should use them sparingly and only when absolutely necessary. Granted, I could eliminate the adverbs in that last sentence and its meaning would be clear, but I like adverbs. I mean, I really like them! Perhaps because of that “rule,” and because my early draft manuscripts were peppered with adverbs, I’ve always held an affinity for them.
I remember asking a fellow attendee at that same conference, “What’s so bad about an adverb?” Her response was a shrug and a two-word answer: “They’re unnecessary.” That only fueled my defense of the words those “in the know” considered deplorable. For about a year afterward, I grew increasingly hypersensitive to adverbs—in my writing and reading. In the latter, I discovered enough of them to wonder whether or not authors were shunning the dreaded words.
When it comes to writing dialogue, the “rules” of proper sentence structure don’t always apply. Why not? Because most “real” people don’t speak in grammatically correct sentences! If they did, their speech would sound ridiculously stiff and formal. Not only that, but many people use a ton of adverbs. If used in moderation, adverbs can enhance our writing, especially in dialogue.
My soon-to-be released contemporary novel, Underground, features a dyed-in-the-wool, native-born Englishman as the hero. The setting is London, England, so welcome to Adverb Land! I haven’t done a global search for words such as then, yet, surely, certainly, naturally, apparently, and rather—and I won’t. In the case of this particular book, they’re not “weasel” (overused) words but common for the setting and characters. Combined with the intonations, patterns of speech, and unique phrasing in England (e.g., mad as a bag of ferrets, bits ’n bobs, chock-a-block, and Bob’s your uncle!), it’s been challenging but great fun to write.
The purpose of an adverb is to modify or qualify an adjective, verb, or other adverbs. I’ll be honest—sometimes I forget certain words are adverbs. In basic terms, an adverb provides context. Below is a brief list of the different types of adverbs (note they can sometimes overlap categories):
Type of Adverbs:
In closing, I’ll share a golden nugget from award-winning author Rachel Hauck that explains in clear terms what makes an adverb unnecessary. Perhaps this example will help you (as it did me, especially as a newbie writer) to put them in perspective. This was years ago, so it’s not a direct quote, but here’s the gist of what Rachel said:
Don’t say, “He slammed the wall angrily.”
Instead, say something like, “He slammed his fist through the wall.”
Or, you could say: “He slammed his fist through the wall, leaving a gaping hole.”
See how the adverb “angrily” in the first example is redundant and unnecessary? It’s also an example of telling vs. showing. The second sentence shows how angry the character is without saying he’s angry.
I choose to remain loyal to my beloved adverbs while trying to use them sparingly (except when writing a book set in England). How about you? Yea or nay to adverbs? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Until His Nets Are Full,
JoAnn
USA Today Bestselling Author JoAnn Durgin is the author of more than thirty novels, including the Lewis Legacy Series, Prelude, the Starlight Christmas Series, Catching Serenity, Hearts Design, Gentle Like the Rain, Whisper to My Heart, the Serendipity Christmas Series, the Treasured Vow Series, the Wondrous Love Series, If You Believe, Echoes of Edinburgh, Portrait, and The Valentine Verse. Her most recent release is Love on Assignment in Millcreek, Book 1 of The Millcreek Christmas Series. She’s also written three novels under the pen name of Julianna Desmond, her latest being Only A Whisper Away.
A former estate administration paralegal, JoAnn writes contemporary Christian romance full-time and lives with her family in her native southern Indiana.
Feel free to connect with her at https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanndurgin or via her website at https://joanndurgin.com.
- Frequency – always, sometimes, never, before, yet, then, usually
- Manner – carefully, slowly, bravely, soundly, happily
- Time and Place – then, soon, here, outside, upstairs, today, tomorrow, today
- Degree – extremely, rather, very, almost, barely, completely
- Quantity – a few, lot, much
- Attitude – clearly, obviously, unfortunately, apparently
- Affirmation and Negation – certainly, undoubtedly, never, not, apparently, no, obviously
- Place – upward, backward, everywhere, down, near, here, by, down, there
In closing, I’ll share a golden nugget from award-winning author Rachel Hauck that explains in clear terms what makes an adverb unnecessary. Perhaps this example will help you (as it did me, especially as a newbie writer) to put them in perspective. This was years ago, so it’s not a direct quote, but here’s the gist of what Rachel said:
Don’t say, “He slammed the wall angrily.”
Instead, say something like, “He slammed his fist through the wall.”
Or, you could say: “He slammed his fist through the wall, leaving a gaping hole.”
See how the adverb “angrily” in the first example is redundant and unnecessary? It’s also an example of telling vs. showing. The second sentence shows how angry the character is without saying he’s angry.
I choose to remain loyal to my beloved adverbs while trying to use them sparingly (except when writing a book set in England). How about you? Yea or nay to adverbs? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Until His Nets Are Full,
JoAnn
Matthew 5:16
Underground
Releases on July 21. Pre-order now!
Warning: This post contains adverbs! #seriouslywrite #tipsforwriters via @Gr8tReads
If used in moderation, adverbs can enhance our writing, especially in dialogue. #seriouslywrite #tipsforwriters via @Gr8tReads
How about you? Yea or nay to adverbs? I'd love to hear your thoughts. #seriouslywrite #tipsforwriters via @Gr8tReads
Underground
Releases on July 21. Pre-order now!
From USA Today Bestselling Author, JoAnn Durgin, the Lewis Legacy Series continues with Underground, Book 11.
Sought-after portrait artist, Gayle Ferrari, travels to England to explore the sights with her friends and mentors, Sam and Lexa Lewis, and their four children. On the day after her arrival in London, she rushes to the aid of a darling little boy in the Piccadilly Circus Underground station. Then finds herself in an unexpected confrontation with the child’s father, a handsome Englishman as irritating as he is confusing. Gayle’s instincts prompt her to wish them well and walk away, so why does the father-son duo tug on her heartstrings and refuse to let go?
Investment banker Pearson Sutcliffe’s carefully ordered life is a muddled mess. His career hovers on the brink of disaster, and his seven-year-old son, Simon, hasn’t spoken a word in three years when the brave actions of a beautiful American woman on an Underground platform confound him.
When the two forge a tentative friendship, neither can deny their growing attraction, although there are insurmountable stumbling blocks to a forever love. Add in a trio of matchmaking Englishwomen, an advice-dispensing new friend obsessed with romantic movies, the lively Lewis family, a woman seemingly bent on revenge, and Pearse’s meddling but well-meaning parents and siblings, and it’s a recipe for an unforgettable adventure in London!
Sought-after portrait artist, Gayle Ferrari, travels to England to explore the sights with her friends and mentors, Sam and Lexa Lewis, and their four children. On the day after her arrival in London, she rushes to the aid of a darling little boy in the Piccadilly Circus Underground station. Then finds herself in an unexpected confrontation with the child’s father, a handsome Englishman as irritating as he is confusing. Gayle’s instincts prompt her to wish them well and walk away, so why does the father-son duo tug on her heartstrings and refuse to let go?
Investment banker Pearson Sutcliffe’s carefully ordered life is a muddled mess. His career hovers on the brink of disaster, and his seven-year-old son, Simon, hasn’t spoken a word in three years when the brave actions of a beautiful American woman on an Underground platform confound him.
When the two forge a tentative friendship, neither can deny their growing attraction, although there are insurmountable stumbling blocks to a forever love. Add in a trio of matchmaking Englishwomen, an advice-dispensing new friend obsessed with romantic movies, the lively Lewis family, a woman seemingly bent on revenge, and Pearse’s meddling but well-meaning parents and siblings, and it’s a recipe for an unforgettable adventure in London!
A former estate administration paralegal, JoAnn writes contemporary Christian romance full-time and lives with her family in her native southern Indiana.
Feel free to connect with her at https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanndurgin or via her website at https://joanndurgin.com.
