Brain Freeze

The weather outside is truly frightful and not a tiny bit delightful. Winter is here and making its presence known in the form of freezing rain, sleet, and snow. I do not drive in snow or ice. My car is not made for it, being low to the ground and composed of mostly plastic. Today is a perfect day for staying in bed and working on writing endeavors.

A burning question being posed on a variety of writing blogs is to adverb or not to adverb. Stephen King is strongly (adverb use intended for humor potential) opposed to the use of adverbs in writing, cautioning only to use them as a cook would a pungent spice, in extreme moderation. My natural style is filled with countless adverbs and a plethora of "had" and "that." Maintaining an adverb free zone in my prose is a challenge. It is so easy to say "The girl looked at him, lovingly" rather than show her love in a series of actions and responses.

What do I think about adverbs? If you are intent upon using them, do so, in your first draft. Get it out of your system. Go adverb crazy, using them in every sentence if you have to. Then on your second pass, edit them out of your manuscript. Replace them with action. It can be done. Sometimes it is hard to give up every single offender. If the stray adverb refuses to budge, then it can be tolerated. In the end, your writing will thank you.

I would also like to say, as with anything you do in life, practice will make it easier. I know new writers get sick of hearing this over and over, but it is the truth. If you want to write better, then you have to keep writing, and writing badly. Writing is very much use it or lose it. (in my humble opinion of course) I think you must come to the table with some talent, but mechanics can be learned.