If the very thought of adverbs – AKA “ly” words – sends a final boss theme playing in your head, you’re like many writers who’ve been taught to never, ever drop a beautifully, quickly, or softly in your polished manuscript.
Writing speculative fiction is part creativity, part writing wizardry, especially when creative writing tips seem to change with each chapter. Most wordsmiths are simply looking for way to improve their writing, with a side quest of crafting more engaging fantasy worlds, writing better characters, and spinning more interesting descriptions to captivate their audience. Since we’re firm believers that the rules of a universe should always be adhered to, it follows that writers want to know what the rules of storytelling are.
However, when it comes to style and form, it’s best to think of creative writing rules as sage suggestions rather than hard and fast conventions. Adverbs present a particular conundrum due to their fickle acceptance and rejection as storytelling has evolved throughout the years.
Let’s take a closer look at the multi-dimensional character of adverbs, when to use adverbs, and when not to us those pesky “ly” words.
Adverbs as the Big Bad of Writing
When should writers avoid using adverbs? As with any writing rule, avoid techniques that weaken the content of your prose.
Adverbs are particularly insidious in their ability to fluff up writing, especially dialogue and descriptions. The trouble with adverbs is that they’re often considered “lazy writing.” Words like “quietly” don’t tell the reader much about what’s happening. These filler words in fiction are best replaced with actions and fluid descriptions.
For example, “quietly” could be substituted with a vivid retelling of the smooth, alien surface of a door as the frame slides open across a strange stonework floor. The latter provides an opportunity to explore the world building of your scene, introduce architectural and historical details of this fantastic society, and immerse the reader in the moment. The former simply creates no distinction for the imagination to take hold of.
Similarly (see what we did there?), words like “hesitantly” are often a quick dialogue cheat. Improve dialogue writing by demonstrating hesitation with body language, facial expressions, words, and gestures instead of relying on simple modifiers.
It turns out our third grade teachers were right about the “show, don’t tell” rule. Strive for immersive writing and avoid the sinister pull of taking the easy way out.
Adverbs as the Misunderstood Rogues of Writing
Just because adverbs can be misused and overused in fiction writing doesn’t mean they’re all bad. In fact, a lot of adverbs are simply misunderstood. Think of adverbs as the salt to your words. It only takes a pinch to season a well written chapter.
A few appropriate ways to use adverbs in creative writing include to enhance tone and voice, to modify a verb, or to craft a catchy tagline.
Consider when an adverb becomes part of the narrative voice. Neil Gaiman, for example, is a master of the overly wordy narrator as an element of storytelling. If one were to begin a sentence with “she ran slowly,” this would be an example of poor adverb usage. However, consider the line “she ran ridiculously, impossibly slowly.” The latter gives the reader a sense of the narrator’s frustration and humor, while indicating that an element of the situation is noteworthy.
While modifying verbs is the primary function of, well, an adverb, it’s important to provide a brief cautionary here. Too many modifiers are clunky, too few sound a bit like a high school creative writing class where everyone has their thesaurus out and a list of “no filler words” at the ready. Try to pepper in adverbs where the enhance the flow of the prose, develop fluid sentences, and don’t serve as a replacement for detailed descriptions. For instance, “dragging his feet, the cave troll grudgingly took his turn in line for the Ferris wheel.” Here, the modifier serves to enhance the mood of reluctance and indicate that our dear troll may be afraid of heights without the author having to spell this out.
Adverbs can also be a great tool writing back cover blurbs, elevator pitches, or taglines. Remember; using sparingly, write eloquently.
Even the most well respected authors take years to perfect their craft, hone their style, and undergo periods of transformation.
The best rules of writing are the rules that work for you. In the immortal words of Marie Kondo, ask yourself, “does this adverb spark joy?”
If the answer is no, throw that adverb back in the bin. If yes, carry on, friends.
Looking for the perfect fantasy roadtrip playlist? Jam on and keep writing.
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