Tips, Tricks

July Theme: Descriptive Writing

So, it’s July. And this month’s theme is descriptive writing: when to use adjectives and adverbs. You may have thought that this theme has been tackled already. And you are right . . . sort of. I mentioned this all the time in previous tips, but when I asked for a list of tips last year . . . this one popped up again. I suppose there’s no harm in tackling again. So on we go.

Week 1: English Lesson: Adjectives and Adverbs
Week 2: When Not to Use Adjectives and Adverbs
Week 3: When to Use Adjectives and Adverbs

When to Use Adjectives and Adverbs

Nine times out of ten, you will not need adjectives or adverbs. But like most everything else in the world, there are exceptions. There are just some times where you have to use an adjective or adverb. Describing the color of something is one instance. There are just some moments when you have to say, “the red ball.” “The ball the color of roses” won’t cut it.

It is partly skill and partly experience that will tell you when those few moments are upon you. Many times, adverbs can be avoided by changing the verb you are using. Instead of speaking incessantly, a character can ramble. Often, however, you will have to replace an adjective or adverb with either a really good description or a scene.

For instance, if a little boy is behaving badly, don’t say,

His mother was amazed at how badly he acted.

It may be better to say,

His mother walked into his room and halted. The fish bowl had been smashed to the ground, and the goldfish were flopping on the ground. Her favorite vases were toppled over. The window was broken. The curtains were on the floor.

She walked through the house and gazed with mouth agape at the scene.

She found Taylor in the kitchen. He had his baseball bat in one hand and the cat’s tail in another. The babysitter was tied to a chair and gagged.

“Taylor!” his mother shouted.

See that? I didn’t tell you that Taylor acted badly but couldn’t you tell by the scene? It would also be powerful to see Taylor making the mess—actually, that may even be better.

But that is up to you.

July Theme: Descriptive Writing

So, it’s July. And this month’s theme is descriptive writing: when to use adjectives and adverbs. You may have thought that this theme has been tackled already. And you are right . . . sort of. I mentioned this all the time in previous tips, but when I asked for a list of tips last year . . . this one popped up again. I suppose there’s no harm in tackling again. So on we go.

Week 1: English Lesson: Adjectives and Adverbs
Week 2: When Not to Use Adjectives and Adverbs
Week 3: When to Use Adjectives and Adverbs

When Not to Use Adjectives and Adverbs

When you are going to revise your work, the first things you should cut are adjectives and adverbs. You don’t need them. I don’t care if you need the “numbly” at the end of your tag line. I don’t care if you can’t think of another word to describe how “badly” the guy acted. I don’t care if “exquisite” is the only word you can think of to describe the sunset in your story.

Those words mean nothing to the reader.

Think about it. What is an exquisite sunset?

To you, it could mean a sitting on the seashore with the red sun descending beneath the horizon, its rays sparkling off the golden waves.

To me, it could be a standing on the top of a precipice, watching the sun sink behind the mountains, tinting their snow-covered peaks with pinks and oranges, the clouds ablaze with golden highlights.

Did you see what I did there? Those are two completely different scenes, both describing two equally exquisite sunsets.

Instead of using adjectives and adverbs (granted “golden” and “red” are adjectives, but we’ll get to that next week), I used vibrant verbs. “Descending,” “sink,” “tinting,” ablaze,” “sparkling”—those are vibrant and tells you something about the scene. Combine them with concrete nouns like “ precipice,” “ peaks,” and “seashore” and you get a description that beats the pants off of “an exquisite sunset.” In general, adverbs and adjectives mean nothing in writing. Most times, it’s an excuse to be lazy.

It isn’t wrong or bad writing to use adjectives and adverbs in your first draft. It becomes bad writing when you leave them there. Take the time to imagine your scene. What does it look like, smell like, sound like, feel like, taste like (many times, taste is not applicable)? Then describe that. Write as much as you can—you can cut what is excessive later.

In fact, I’m going to give you an assignment. What is an exquisite sunrise to you? Comment here and write it down.

Looking forward to it,