Adverbs: Less Is More

It’s common advice in writers’ workshops that adverbs should be replaced with active verbs whenever possible, and that you shouldn’t use too many adverbs.  But how many adverbs is too many?  I decided to find out.

My Methodology

I went to three respected literary magazines and randomly selected the following three stories:

Bogdonoff, Nathan. ”Indoor Animals.” New England Review, Vol. 39, No. 4 (2018).

Li, Yiyun. “All Will Be Well.” New Yorker. 11 March 2019. 

Roth, Philip.  “Goodbye Columbus.” Paris Review, Issue 20, Autumn-Winter 1958-1959.

I copied and pasted the stories into Word, searched for “ly” and highlighted the adverbs in blue.  Then I copied the phrases or sentences in which they appeared into a separate document, and counted the number of occurrences (no, I am not always this OCD).

Then I averaged the three to find a good target number (okay, maybe I am always this OCD).  In all three instances, the number of adverbs represented less than 1% of the total number of words in the story.

What I Learned

Adverbs should represent less than 1% of your total word count.

When you do use an adverb, it should be to describe an action for which there is not a better verb.  Examples:

• “I never called ahead, and rarely had to wait” – we don’t have a verb that expresses waiting as a rare occurrence.
• “I may say it a bit too ringingly, too fast, too up-in-the-air, but I say it” – again, there’s no particular verb to express this particular style of speaking
• “The fawn is peeing, steadily and unabashedly, all over the floor.” – I don’t mean to be gross, but we don’t have a polite verb for sustained or shame-free urination.

Sometimes, adverbs are used deliberately for effect:

• “these were my most tiresome traits, and I used them tirelessly”
• “They looked like two lambs, impeccably prepared by their elders as sacrifices to appease a beast or a god.”

Sometimes it seems to be about characterization or voice:

• “She dove beautifully”
• “The darker it got the more savagely did Brenda rush the net”
• “I wasn’t entirely free from the demands of stating my opinions”

Adverbs also appear to be commonly used to express time:

• rarely
• finally
• suddenly (which should be used sparingly, BTW)
• recently, etc.

Click here to see the data set.

Tombstone Vigilettes

As part of the ongoing Spotlight on Speakers series, the Huachuca City Library invites you to come and see The Tombstone Vigilettes. This Tombstone re-enactment group includes six ladies and one gentleman. Each member wears period clothing and explains how his/her garment reflects Tombstone life during 1860 to 1915.

There will be a mini-fashion show, including a “tea” dress and gymnasium attire! Vintage objects will also be displayed.

Information obtained from Huachuca City Public Library flier.

Mark your calendars for this event: Thursday, March 14th at 10 a.m. at the Huachuca City Town Hall, 500 N Gonzales Blvd. For more information, you may call the library at 520-456-1063.

San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area

As part of the Spotlight on Speakers series, Gabrielle LaFargue will present an historical overview of the land designated as the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area by the Bureau of Land Management in the late 1980s. The 1880s silver boom was significant to the development of this area.

A slideshow presentation will include historical photos as well as flora and fauna photos of this important natural habitat.

This event will be held on Thursday, March 7th at 10 a.m. at the Huachuca City Town Hall located at 500 Gonzalez Blvd.

Local Lit Mag: Rain Shadow Review

I promised my friend KL that I’d give this journal a local shout-out, so here’s some info on this unique publication and reading opportunity.

Rain Shadow Review is the brainchild of Arizona poet Richard Shelton, whose involvement with prison writing workshops goes all the way back to 1974.  The writing in the magazine comes from current or former inmates of the Arizona prison system.

The last three issues of Rain Shadow Review have been edited by UA professor Erec Toso.

Online, you’ll find intriguing poems, truly stunning artwork, and a gripping prose piece about SIDS by Steven P. Arthur.

If you stop by the University of Arizona Poetry Center Library, you can pick up your latest copy of Rain Shadow Review – you should, it’s free and it’s good reading.

If you’ve ever been in jail or prison, you could become a contributor to this magazine.  Visit online at https://rainshadowreview.com/ or mail a COPY of your best writing to: 

Rain Shadow Review
P.O. Box 85462
Tucson, AZ  85754-5462

Author Brian G. Phelps

At 10 a.m. on Friday, February 15, 2019, Brian G. Phelps will be a special guest speaker at the Huachuca City Library which is located at 506 Gonzalez Blvd.

The author will share the highlights of his “white-knuckled” solo adventure of cycling 4,000 miles across America and Canada on his yard-sale bike, lovingly named Fanny.

Brian’s recently published book “Fanny and Me” will be available for purchase and signing.

Seating is limited, so call 520.456.1063 to reserve your spot today.

Introduction

Hello all, this is my inaugural post on the “cochisewriters” blogspot… and on my birthday no less.

Spotlight on Speakers

The Huachuca City Library offers a free “Spotlight on Speakers” series at 10 a.m. on Thursdays.

On February 7^th, Kartchner Cavern Ranger Ann Gurr and volunteer Jean Sneed will present “Bats of Arizona.” They will discuss which species of bats live in Arizona, what they eat, and the benefits they provide.

As part of Black History Month, on February 21^st, Retired Army Sergeant Major Charles Hancock will present “The African-American in Times of War: Revolutionary War to the current War on Terror.” Mr. Hancock is President of the Buffalo Soldiers.

RSVP strongly encouraged as seating space is limited.

Interested in becoming a future Speaker? Contact Library Director, Suzanne Harvey, or Janet Weir. For more information, please call (520) 456-1063.

Tracking our progress

A few members of the group have decided to track our daily word counts–for better or worse! For January we’re doing something a little different: each person can set their own goal, rather than everyone having the same one. Here’s the spreadsheet.

 

HELP THE ELF: I Found Santa’s Missing Nice List!

Hi everyone! As you may remember, a few weeks ago Pete the elf had a touch too much Eggnog at the Holiday Christmas Party and as he stumbled home, he lost Santa’s NICE LIST.

The North Wind scattered the papers to all four corners of the world, and The Bookshelf Muse put out a call to help find them in order to SAVE CHRISTMAS.

Ever since I read about it, I’ve been on the lookout. And then today, EUREKA!

Yes that’s right…I found part of Santa’s missing NICE LIST. There it was, fluttering in the wind, half caught under the corner of my welcome mat. And shock of all shocks, I recognized the names, and I bet you will too.

Here it is below:

NAME: The Cochise Writers Group–local members Brandt, Cappy, Debra, Debrah, Jeri, JoySue, Lucinda, Redonna, Steve, Susan S., Susan T., Tami, and Ted, and far-away members Bob, Pat, Annette, and Terry.

LOCATION: Southern Cochise County Arizona, and Oregon, Florida, and Mexico!

NICE LEVEL: 93% (at least–usually much higher)

NAUGHTY LEVEL: Just not tellin’! 😉

OBSERVATIONS: Ever-improving writers, but most important, great friends one and all.

RECOMMENDATION:     a) Coal                   b) Gift

~ ~ * ~ ~

Because poor Pete is dashing all over the place trying to hunt down the rest of Santa’s missing Nice List, I decided to take care of this one myself. Enjoy the gift I sent to your inbox and have a wonderful Christmas!

Photo credit: assorted gold baubles (christmasstockimages.com) / CC BY 3.0

Just Say No

Longtime creative writing instructor Leslie Clark will be retiring soon, and no one more deserves the time to do her own writing and sleep in on Monday mornings.

Recently, we talked about her plans. I said I had been busier since I retired than I was when I was working. She responded with her usual succinctness: “Just say no.”

She’s right, of course. Saying no to one thing makes time and energy to say yes to more important things. We can imagine–and commit to–an enormous number of attractive activities in addition to the ones that are just part of life or thrust themselves on us–family, friends, housework, the dog being bitten by a rattlesnake.

In order to make (note I didn’t say “find”) the time to write, we have to say no to other possibilities–not all of them, just enough to get our creative work done. That’s the way life is. It’s full of choices, and we have to set priorities.

My step-daughter, Alex, is in an MBA program and loves to sew. She has three children, two of them with special needs. When they came by on their way to her husband’s new military assignment in Texas, I asked how she managed.

She has a simple system. She announces that she’s going to study for the next hour and is not to be disturbed. She sets a timer for the kids to see. Every time one interrupts her, she asks, “Is anyone bleeding? I anybody’s hair on fire?” If it’s not an emergency, she promises to deal with the child’s issue when she’s done studying. They can trust her to keep her promise.

What do I say no to? I’d love to take some art and craft classes, bulk up my birding life list, and take my dogs to obedience classes. If I want to finish my parrot memoir before I’m old(er) and in a nursing home, I have to say no, at least for now.

When my husband retired from teaching, I said no to having my desk in the living room any more, where he could interrupt me ever seventeen seconds. I spiffed up an old travel trailer for my office and learned how to operate the lock.

I mastered a sweet smile and the words “I love you, now go away” for those times when he wants to spend “just a minute” in the middle of my writing hour, showing me this cool video he found on the Internet.

How do you say no to enough other things to create (note I didn’t say “find”) enough time to write? I’m hoping readers will share their strategies.