bill_kaulitz | Thoughts

I've hit a bit of a hitch in the editing process. One of the things I wanted to do this time around was weed out the adverbs because I've been told I use them too much and after some looking into....yeah, okay, I do. The writing tool/editor I've been using concurs lol

However, I fail to understand or agree with the vast majority of writers and articles claiming the use of is "lazy writing". I get it, I get why they think that, but I don't agree. The problem is, the writers/books that I like and read.......write this way. And most of them, if not all, have had books that hit New York Times' Bestsellers list. So if they can have what you call "lazy writing" by abusing adverbs, why can't I?

I was thinking that it was just the older writers (I'm big on Terry Brooks, whose first book was published in the 70s) that were guilty of this, but Brent Weeks is another writer I follow and he is heavy on the adverbs and I don't mind it one bit.

So I think I'm going to halt the overhaul and just clean up ones that can be worded better or don't add anything to the sentence and leave it at that. Because this whole adverb nonsense pisses me off. I don't like how so many articles refer to it as "lazy writing". I take that SO PERSONALLY FOR SOME REASON.

I know this is an extremely (omg adverb) random rant, but it just IRKS me. I get not having too many, but like lakdsjflkasjflkasf idk.

I'm ready to publish this bitch.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I feel ya. And while it's super important to listen to writing advice, not all of it's actually good. Being honest with yourself about the way it sounds to you and finding a balance between your own instincts and good advice is a process within itself, separate from the writing process. Try cutting some adverbs but if they work for you don't sacrifice them all. There are a LOT of writing prejudices in the publishing world and most of them are unfounded. Plus SO much crap gets published nowadays which either violates the "rules" or complies with them and no one seems to mind. So you do you.

THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I FEEL. Like I GET why people are anti-adverb, but I just can't get around how much I disagree with that sentiment. I do, however, agree that ones that CAN be replaced, should. If a better verb exists, use it, sure. Sometimes there just ISN'T a replacement. The good thing is, is that this did open up my eyes to some writing flaws I have and since I've started the second book, I can see the change. So some good did come out of it, but I will fight these published writers on the lazy writing thing lol

<3 I's take all that with a grain of salt. I heard you shouldn't being a sentence with an And. Screw that. If you study early modernism you'll find that almost anything is permissible if it's used with purpose. People get on a kick of saying "ADVERBS ARE BAD" all of a sudden; it's just a writing trend. Ignore it. I used passive voice strategically, I use adverbs, I use sentences that are confusing or are such a 50/50 double meaning for a purpose, I repeat things, I mix it up. People who say no adjectives aren't particularly brave or creative.

I usually find it hard to take things with a grain of salt when I'm looking for critique, but in this case, I agree with you. In moderation, most things are acceptable. I see sentences begun with conjunctions all the fucking time in modern literature. Not to mention, creative writing tends to excessively break the rules, so omg, screw all of these grammar books lol

I kid, it did teach me some valuable tips. I just...ugh, I know I'm overanalyzing so much of this because I'm nervous AF about publishing.

If it fits it sits. Like, sometimes things that are amazingly beautiful and creative in literature and technically they are grammatically incorrect. And it's good that you're nervous because you deeply care! (I know that doesn't help but it's true. <3

To quote Pirates of the Caribbean: "they're more like.........guidelines." Hahahaha.

<3 This book has been a part of me since I was fourteen. I'm glad it's not the same book it was when I was fourteen, and I know it's not a terrible piece of work, but I'm just scared it's not ready. I keep thinking of issues I need to fix, worried about which ones are passable, which ones people will rip to shreds should they notice. I don't think I'm rushing the publishing, but to be honest, I just don't know how long I'm supposed to wait. How many times I'm supposed to readthrough and edit before, not to abuse the phrase, I start George Lucas-ing it lol

YES! It takes a while. I'm still working on the one I started when I was 17, so about 16 years ago, and I made some MAJOR changes to it but actually, it's still basically the same novel. They say you shouldn't "fall in love" with your words, books, characters, but really I think that IS the only way. It took me ages for it to "click." One day you'll just feel it's right. I would say "try not to agonize over it" but then I am the WORST when it comes to that. Maybe take the pressure off for a week and come back to it.

Right, I totally get that <3

It had to go through several edits. I think this is like...#5 or #6? It was too close to the book that inspired it, so that had to be weeded out, and then the lame 14-year-old's logic had to be fixed. But the last time around, I kind of gave up because I didn't know where to take it. So I put it down for........about ten years. I came back to it, and with the help of a SUPER POSITIVE ENERGY coworker, she really rebooted me and it just came to me this last year. Now, it's just a matter of tidying up the writing, which I don't think is POOR, but I'll be honest with myself, it's a little naïve and needs cleaning up with things like adverbs and what not.

I think I'm okay. I might go back and fluff up the beginning with some of my adverbs I took out lolololol, but I'm feeling good about this final readthrough <3

That's great! It sounds like you're working with it a lot! *cheers you on*

I do think there are times when at adverb could be removed and the rest reworded better, but there are definitely times when adverbs are just what works! It varies from sentence to sentence and I just get a 'feel' for it. Anyone who says that adverbs all need to be removed and they're just lazy has clearly never written creatively :P

Agreed! That's what I've started to come around to thinking, it's just aggravating me the way these authors and articles seem to critique the use of adverbs. Like, shove off, ya jerks.

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