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Adjectives suck

novella

Active Member
My advice to all writers is this: avoid adjectives entirely. They compromise the message. I so hate to read writing that relies on adjectives (or, worse, adverbs) to get across. Forget it. Don't do it. If you are posting new writing here, first thing you should do is go over it and cross all those shitty words out and find nouns and verbs that mean something.

I think to comment on particular new writers' work about this always comes across as "mean", but relying on trite adjectives to 'paint a picture' is the telltale sign of a crap writer.

Telling all o' yiz that for free.
 
novella said:
My advice to all writers is this: avoid adjectives entirely. They compromise the message. I so hate to read writing that relies on adjectives (or, worse, adverbs) to get across. Forget it. Don't do it. If you are posting new writing here, first thing you should do is go over it and cross all those shitty words out and find nouns and verbs that mean something.

I think to comment on particular new writers' work about this always comes across as "mean", but relying on trite adjectives to 'paint a picture' is the telltale sign of a crap writer.

Telling all o' yiz that for free.


Just kidding. You are right, of course.
 
Grudgingly, I can only say that you are, of course, right. Strong, or "loaded" nouns and verbs don't require adjectives, but people often fall into the trap of using those nouns and verbs too often, as cliches. Or else they try to use, or over-use, the adjectives in a way which takes away from the value of the writing, instead of adding to it as they intended. If you're reading this, and you find yourself struggling with writing, you should try to consider this! Bad writing sucks! (Take my redundency as a sign of frustration.)
 
Hm yes, I remember someone saying that Martin Amis's writing was almost entirely devoid of adjectives, but I've never consciously set out to check. Presumably, though, he still gets to refer to a door as white, or whatever...
 
Yeah, I was in a funk when I started this thread.

A writer does need to use purely descriptive words--judiciously. Nevertheless, most beginners' attempts at fiction need a thorough pruning of adjectives. They have to unlearn the 'adjectival mode' of telling a story every little kid is taught.

"Put details in your story, Johnny. What color is the lady's hair?"

"Okay, Misses Teacherhead."
 
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