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Adjectives and adverbs are two of your very best friends when it comes to writing prose.

An adjective is any word that modifies a noun. This can be color, size, location, temperature, appearance, etc.

An adverb is any word that describes a verb. This can be anything from a simple description ("slowly") to a location ("to the bank") or a time ("at noon").

For example: The small, red haired boy ran slowly to the old bank at noon.

Italics show adjectives, while bold shows adverbs. "Old" you notice, is in both bold and italics because it's part of the adverb clause "to the old bank" but is also an adjective for the word "bank".

Modifiers add description to nouns and verbs, help flesh out your narrative and strengthen your story. However, when using adverbs and adjectives there are many things to keep in mind.


Avoid Meaningless Adjectives and Adverbs.

This one is the main reason I wanted to do this lesson first.

Substitute “damn” every time you’re inclined to write “very;” your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.  ~Mark Twain

Words like “very”, “really”, “completely”, and “totally” are filler words, essentially meaningless and useless little noises we make to fill time when we speak. Unless it is in dialogue, you should avoid these words at all cost. They weaken the words they modify, bog down your writing and stunt the impact of your words. Every word in writing is special and critical. If your modifier doesn't modify or change the base word in any way, drop it.

Compare these two examples:
“It was very cold outside. The wind blew really hard”
“It was frigid outside. The wind roared through the trees.”

They have the same number of words in them, but one is a much stronger description of the weather.



Thesauruses and Dictionaries are your best friend.

There are many online dictionaries and thesauruses you can access for free.
Both Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster are fantastic.
I however prefer to have my own copy of a printed dictionary and thesaurus, just so I can put sticky notes and write on pages when I find really good words.

Dont be afraid to look up synonyms of a word you know you overuse.

However: Be careful that the words you choose fit the mood, voice, tone and pace of your writing. Dont pick words that your readers will have no idea what it means because it's archaic or overly obscure (Unless your narrator happens to be the kind of person to use archaic or obscure words, but then stay consistent), and don't use words that YOU don't fully understand the connotations of.
There's a significant difference between “room temperature” and “tepid”. Be careful not to choose words in narration that conflict with the over all tone, but don't be afraid to experiment with words you've never used before either.

Some modifiers, sadly, have been used and abused to the point of meaningless cliché.
“Blood red” for example is used so often in everything that it's been rendered nearly meaningless to the average reader. Just avoid it.



Less is More

It can't be stressed enough that sometimes less really IS more. Not every noun and verb needs 2 or 3 (or hell, even 1) adjective or adverb. If you're writing a fast paced scene, or your narrator is 'direct' or any manner of things, it sometimes helps to simply leave out those modifiers and use strong nouns and verbs that can stand all on their own.

In “The Circuit” by Francisco Jimenez, the narrator describes the family's car as “an old jalopy”.
Yes, he could have said “It was a 1946 broken down old Ford Pick up with fading blue paint and a dirty interior. It has over 100,000 miles on it, and the air conditioner never worked”, but he didn't need to. The narrator is a young child, the narration is simple and quickly paced. Long wordy descriptions of the family car would have clashed with the flow of the passage. “An old jalopy” on the other hand, blended into the narration, bot unobtrusive and vivid.

You have to use your own judgment when it comes to how much and what kind of modifiers your work calls for, so don't feel like if you are short on modifiers that your writing is somehow weaker than a writer who piles on adjectives like a fat man at a buffet bar.





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Writing Prompt:

To practice using modifiers, do the writing prompt below and post in in this thread.


Pick an object in your room. It can be anything, from your bed to a half empty coke can to your favorite DVD.

What is the object?

Describe the object in 3 words:

Describe the Object in 10 words:

Describe the object in 24 words:

Describe the object in 40 words:

Which of the above was the easiest to do? Which was the hardest? Which was the most fun to write? Which was the most frustrating to write?
Which of the above do you, personally, think is the “best” description of the object? (Remember, less CAN be more)



Bonus Writing Prompt: Go to a dictionary or thesaurus and find an adjective or adverb that you've NEVER used before in any of your writing.
What is the word?
What is the definition of the word?
Give an example using the word in a sentence.



Also: Since this is my first lesson, I'd enjoy some feedback. Even if you dont want to do the writing prompt, I'd love it if you'd let me know what you thought.
Was the lesson put together well, did it have valuable information, do you think it helped you, areas that could be better, things you'd like to see, anything.



As always, if you have any questions, be sure to ask.

Awesome. (Ha. I almost wrote "very good")