Adverbs, words that describe or modify verbs, should be avoided whenever possible. If you’re using an adverb, it’s likely that you should be using a different single word instead of the adverb+verb combination. Instead of saying that someone is speaking quietly, say...
Last week, I wrote about the importance of setting goals, and how setting word count goals is better than trying to write for a duration of time. Word count goals gives you a quantifiable result that cuts out any perceived productivity that occurred while staring at a...
Writers on Writing
James Blish told me I had the worst case of “said bookism” (that is, using every word except said to indicate dialogue). He told me to limit the verbs to said, replied, asked, and answered and only when absolutely necessary.
