Into the Fire

Ah, the love-hate relationship with the adverb. Personally, I enjoy them. Used in the right places, they enhance not detract. Used in the wrong places, like any other type of word, they annoy. To single out a word form to use as an absolute no-no seems ridiculous to me.

Fiction is creative writing. That means inventing a story and telling it in a way that entices the reader. Now if every reader were alike, we writers could adhere to the dogma proffered by some professionals such as NO ADVERBS. NO PASSIVE VERBS. NO HEAD HOPPING. Etc.

However, there's something to be said for enticing the writer. If it's pleasurable for a novelist to stick to the arbitrarily decided rules of writing, then more power to him. This writer is not impressed with the advised rules because they result in formulaic stories, format, and prose. Not interesting taken in large doses.

Words have value and purpose. We all need to write them wisely.

Father, you write on the hearts of man, giving purpose and meaning. We're desperate for your Word, your touch, your wisdom, and forgiveness. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.