Kay Nielsen (1886-1957)- Original artwork for ‘The Little Mermaid’
August 12, 2017. Today is for Peeves.
Few writing habits are as irksome to me as the use of weak adverbs to express emphasis. Consider the power of well-chosen words that don’t need additional verbiage:
His room really stinks!
Okay. His room stinks. Does the adverb ‘really’ add anything special to this statement? What does “really” mean? How about,
His room smells vile.
It’s almost olfactory. It tricks you into believing that you can “smell” the putrescence, even without the use of an exclamation mark. Well, can you?
The first sentence sounds like a descriptor of every messy person you know. The latter puts that person in your face – makes your nose hairs feel singed. It’s personal. Intimate. The one in question is a singular offender. He’s not part of the “everyone” you know.
Choose your words for impact, clarity, and simplicity. “Show, don’t tell” works for writers and filmmakers alike. Let your audience fill in the gaps – respect their intelligence. Invite their participation in the telling of your story. This creates an immersive experience that makes your story memorable.
The strongest statement is the least adorned.