Writer's Wednesday: The Dreaded Adverb

I'm sure you've heard it before ... I know I have.

Avoid the adverb! Slash them out of your manuscript. Replace your verbs with something stronger.

I realize some adverbs can't be replaced with another verb. But before you leave them in, shrugging your shoulders in defeat, ask yourself the following:

Am I Being Lazy? 
Sometimes an adverb is a lazy choice for a verb. So really take a look at your verb and adverb combo.

Example: Jennifer came up to me and said quietly, "He's staring at you."
Updated: Jennifer came up to me and whispered, "He's staring at you."

Am I Telling?
A lot of my adverbs are me telling, not showing. See if you can edit your adverb/verb with a different action altogether.

Example: Jennifer came up to me and said quietly, "He's staring at you."
Updated: Jennifer leaned over, her breath a sigh against my ear. "He's staring at you."

Am I Using My Character's Voice?
If you're using adverbs in dialogue or in first person POV, it may be a part of your character's voice. Or it may not be. See if you can infuse your character into your word choice.

Example: Jennifer came up to me and said quietly, "He's staring at you."
Updated: Jennifer's sigh lasted longer than Mama's pecan pie at Thanksgiving dinner. "He's staring at you."

Am I Not Trusting My Reader?
I've noticed I have a tendency to tell the reader every little detail - when sometimes I just need to trust them to figure it out. If you've done your job in setting up your world and your characters, your reader can often figure out how they are moving and speaking without you telling them.

Example: Jennifer came up to me and said quietly, "He's staring at you."
Updated: The classroom fell silent as Mr. Thomas stepped into the room. Jennifer leaned in. "He's staring at you."