Adjectives & Adverbs in Fiction Writing

Fiction Yogi

Mar 34 min read

Open notebook with glasses and a pen on a wooden table, overlaid with text: "ADJECTIVES & ADVERBS IN FICTION WRITING."

Adjectives and adverbs are like spices in fiction writing - they do a great job of enhancing flavour, but too much and you're in danger of overwhelming the dish. In this short article we'll take a look at how you can use them effectively, to elevate your prose and sharpen your storytelling.

Download the PDF version here if you'd like to keep it handy as you work:

The role of adjectives and adverbs

Adjectives modify nouns, adding greater detail - such as, colour, texture, and emotion - to your descriptions. They can also come before or after linking verbs, such as: be, seem, become, look, feel, etc.

A large, black, keen-eyed cat.
The long and winding, gravel driveway.
She had a friendly smile.
He seems annoyed.

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, describing how, where or when an action is performed.

He leapt up excitedly - the adverb excitedly describes how he leapt up
Jack ran inside the house - the adverb inside describes where Jack ran to
The new sofa comes tomorrow - the adverb tomorrow describes when the sofa is coming
The traffic moved annoyingly slowly - the adverb annoyingly further describes the adverb slowly
The weather was unbearably hot - the adverb unbearably further describes the adjective hot

Used thoughtfully, adverbs and adjectives help create vivid imagery and deepen characterization. However, when overused, they can weaken your writing and make your prose feel cluttered, which in turn can impact pace and rhythm.

The danger of overuse

Adjectives are essential for conveying a visual picture of your narrative to your readers. When writing a first draft you may, like many authors, reach for the first adjectives that come to mind, and these are usually generic.

For example, big, small, good, angry, heavy, important.

But either as you're writing or later when you're editing, consider if there are stronger, more accurate adjectives you could use to make your descriptions succinct and vivid, and your narrative immersive.

For example, cavernous, petite, well-behaved, enraged, cumbersome, critical.

Similarly, over-reliance on adverbs can lead to generic descriptions that slow pacing. For example:

Weak: She ran quickly to the door, her heart beating fast with nervous anticipation.
Stronger: She sprinted to the door, her heart pounding.

The second version removes the unnecessary adverbs and relies on precise and powerful verbs instead. This makes the sentence more engaging and direct.

When to use adjectives and adverbs

While restraint and specificity are key, adjectives and adverbs are valuable when used purposefully:

Enhancing mood: The dim, flickering candlelight cast eerily long shadows across the wall - both the comma between the two adjectives dim, flickering, and the adverb eerily modifying the adjective long, slow the pace of this sentence, thus adding to its creepy feel.

Clarifying meaning: She almost smiled conveys hesitation or resistance, whereas simply saying She smiled does not.

Rhythm and pacing: A well-placed adverb or adjective can improve the cadence of a sentence so the narrative flows more seamlessly and matches the desired pacing. Only your "reading ear" will tell you this - which is why it's a good idea to read your work out loud when editing, or have a person or device read it back to you.

Editing for conciseness

It can be hard to pick out every single adjective and adverb as you're revising your manuscript, what with checking for everything else, such as plot holes, inconsistencies, character issues, etc. So instead, try to focus on two things: how your sentences sound to your own ear; and how they make you feel.

You'll need some distance from your work before you can do this effectively. You may even take time out between each editing round. By doing so, you'll be better able to hear or feel where things could be improved.

With your reading ear and reading heart, ask yourself:

Is your description (adverb/adjective) adding enough detail to allow your readers to build an accurate picture?
Could a stronger verb replace an adverb? Could a more specific adjective say it better?
Does your word choice contribute to the tone, rhythm and pacing of the story?

Finally...

Adjectives and adverbs are tools, not crutches. Used wisely, they enrich your storytelling. Used generically or excessively, they dilute its impact. By striking the right balance, you can create prose that is both vivid, precise and original, drawing readers deeper into your fictional world.

As always, avoid fretting too much about it on the first draft - the editing rounds are usually where attention to this kind of detail comes to the fore. Try to see it not as a chore, but as the fun part - the bones of the story are already laid down, and this is where you get to put meat on those bones and watch your narrative come to life.