Excise weak adverbs; insert strong verbs.

Did you know the road to hell is paved with adverbs? Stephen King told us that. If you’re ready to punch up your writing, culling out adverbs is a good place to start. (Just like the passive voice, there’s a time and place for adverbs, but generally you can write a better sentence.)

Search your writing for -ly adverbs. Then come up with a stronger verb where you can.

Example:

Original: The runner ran quickly to home plate to score a run.

Better: The runner raced to home plate to score a run.

See how easy it is? And see how much better the second version makes your writing? “Raced” is more specific and more emotive. Let’s do another, this time in present tense for you YA fans.

Original: Cara listens intently to Mr. Jones.

Now, it depends on the context how you want to change it, but you can definitely upgrade.

Better: Cara eavesdrops on Mr. Jones.

Also better: Cara studies Mr. Jones.

Again, more specific and more emotive. Other adverbs that are common offenders in your writing (but don’t end in -ly) include “very” and “quite.”

Original: Carly was very warm, but she refused to remove her sweater.

Better: Carly was dripping in sweat, but she refused to remove her sweater.

Best: Carly dripped in sweat, but she refused to remove her sweater.

Search out those adverbs in your story. If they’re weak, try to strengthen them. And if you strengthen them with a weak verb, try to strengthen that even further. Keep writing!