tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post4410296720482064766..comments2024-03-29T01:43:05.524-04:00Comments on Patricia Abbott (pattinase): What Would Elmore Do?pattinase (abbott)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-70375556213095414852013-01-26T14:14:15.376-05:002013-01-26T14:14:15.376-05:00If you need to paint a stronger image, why not dit...If you need to paint a stronger image, why not ditch the adverb and go for it... <br />'She smiled like an alligator who hadn't eaten since Tuesday.'<br />'She had a smile like a scimitar: broad, gleaming and deadly.'<br />'She smiled tight as a ration book.'<br /><br />btw The Beat that My Heart Skipped is one of my favorites too. Have you seen The Secret in their Eyes? You might enjoy it.<br />Abbs Pepperhttp://wheredoyougetyourideas.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-52432906024204832902012-03-07T11:02:39.176-05:002012-03-07T11:02:39.176-05:00Rules are meant to be broken.
Adverbs have their p...Rules are meant to be broken.<br />Adverbs have their place. New writers are in love with them, which is why experienced writers suggest avoiding them. It also makes you strop your verbs bleeding sharp, which is the point of the lesson.<br /><br />You can crack a weak grin, you can pinch your eyes closed in a smile, you can force a smile, you can quiver a smile... but smiling broadly, etc all work in context, especially when you want things to keep moving. <br /><br />For example, the close-ups on Clint Eastwood's face during a showdown is the equivalent of "his lip curled in a wolf's grin," or "The turkey tracks around his eyes deepened." It slows it down. <br /><br />If he was shooting up a bar full of rowdies and flicked an impish smile toward the madam gaping from the balcony... he can "smile impishly while picking off targets." that's quick, and I would not begrudge the use of such an adverb...Thomas Pluckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17008022962076648740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-21912489960533021892012-03-07T10:44:02.614-05:002012-03-07T10:44:02.614-05:00I think banning adverbs from "any" page ...I think banning adverbs from "any" page is an extreme position, and as such I think it just makes a writer's toolbox poorer.<br /><br />On the other hand, they can be overused by the lazy writer, who could be tempted to embellish any verb with oh so many nuances.<br /><br />Enriching one's prose with adverbs is so different from enriching it with clever dialogues or quick descriptive passages.<br /><br />I mean, if you really have to put that adverb in because it badly serves the purpose of that passage, then why not finding a richer way to convey the same idea? Anyone could write "she smiled reluctantly", but if you can come up with a different, more creative way to say the same thing... what you write will be unique. And if it's good it will heighten the reader's enjoyment.Gigistarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-55270083793312507862012-03-06T21:42:38.826-05:002012-03-06T21:42:38.826-05:00Odd sort of March Madness polling Brian's set ...Odd sort of March Madness polling Brian's set up there. But may a thousand monkeys justify.<br /><br />What would Patti do sensibly? is the better question...if it's important, have her smile shyly, have him smile fleetingly...Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-41208712188401563472012-03-06T20:16:13.649-05:002012-03-06T20:16:13.649-05:00Very clever, Bonnie and thanks.Very clever, Bonnie and thanks.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-73519439211220691222012-03-06T19:46:28.708-05:002012-03-06T19:46:28.708-05:00Congrats, Patti! I've already voted and wish y...Congrats, Patti! I've already voted and wish you all the best in bringing home the trophy (troph-E?).BV Lawsonhttp://bvlawson.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-51841620038561003332012-03-06T16:53:44.534-05:002012-03-06T16:53:44.534-05:00I think Konrath is too busy lecturing on electroni...I think Konrath is too busy lecturing on electronic books.Gerardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-11474961291696379502012-03-06T16:25:38.711-05:002012-03-06T16:25:38.711-05:00I'm fond of using adverbs actually.I'm fond of using adverbs actually.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04546161337366365635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-62731549009062824782012-03-06T15:07:42.378-05:002012-03-06T15:07:42.378-05:00Thanks, Ron!
I don't know if we do or not. I&...Thanks, Ron! <br />I don't know if we do or not. I'll have to think about that. It seems to be it provides clues to the type of person who's smiling. A smile can be something so contrary to what it appears to be.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-80541642826301288792012-03-06T14:57:12.523-05:002012-03-06T14:57:12.523-05:00Do we really need to know how somebody smiled? I&#...Do we really need to know how somebody smiled? I'd want to trust the reader to fill in that blank based on the context. The avoidance of adverbs in modern writing seems as self-conscious as the avoidance of profanity in fiction 100 years ago, e.g., "a stream of oaths leaped from his mouth." <br /><br />As for the Elite Eights, Patti, you're always elite in my book.Ron Scheerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15357501069513854664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-58121979907466444842012-03-06T14:53:27.088-05:002012-03-06T14:53:27.088-05:00I didn't know about the contest until today or...I didn't know about the contest until today or I would have voted for you, David. <br /><br />I try to use them sparingly but sometimes it makes a sentence more awkward.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-82245933567688160582012-03-06T14:46:58.566-05:002012-03-06T14:46:58.566-05:00I voted :-)
I use adverbs all the time. But I don...I voted :-)<br /><br />I use adverbs all the time. But I don't know if it's more accepted in kids books...<br /><br />I do like the Leonard rules.YA Sleuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12371132883359264412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-92056289950435019112012-03-06T14:32:00.351-05:002012-03-06T14:32:00.351-05:00Hey! I was part of this Spinetingler contest. OMG!...Hey! I was part of this Spinetingler contest. OMG! I lost! *grabs chest*<br /><br />Once I recover you will get my vote, Patti. (Just don't tell Keith, Nigel, etc)David Cranmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04749857752139212888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-30841962684472948152012-03-06T14:19:50.232-05:002012-03-06T14:19:50.232-05:00To m his rules imply that he favors writing, and e...To m his rules imply that he favors writing, and especially dialog, that describes itself and makes adverbs unnecessary. Of course, that's not always possible.<br /><br />(Said the unknown writer insouciantly speaking for Elmore Leonard.)Al Tuchernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-84186267131553237652012-03-06T14:08:42.130-05:002012-03-06T14:08:42.130-05:00I don't think even Leonard says never to use a...I don't think even Leonard says never to use adverbs, but to lean that way whenever possible. Too many writers use them rather than think up a better image. "She smiled reluctantly" instead of "A smile forced its way around the corners of her mouth." Yes it's longer, but it's also a stronger image.<br /><br />His bigger objection is about the use of Swifties, or using an adverb to modify a speech attribution other than "said," he admonished impolitely.Dana Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01350344882342624735noreply@blogger.com