I love adverbs. When I write, I want to use them. Here, in my “informal” writing, I don’t really think about them and they are used or not. But when I’m writing my novels and short-stories, every time I want to write a word ending with -ly, I hesitate. And I kinda hate that. I especially worry when I am using an adverb after the word said. Such as “Quiet!” she said, loudly.
I do understand what the “experts” mean when they say not to use them. Or use them sparingly. I do. But as a reader, I know I’m not bothered by them. They illustrate what is going on. Sure, there are other, and probably stronger ways to do so. But I really don’t think adverbs are the sin some people make them out to be.
Maybe I’m just irritated because I’m having to think more when I write than I used to. Man, thinking while writing sucks! It’s so hard and stuff.
I dunno. What do you think of adverbs, as a reader and/or writer?
Laura D Durham 
As a reader, I like adverbs for clarification.
As a writer though? I hesitate to use them. I mean, some are necessary, especially if the words don’t match the body language/inflection, but most of the time, I find that I’m a lot happier with a strong verb, or added sentences than a weak adverb.
I suspect that a lot of the hate for adverbs is that a lot of new writers use them without thinking about it, which creates a bad habit of ‘telling’ rather than ‘showing’ right off the bat as well as muddying up the story.
For example,
“I can’t do this,” John said emotionally.
“But–” Mary began haltingly…
instead of–
“I can’t do this,” John said. Mary had never seen that look in his eyes before. So vulnerable, so defeated.
“But–” Mary began, hating herself for holding on, for not being able to let him go.
The second one is definitely a stronger piece of writing, but it says the same thing.
That’s just my two cents, though 🙂
Very true, lengrey. I totally agree with you. Funny what we’ll allow as readers that we’ll slap our hands for as writers. Well, sometimes. Like you said, new writers (and let’s admit it, bad) writers do a lot of over-telling instead of putting in the hard work of showing. And that gave the innocent adverb a bad name and other writers a case of nerves whenever one of them pops up to say, “use me!”
Haha, exactly 🙂 Goodness knows that as a new writer, I had plenty of eyes staring soulfully and people whispering quietly! ;p
Me, too! And to be honest, I still do. I have the smacks across the back of my head and eye-rolling from my editor to prove it. 😀