Thank you to this month’s co-hosts: Beth Camp, Jean Davis, Yvonne Ventresca, and PJ Colando!
September 4 question – Since it’s back to school time, let’s talk English class. What’s a writing rule you learned in school that messed you up as a writer?
The first answer that comes to mind is adverbs. My teachers encouraged their use, but adverb abuse led to bloated and boring writing. Learning to tighten my prose has been a steep mountain. To climb perilously and precipitously? I’d rather wriggle and inch up the incline. While I’m not a fan of Stephen King, I agree with him that snappy, active verbs are better than mundane verbs + adverbs.
Upon further thought, I also wish my English classes focused more on creative writing in general. I adored writing wild stories in elementary school, but my middle and high school teachers favored structured essays over creative writing. And though my undergraduate institution (Kenyon College) was renown for its English department, I neglected to take creative writing classes at the collegiate level. I regret the missed opportunities to build skills and let my imagination fly.
I decided I will end my posts with a little WIP update for motivation:
Novel in Progress: Low Water 19,000 / ~85,000 words
Jennifer Lane Books 
After landing in serious trouble over the content of an exam essay, I became wary of expressing any personal opinion, not only in creative writing, but any non-science subject. Someone suggested I read a Virago classic – Frost in May, Antonia White, documenting the author’s experience when her school condemned her writing and expelled her.
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Yikes, Esther. You experienced censorship at an early age!
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I don’t remember much of a focus on creative writing in school either. I wasn’t interested in writing stories back then so it didn’t bother me. It’s great that you’re making progress on your story.
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Thank you, Natalie! I remember writing a story about a witch in third grade that we somehow bound into a little book, complete with my illustrations. But not much after that.
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Keep writing!
I think our high school had one creative writing class and that was it.
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That’s one more than my high school, Alex! Thanks for the encouragement.
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Hi,
I so agree about having more creative writing. I learned creative writing by joining two writing groups a few years ago that offered courses from different top authors on creative writing.
Happy to see your manuscript is coming along.
Take care and have a lovely day.
Shalom shalom
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Two writing groups sounds fantastic, Pat! I have considered joining a writing group after moving to a new state last fall, but I haven’t found a local one yet.
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I know an author who wrote an entire book without a single adverb. Talk about taking things to an extreme
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That would indeed be challenging, PJ! Trying to avoid adverbs entirely sometimes adds awkwardness to sentences.
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I don’t remember being particularly encouraged to use adverbs in school but I also don’t remember doing much creative writing in class. Not sure if it’s more balanced now but essay writing was the overwhelming thing. I used to doodle little stories under my own steam.
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I agree with you about overwhelming essay writing! But I guess crafting a persuasive argument is an important skill. That’s great you started writing stories at a young age, Nick.
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When I discovered fiction, I discovered an interest in writing stories. Fiction was not something I delved into until my twenties. But I was always of the mind, that if one person could learn how, so could another. It never occurred or worried me it would take years.
It was what I wanted to do. 🙂
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I started writing fan fiction on a lark, and I never expected it to get this far! So I am grateful for any writing instruction in school.
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Sounds like a perfect match. hehehe
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Adverbs, yes, the bone of contention. Personally, I like adverbs. When not overdone, they can spice and color bland writing. But it is paramount to find balance between NEVER and JUST ENOUGH.
Love the meme.
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I agree with you, Olga–everything in moderation. I try to minimize adverbs, but I don’t avoid them entirely.
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I also wish we’d had more creative writing instruction in school–and I wish I’d been less worried about my GPA and more willing to take risks (and creative writing classes) in college. There’s so much I’d like to tell my teenage self!
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Well said, Janet. I also worried way too much about my GPA in high school. I wish I had focused more on LEARNING.
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Clemenceau a French politician also ran a paper. He would tell aspiring young journalists: “I want complete sentences: subject, verb, complement if need be. Be wary of adjectives, write as few as possible, and if you want to write an adverb, call me.”
A very good rule I’ve applied for years.
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Too many adjectives can also lead us awry–I agree. Thanks for stopping by!
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🙏🏻
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I hear you on the adverbs. If I use one, Stephen King is there on my shoulder saying – No!
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