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adjectives in novels
At the back of my mind I have a feeling that using adjectives is lazy (I think a how-to book by John Braine I read in my twenties is to blame). So I know the difference between the "mot juste" and a pile of sloppy adjectives but has anyone got any guidance please?
Comments
Don't over use them, one per sentence maybe. I've read some manuscripts containing three or more.
I know where you are coming from, particularly if you have been a fan of modernist writers. I admire Ernest Hemingway, but that is his style not mine.
'He stood close to her.'
'He stood very close to her.'
Yes, an extreme example but it lets the reader know he is almost next to her as opposed to close by.
Though I think personal writing style comes into it as well.
eg. Daniel ran quickly to catch the man in front, grabbing hold of him he immediately realized that the thief was his neighbour.
edited version- Daniel ran to catch the man, grabbing him he realized that the thief was his neighbour.
Using less adjectives/adverbs allows space in my humble opinion. ie space for the reader to imagine. Everything doens't have to be shown or spelt out.
Personally, like Stirling, I think it also depends on what type of book you are writing.
I prefer fewer.
When entering short story competitions I'm usually surprised how many words I can manage to cut - and how my writing always looks better for it.
"I'm sorry," he said apologetically.
There was another examply, but my short-term memory is caput (spelling?).
Personally Vijay, I would find that sentence very dull. I would have written something like:
"As Daniel ran, he could feel the pull on thigh muscles and his lungs labouring to keep up. Grabbing the thief with a Rugby tackle, he recognised his neighbour".
i can see that you're heading towards the literary genre from your last few comments. did u like the God of small things?
It might explain why I don't like this 'tabloid-speak' of the majority of bestsellers.
Agree with a lot of the above posts. How one writes depends a great deal on style, genre and what one is writing about. When it comes to travel writing obviously I use adjectives because I am describing places, people etc - although I do like to split it up a bit with similies and metaphors too.
p.s. loved The God of Small Things
Very jealous claudia!
It is true that less is more in so many things, but there are some writing styles and scenes where you can't avoid having more.
this is an example of the kind of writing which drives me bananas. Forget adjectives, it's these dangling participles which get me! (Richard Bell, esteemed grammar editor of WN did a long piece on this some years back)
He grabbed the thief with a rugby tackle (no capital, it's not the place) and realised it was his neighbour.
What's wrong first time? It's reminiscent of the
closing the door, he took off his coat. Picking up his drink, he walked across the floor. I find it everywhere. The classic was in a book I rejected ...
Rushing into the hall he came to a screaming halt. ?????????????? One or the other, please! (actually the book was FULL of such sentences, which is why I rejected it. I could alter one or two but every other line????)
Now, you cannot do two things at once unless you say you are doing two things at once. He closed the door with his elbow (or foot) as he took off his coat.
That you can do. Closing the door, he took off his coat. It's clumsy, IMO.
Yes, we can write without (some) adjectives, but we should also write without dangling participles. They do aggravate and are really lazy writing.
e.g. 'very beautiful' could be 'stunning' or 'walked' slowly' could be 'ambled'. It makes for a tighter piece and more precise use of vocabulary.
I am being serious, trying to glean as much as poss here folks. :(
I half-thought about saying something about looking into the face (but was in a rush!). I would normally tighten this kind of senetence in an edit.
Sorry Neil, but I wouldn't get rid of the thigh or lungs. By just saying someone was running means nothing to me. Was he sprinting or going at a slow jog? Is he fit? Has he ran for 30 seconds or several minutes and tiring?
I feel the original 'ran' is me being told what happened, but by adding description allows the reader to experience the story.
i think you can use more adjectives in dialogue than in prose perhaps, just a thought. It would make the character more distinctive or flat.
eg 'I am happy that you have come home.'
or, 'I am really, really happy that you've come home.'
you could use both of the above i think to portray a characters personality.
Enjoyed god of small things- but not one of my favourites. but she is really, really talented!
Why did you ask that question about God of Small Things ?
Do you know Manil Suri? Have just finished The Age of Shiva - excellent stuff !
Excellent point Lexia. As we were told: every text is contextual (and it is no accident the the word contextual contains the word text). And as they say in philosophy circles 'everything comes down to the word - that is the power of linguistics'.
Loved the Death of Vishnu too, Vijay. (May I at this point recommend Vijay's "The House of Subadar" again ?? Really good read - you certainly are closing in Vijay !! ;) )
As I have also said before, Thousand Splendid Suns is brillant, as is The Kite Runner. Enjoy Jay. (for me it was one of those "read in a sitting if possible" books)
Thanks Lexia, I have a look for your book Vijay.
I have no room for stuffiness in anycase for I'm constantly involved with the mundane and absurd! but this makes me laugh aswell.
Today on site there was tension between the men, so I asked what was the matter?
One of them said, 'Terry put plaster in the kettle.'
i tried to keep a straight face because they all looked serious.
I said, 'Arn't you supposed to put water in the kettle.'
This broke the tension thank god.
when i asked why terry had put plaster in the kettle, this was the deep reply. 'because I didn't make him a brew earlier!'
This is grown men i'm talking about not five year olds.
From this to high literature, it makes for a good balance!