I've been re-reading some of my writing and editing guides, trying to distill common things that I think are helpful. There's the usual "avoid adverbs" and the like.

I'm also reading a Terry Pratchett and having a lovely time, when the editor's eye twitches and glances over his technique. Adverbs! People say things sourly and snidely and firmly. And he does things like "said Nanny" instead of "Nanny said," something else one of my books got all twitchy and prohibitionary about.

Editor's Eye is baffled and suspecting it's one of those "If you're so-and-so you can get away it" things. Rebel's Eye is snickering like a mad thing.

Okay, thanks deb. I probably have a little more to say about it, anyway, mebbe I can add some punch. I think I want to end with the chorus though. Think it would still work if I kicked the opening chorus, added a verse? I gotta think about it.

The hearts drabbles are great! Especially erika's, because nobody expects artichokes!

What does it say about me that it was my first thought?

That you have a more peaceful life than others.

Uh, I'm thinking that's a continuum, but maybe in cardiac terms, for sure.

Hearts Matter

What did it matter? There was no point in doubt or regret. The minute he turned his back on her, there was no turning back. Like a marionette under someone else’s command he walked down the street towards the railway station. Only this time, he was dancing to a barely heard internal tune that was no longer hers. He could hear her crying, but her tears didn’t mean anything. They didn’t change the fact that her kisses and her tears may be warm, but her feelings were frozen. He would never be let inside, to the heart of her matter.

I like adverbs. I use them. I enjoy them. I use them sagaciously, I use them capriciously, and what's more, I use them effectively.

And the anti-adverb nazis can kiss every inch of my six published novels, seventh coming out this year, if they don't like my pretty pretty adverbs.

This is why I don't read the damned "how to" books - I trust my instincts more than I trust their advice. It's like parenting books: don't do this! do that! This is the Only Way!

Screw that. The occasional properly placed adverb never hurt anyone.

Lawrence Bloch's "Telling Lies For Fun and Profit" agrees with you, deb. I love him. He doesn't take the authentically useful advice to the extreme of "You'll only look like an amateur if you don't do it my way." Which is why I bought a copy of his book and only got the other one out of the library.

I think grammar and parenting books are useful only in providing well-chosen stats and examples, not as rulebooks. IOW, a book giving info like "At six weeks your baby will probably develop acne. It's normal." or "Most editors find page-long paragraphs off-putting." can be helpful. "You must feed your child strained beets." is not.

The problem with the how-to books is on the bottom line: they leave out the obvious.

Terry Pratchett uses a bazillion judiciously placed adverbs. This is Against the Grain. OK, but what does he do with the adverbs?

He tells a story with them. He tells a really really good story. With reallly interesting characters that people can get into.

And the only people who get pissy about the adverbs are the people who notice that sort of thing, decide there Ought To Be A Rule, and proceed to write a bunch of "how-to" books about it.

Terry Pratchett has how many published novels? Which have sold how many copies?

As opposed to the how-to writers - how many novels?

Even I can do that math.