Hi!
So, last month I wrote an 88,000-word novel and showed my Mom the first draft. While she is my Mom, she is a retired English teacher in her 70's, has read a book every week of her life, and is brutal in her honesty.
After reading the first few chapters she had a long list of things I did wrong.
One of the main things on the list was I wrote the 88,000-word novel without using a single LY adverb. I thought this was an accomplishment because it was tough for me, but she wasn't impressed.
Mom felt the complete lack of LY adverbs made some of the prose dry and unnatural. It also forced me to use some obscure words in order to avoid any LY adverb. She didn't feel all of the obscure words were bad but some became a distraction.
Here's the thing, I'm afraid to put any LY adverbs into the book. I have read rules saying LY adverbs are a hard no and should not be used. I don't want to write a book that would end up ignored by agents and publishers because it contained LY adverbs.
My Mom thinks I should consider sprinkling a few LY adverbs into the second draft. She thinks it will improve the flow.
My question: Should I? And if so, how many LY adverbs are acceptable in an 88,000-word book before it is considered unpublishable by literary agents and/or publishing houses?
So, last month I wrote an 88,000-word novel and showed my Mom the first draft. While she is my Mom, she is a retired English teacher in her 70's, has read a book every week of her life, and is brutal in her honesty.
After reading the first few chapters she had a long list of things I did wrong.
One of the main things on the list was I wrote the 88,000-word novel without using a single LY adverb. I thought this was an accomplishment because it was tough for me, but she wasn't impressed.
Mom felt the complete lack of LY adverbs made some of the prose dry and unnatural. It also forced me to use some obscure words in order to avoid any LY adverb. She didn't feel all of the obscure words were bad but some became a distraction.
Here's the thing, I'm afraid to put any LY adverbs into the book. I have read rules saying LY adverbs are a hard no and should not be used. I don't want to write a book that would end up ignored by agents and publishers because it contained LY adverbs.
My Mom thinks I should consider sprinkling a few LY adverbs into the second draft. She thinks it will improve the flow.
My question: Should I? And if so, how many LY adverbs are acceptable in an 88,000-word book before it is considered unpublishable by literary agents and/or publishing houses?
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