The Adverb Intervention: How to Cut the Fluff Without Losing the Voice
Because sometimes your “very suddenly” is just too much.
Adverbs! Those little word gremlins that sneak into your prose and suck the juice right out of your sentences.
In my book coaching sessions, I give clients a cheat sheet on how to wrangle adverbs. And I figured: why not share a version of it here, too?
If your scenes feel like they’re sagging in the middle, this one’s for you.
1. If You’re Already Showing It, Don’t Tell It
❌ “I hate you,” she said angrily.
✅ “I hate you,” she snapped, her fist curling at her side.
If the emotion’s already doing somersaults through your dialogue or action, the adverb can take a seat.
2. Let Verbs Carry the Weight
❌ He ran quickly.
✅ He sprinted.
❌ She looked sadly out the window.
✅ She gazed out the window, eyes glassy.
A good verb is your best scene partner. Give it the spotlight.
3. Don’t Let Dialogue Tags Do All the Work
IIf every line ends in “he said quietly” or “she replied coldly,” your tags are doing more emotional labor than your dialogue.
Let the words, the pauses, and the tension carry the weight. Tags should support the scene—not explain it.
4. Adverbs Aren’t ALL Evil
Sometimes they are the right call:
✅ Honestly, I didn’t think it would go this far.
✅ She moved carefully around the glass.
When they serve voice, rhythm, or meaning, they’ve earned their spot. But be tough when revising.
5. Spot the Fluff and Slash Ruthlessly
Red-flag words to watch:
Really, very, totally, completely, absolutely, suddenly, immediately.
These are the empty calories of prose. They fill space but don’t nourish the sentence. (Me and “suddenly”? Toxic! I’m working on it.)
If the word choice isn’t adding clarity, rhythm, or impact, it’s just weighing things down. Cut without regret.
6. Use for Voice
✅ “Technically, I wasn’t lying. I just wasn’t telling the whole truth.”
✅ “Obviously, that wasn’t part of the original plan—but here we are.”
In a voicey close POV, adverbs can be critical. They add personality, attitude, and a wink to the reader. Just don’t let them outnumber your verbs.
So there it is: your personal adverb audit.
Want to try it out?
👉 Run a search for “-ly” in your WIP. Choose five. Try stronger verbs or rephrase. You’ll be shocked how often your sentences get better, fast.
On the Writers With Wrinkles podcast: Part two of a craft mini masterclass with editor Joel Brigham. This time we focus on revisions. Cheat sheets for both episodes available to WWW newsletter subscribers.
Reading: I’m in a rut. I don’t like anything I start. It might be me. Any recommendations please send my way!
Watching: The Four Seasons. We binged the whole thing in one sitting.
Book Coaching: This is a peek at the adverb cheat sheet I share with my book coaching clients. If you ever find yourself wanting deeper guidance or a second brain on your draft—that’s the kind of work I love doing. Email me and we can chat.
I love the examples, and I'm going back to "-ly" search my fiction WIP. Your advice also applies to business writing--conscious verb choice adds interest.