Adverbs & Clich??s in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Subversions of Adverbs & Clich??s Into Gourmet Imagery by Jessica Bell

Writing in a Nutshell #2

by Jessica Bell

*Note: This is a pocket guide. Its trim size is 4" x 6"

Have you been told you use too many adverbs and clichés in your writing? Want to remedy it? Then this is the book for you!

In Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Subversions of Adverbs & Clichés into Gourmet Imagery, you will find thirty-four examples of prose which clearly demonstrate how to turn those pesky adverbs and clichés into vivid and unique imagery. Dispersed throughout are blank pages to craft your own unique examples. Extra writing prompts are also provided at the end of the book.

Not only is this pocket guide an excellent learning tool for aspiring writers, but it is a light, convenient, and easy solution to honing your craft no matter how broad your writing experience. Keep it in the side pocket of your school bag, throw it in your purse, or even carry it around in the pocket of your jeans or jacket, to enhance your skills, keep notes, and jot down story ideas, anywhere, anytime.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published April 17, 2013

About the author

Jessica Bell is a multi-award-winning author/poet and singer-songwriter who was born in Melbourne, Australia.

In addition to having published a memoir, five novels, three poetry collections, and her bestselling Writing in a Nutshell series, she has been featured in a variety of publications and radio shows such as Writer’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, The Guardian, Life Matters, and Poetica.

She is also the Publisher of Vine Leaves Press, and a highly sought-after book cover designer. She currently resides in Athens, Greece, with her partner and son, and a pile of dishes that still don’t know how to wash themselves despite her consistently teaching by example.

For more information visit: iamjessicabell.com

Reviews

[Angela Mackintosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to hear that Jessica Bell published another book in her “Nutshell” series because I loved the first one, Show & Tell in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Telling to Showing. Like the first book, Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell is a reference guide for writers who need information quickly. I’m a visual learner who likes to learn by example and put ideas into action, so this format suits me.

There are thirty-four examples in the book, and each example has a list of adverbs and clichés on one page, followed by a page with an example sentence or paragraph for each (both conveying the same sentiment or situation) using the words in the list. You will cringe at the examples of flat writing and learn to recognize them in your own work! Then the author presents a solution and rewrites the scene using unique voice and imagery. The last page of each example challenges you to write your own unique scene, which makes this more of an interactive workbook or self-study class than her other guide. By rewriting the situations filled with adverbs and clichés, you are learning how to spot those problems in your own work and transform them into what Jessica calls, “gourmet imagery”--prose that uses the senses and your unique voice.

If you’re having trouble subverting adverbs and clichés, Jessica suggests using strong verbs for action and playing around with similes and metaphors when you’re trying to convey emotion. This is great advice. Included is an index of commonly used adverbs and clichés to avoid!

I also discovered an added bonus that I’m not sure the author intended--one of the writing prompts inspired a short story! Even if you aren’t having trouble with adverbs and clichés, the exercises are bound to inspire good writing and creativity!

[Amie McCracken]

Jessica's style and flair when presenting simple ideas is paramount. This book is full of tiny emotional moments, but it's not even supposed to be. It's meant to show you how to fix your writing, specifically adverbs and cliches. And it does that, so well that your heart strings are tugged with each sentence she writes. Jessica makes things simple so writers can take their own writing and pump it up with stronger, healthier, and intense words.

If you want adverbs and cliches simplified and portrayed in ways that make complete sense, add this pocket book to your shelf. In fact, even if you aren't sure that you need this book, get it anyways. It'll teach you something about your own writing as well as how to critique others.

[Lex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I thought most of the subversions in this book were lame, it is nice to have a list of cliches to avoid. Decent resource for bettering your manuscript.