Review- Adverbs & Cliches in a Nutshell

Cliché: “You may argue that they are ‘relatable’ so why not use them? But the way in which one experiences things isn’t always the same. As writers, it’s your duty to make readers experience your story from a unique point of view. Your point of view,” pg 8-9 Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell. 

Today I’m doing a review for Jessica Bell’s new release Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell.

Blurb:

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. 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 user-friendly and simple solution to honing your craft no matter how broad your writing experience. With the convenient hyper-linked Contents Page and Indexes you can toggle backward and forward from different examples with ease. Use your e-reader's highlighting and note-taking tools to keep notes as you read, and/or record your story ideas, anywhere, anytime.

Click one of the following links to purchase:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Ca | Kobo

 

My review:

The first thing I noticed about Bell’s book was how easy and fast it is to read. I had expected long essays explaining things. However, Bell gave the reader something more. While she did write a beginning essay for the book the entire rest is all made up of exercises to teach her readers how to create a unique example for their writing with adverbs and clichés as a starting point.

This book would be a terrific resource for beginning writers in teaching differences and showing how to use adverbs and clichés creatively. Yet, it would also be helpful to seasoned writers, in taking them out of either their normal routines or just brushing up on some skills.

Bell’s examples range anywhere from one adverb and a one-sentence cliché, to paragraphs as rewriting exercises. I found some of them to be more difficult than others to try and make a unique example of, but the more I began writing them out, the easier it was for me to proceed to the next one.

In general, I think Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell would be a valuable resource for any writer. The exercises alone make this book worth buying, and there are so many of them that the only way a writer wouldn’t find it useful is to not do the examples. I give it three stars as a useful writing tool.

 

Bio:

The Australian-native contemporary fiction author and poet, Jessica Bell, also makes a living as an editor and writer for global ELT publishers (English Language Teaching), such as Pearson Education, HarperCollins, Macmillan Education, Education First and Cengage Learning.

She is the co-publishing editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, and the director of the Homeric Writers’ Retreat & Workshop on the Greek island of Ithaca.

For more information about Jessica please visit:

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