C S Lewis’s rules for writers

In writing don’t merely adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the thing you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us a thing was “terrible,” describe it so that we’ll be terrified. Don’t say it was “delightful”: make us say “delightful” when we’ve read the description. You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers, “Please, will you do your job for me?”

C S Lewis

I will try to remember to keep adding more rules. I think there are 36 in all. They are so good.

Like all "rules of writing" I think it needs to be taken more as a "rule of thumb" than a "hard rule". It's a best practice and there are times where it is okay to deviate. After all, adjectives do have their place in the language. But, yeah, in general I like this.

C.S. Lewis is a favorite author of mine but I have to sit with this 'rule.' I think adjectives add emphasis and depth. They add beauty. However, I think they should be used in moderation. I have read pieces where it is nothing but adjectives. I suppose my initial thought is that adjectives should be used in moderation and when a writer really wants to express the meaning of something or someone.

Thank you, verbal, for sharing this. It was interesting to learn.

There is the obvious assumption here that one has words enough for such leisure. If you have but 100 to cast, an adjective, carefully chosen and considered, is your soul mate.

Which is not to say I disagree when painting on an open canvas.

Quote by kistinspencil

There is the obvious assumption here that one has words enough for such leisure. If you have but 100 to cast, an adjective, carefully chosen and considered, is your soul mate.

Which is not to say I disagree when painting on an open canvas.

Yeah, that's kind of why I said it's a rule of thumb more than a hard rule. Even in Flash (100 to 1000 words) or comps and submissions with limits in the 2K-3K range, adjectives are helpful for avoiding tying up words in lengthy descriptive passages.