ANYTHING GOES

I've lost count of the articles I've read which tell you not to do this or not to do that when writing a book. Trouble is, when I read books by bestselling authors I find their work littered with these things.

A case in point is the use of adverbs. Apparently putting these into your work weakens your writing and marks you out as an amateur. Or does it?

I suppose if you wrote something like 'he ran quickly' or 'he said quietly' there might be a case to answer. Words like sprinted and whispered would convey the same meaning.

However is there anything wrong with any of the following:

she said, doubtfully.
...and kissed her clumsily.
He sat absolutely still, ...
He felt for it delicately. ...

Well at least one acclaimed author and his publisher don't think so.

I think the truthful answer is that anything goes, providing it strengthens the writing.