Writing Hint #6 Sentences
In a literary magazine I recently read the following writing hint:
One-word sentences?
Eliminate.
Rubbish!
I disagree.
Strongly.
Short sentences can be very effective. In fact, a variety of sentence lengths can be an indicator of very effective and interesting writing. It can be overdone, of course.
I would rather read short, precise and concise sentences than run-on sentences that never get to the point and meander all over the place, introducing new material that has nothing to do with the original intent of the writer showing that the author is not fully in command of this exacting craft called writing, although some would indeed call it an art, not a craft at all but that is the subject of a post I intend including on this writing blog very soon, when I get the time, of course, with so many projects under way it is a difficult juggling act.
Related articles:
- Writing hints archive – a list of writing hints.
Writing is a craft that can be used to produce everything from art to the front page of the newspaper, just as painting is a craft that can produce art or a comic strip. I’m in your camp on that.
Sentences should be as long as you need them to be, one word or 50, though I have to admit to never finishing a Faulkner novel because of his writing style, or Melville for that matter. What was I saying?
Indeed, writing is a craft that can be taught. Goodness, I’ve done that countless times with the children I taught.
Great literature is… – well, what is it? A new post idea has surfaced. Am I brave enough to tackle it?
Haven’t had the joy of reading either Faulkner or Melville but Australian Patrick White is heavy going. And as for Dickens… well, we’ve just seen the BBC version of “Bleak House” here in Australia and I’m almost inspired enough to read it.
Almost.