Make your words work
This is a title of a book by Gary Provost. No, I don't know who he is, however, I did find a passage - which I found interesting - attributed to that book. I have requested a copy from the library. It deals with varying sentence lentgh to create rhythm in writing:
You can also find some interesting cached writing materials here. From what I understand, they are now collected in a book called Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer - they are no longer available directly from his website, but the originals are still available from the wayback machine archives (use the first link provided to access the materials, though some articles are not in the archive).
This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It's like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety.
Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length.
And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals -- sounds that say listen to this, it is important.You can also find some interesting cached writing materials here. From what I understand, they are now collected in a book called Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer - they are no longer available directly from his website, but the originals are still available from the wayback machine archives (use the first link provided to access the materials, though some articles are not in the archive).
Comments
It does make such a difference to the musicality of language.
I liked it a lot.
I liked this post so much that I read it twice, maybe three times, before posting this comment!
Music.
and there's life.
such as in life, there has to be music to keep us going.
have a great weekend tito richard!
coffee fairy: glad you found it interesting. It always makes me happy when I share something someone finds interesting, rather than dull and boring.
Barbara: there are lots of "rules" about good writing. I try not to think about them, otherwise I wouldn't be able to - I would be too busy second guessing myself. However, it is always nice to get different perspectives and ideas. I suppose we only consider things like poems to be musical.
breal: go for it - I certainly did. I think overly technical analysis of what we write is pointless, however, critical analysis is not. Anything which improves our writing is good.
run around paris: I think you have a future writing Dr. Seuss type stories.
john: five comments, six comments, seven comments, more. Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
freckled-one: it hadn't occurred to me either. Normally we are taught to write short sentences with simple words (not that I follow this advice).
vina: I will try to have a great weekend. Life needs variety and so does writing.