tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post6644495244320986309..comments2024-03-28T02:34:34.041-07:00Comments on Rachna's Scriptorium: Do you pay attention to your sentences?Rachna Chhabriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-7081078722502204152012-10-19T12:31:13.215-07:002012-10-19T12:31:13.215-07:00I adore long sentences with lots of description th...I adore long sentences with lots of description that falls into the literary fiction category, though i immediately notice when they are just being used as filler to make up a chapter. I also enjoy quick fire sentences in action scenes but am not a great fan of that style of writing over the whole of the book. Yes I do look at sentence structure and the sign of a good author is when you realise you've forgotten to monitor the writing but something shouts out at you as you are reading as masterful. I was reading kate Akinson's Case Histories and was most impressed with her writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-34522206743884447522012-10-18T20:17:54.469-07:002012-10-18T20:17:54.469-07:00Thank you for the useful tips. Thank you for the useful tips. Nobuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245598981198856011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-72572617003609414552012-10-17T18:47:13.959-07:002012-10-17T18:47:13.959-07:00Guilt of londwinded sentences too. Sometimes it...Guilt of londwinded sentences too. Sometimes it's easier to be verbose than succinct.Life Unordinaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14500378311526554168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-1319940341389965822012-10-16T06:29:55.879-07:002012-10-16T06:29:55.879-07:00Not the wrong person at all, not all the time you ...Not the wrong person at all, not all the time you speak so wisely! Interesting thoughts are always worth reading.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-12728961141376090982012-10-15T20:49:23.614-07:002012-10-15T20:49:23.614-07:00I love the flow sentences give to a story. They ad...I love the flow sentences give to a story. They add sound and pace. My style is to mix it up depending on the mood I want to create within the story.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-72840623258852284432012-10-15T18:25:13.685-07:002012-10-15T18:25:13.685-07:00I obsess about sentence structure. I like to mix i...I obsess about sentence structure. I like to mix it up with short and long like you say. I love fragments, like you have in some of your examples. It drives my husband crazy, but it's a stylistic choice. alexiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07122487552931794871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-15130216975563545412012-10-15T13:49:37.440-07:002012-10-15T13:49:37.440-07:00I definitely pay attention to varying my sentence ...I definitely pay attention to varying my sentence lengths an structures when I edit. Whether I do it well is another thing. :-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-22851184606542032972012-10-15T07:22:55.473-07:002012-10-15T07:22:55.473-07:00I've been a bad blogger and friend! It's b...I've been a bad blogger and friend! It's been a while since I popped over to say hi. I shall be better from now on.<br /><br />Sentence length, and the way different authors use them, has always fascinated me. I struggle with authors who use overly long sentences because my own style is short and snappy. I have even given up on books because of sentence length. For example, Dean Kootnz will take 30 words to say what Stephen King will say in 12. Another more extreme example is Ray Bradbury. In Something Wicked This Way Comes he used sentences with 60+ words. I forgot the point of the sentences by the time I reached the ends.<br /><br />Having said all of that, I have now learnt that a mixture of short and long sentences works better than either extreme. Sometimes I need to slow the pace down, and this is where longer internal dialogue sentences work best.<br /><br />Great post!<br />Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-25145439839865246342012-10-14T17:44:39.455-07:002012-10-14T17:44:39.455-07:00I agree with Moody--often the second round I find ...I agree with Moody--often the second round I find that mix of short and long works, and I cut out the too many shorts and too too longs. Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-23832825992137838262012-10-14T05:40:40.313-07:002012-10-14T05:40:40.313-07:00I notice sentences. I mix the long with the short....I notice sentences. I mix the long with the short.<br /><br />I used to write extremely long sentences with few short sentences. I believe that can be too heavy for the reader. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-58808396675260176812012-10-13T16:47:24.314-07:002012-10-13T16:47:24.314-07:00I try to keep my sentences short. Shorter sentence...I try to keep my sentences short. Shorter sentences convey more tension and a faster pace.<br /><br />JaiJai Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858987106548357551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-50894463456174430432012-10-13T14:32:58.540-07:002012-10-13T14:32:58.540-07:00I always try to mix my sentences. A combination of...I always try to mix my sentences. A combination of long and short is the way to go.<br />One/two word sentences, is a great way to build and sustain tension.Michelle Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02750092836481599870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-51063230756031124752012-10-12T18:09:56.177-07:002012-10-12T18:09:56.177-07:00I've noticed sentence length since I started t...I've noticed sentence length since I started trying to improve my own writing. My style is long--I really love extended passages and will insert semi-colons and hyphens everywhere if I let myself go.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-13996738839104067012012-10-12T17:48:35.412-07:002012-10-12T17:48:35.412-07:00Mine is a mixed bag. It alters pace and as you say...Mine is a mixed bag. It alters pace and as you say keeps it crisp. That's what I think it does and I hope I am right. You could tell me better though.Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09341706502020011897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-70376676843684447952012-10-12T15:12:51.241-07:002012-10-12T15:12:51.241-07:00I do notice, but that's because when it's ...I do notice, but that's because when it's done well, I get jealous. lol <br /><br />Mixing sentence lengths is a great way to get in voice. A long rambling sentence has a different voice to short, zippy ones. Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-68283097236660732112012-10-12T13:12:58.193-07:002012-10-12T13:12:58.193-07:00Like others, it's during revisions that I conc...Like others, it's during revisions that I concentrate on sentence length and rhythm, not so much in the first draft. And reading my work out loud then helps me 'hear' sentence needs that I missed in read-throughs :-)Kenda Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972218446945404475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-91189001832443158902012-10-12T12:24:17.212-07:002012-10-12T12:24:17.212-07:00I do often notice sentences! I like a good mix of ...I do often notice sentences! I like a good mix of long and short sentences as well. I have had teen writing students who could write sentences a mile long and then some. :) I always tell them that super long sentences are too much of a "mouthful" for readers, and we don't want our readers to get tangled in them. I love a good balance. :) Good topic!<br /><br />Have a great weekend,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-35765146502857697052012-10-12T10:29:39.253-07:002012-10-12T10:29:39.253-07:00Hi friends..while I am writing the first draft, I ...Hi friends..while I am writing the first draft, I just need to get the story out. Its in the later drafts that I ponder over the sentences, concentrating a lot during the revision and later in the editing stage.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-15291497554998186922012-10-12T06:38:08.229-07:002012-10-12T06:38:08.229-07:00Sentence length is a matter of style. Long sentenc...Sentence length is a matter of style. Long sentences do not bother me as long as they are easy to follow and understand. In fact, well-written long sentences suggests a higher mastery of writing. That being said, I tend to keep my sentences short, because my critique partners seem to think long sentences are a bad thing.writing and living by Richard P Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814139767151989286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-25195952879362142712012-10-12T06:31:02.545-07:002012-10-12T06:31:02.545-07:00My critique partners pointed out a lot of longer s...My critique partners pointed out a lot of longer sentences because I was overusing 'and' and 'but.' I've gotten better at shortening and dividing sentences.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-81555560512877628222012-10-12T06:21:49.909-07:002012-10-12T06:21:49.909-07:00I think about them when revising. Shorter sentence...I think about them when revising. Shorter sentences are always better for MG. I even started noticing the sentences in books I'm reading, if they stand out as being too long. Short and sweet is always better. <br /><br />Don't worry Rachna. Sounds like your crit partners will help you to keep your sentences easy to read. And that's what it's all about. Making sentences slide off the tongue of the reader in an effortless way. *waves*Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-6387928372813326652012-10-12T03:13:49.316-07:002012-10-12T03:13:49.316-07:00I don't think about it much while reading, but...I don't think about it much while reading, but I do notice too many sentence fragments because it annoys me! In my writing I pay attention to it in revision. I have a mix of short and long. My short sentences are always sentences, though. I never write in sentence fragments. Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-87360199856151112862012-10-12T03:09:43.034-07:002012-10-12T03:09:43.034-07:00Good points Rachna. I love the examples. It's ...Good points Rachna. I love the examples. It's hard to know when it's okay to use short, not really sentences like in your examples. That's what I'm struggling with right now.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-4028938434584750052012-10-12T02:28:22.762-07:002012-10-12T02:28:22.762-07:00True, it is challenging to choose the right length...True, it is challenging to choose the right length of sentences, Rachna:)Rahul Bhatiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690287853990880735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-28537772236304594512012-10-12T01:49:34.395-07:002012-10-12T01:49:34.395-07:00"Using sentences in a perfect way is an art f..."Using sentences in a perfect way is an art form . ."<br /><br />Pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter. I envy authors who get perfect use of each word in every sentence.<br /><br />.....dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.com