Back to basics: sentences and paragraphs.Professor Lawrence Lan gave advice about making academic writing interesting. His list made me smile, but it gave me pause for thought.
Have you looked at the pages of work?
Not read – just scanned over the page to see what it looks like?
The brain does it automatically; it registers the lay of the land then focuses on the specifics.
Writers need to mix it up:
· Too many short sentences
· Too many very long sentences
· Too many sentences of the same length
· Too many short paragraphs
· Too many very long paragraphs
· Too many paragraphs of the same length
and the readers’ eyes will glaze over.
Here's to breaking up patterns and making the ride interesting for the reader.
I try to make sure my sentences and paragraphs are all mixed up. Hmmm. That sounds funny. But you know what I mean. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the title of this post, Length and Size, I thought you were getting a little pervy on us Elaine.
ReplyDeleteBut now I see what you had in mind, yes, I agree. Mix it up. I hate reading long paragraphs with long sentences.
Hi Stina
ReplyDeleteWe don't usually try to keep mixing things up for the reader ;)
Hi Anne :)
Isn't it funny how some phrases will be forever shrouded in a smutty-kind-of mist ;)
I know just what you mean. It's the first thing I notices about someones work. Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteI never really think about it. I guess that is part of automatically doing it.
ReplyDeleteHi Jamara
ReplyDeleteIt really stood out when I was experimenting with literary fiction: writing for The Boy. He needed long, rambling chains of thought. So different from the norm.
Hi Chris
Keep up the good work. I don't go more than about three sentences before actively thinking about what I am writing and how.