Smarter tips for writers

[deborahjross]

Janet Fitch blogs here on some "writing rules." Some of her observations aren't new, but she has a thoughtful way of approaching the craft. Here's one of her insights on sentence structure:

5. Explore sentences using dependent clauses
A dependent clause (a sentence fragment set off by commas, dontcha know) helps you explore your story by moving you deeper into the sentence. It allows you to stop and think harder about what you’ve already written. Often the story you’re looking for is inside the sentence. The dependent clause helps you uncover it.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I live to write complex sentences. It may be a legacy of being a historian -- we nest, we coil, we weave our words when we write of history -- or it may be a legacy of early exposure to 19th century fiction. Although I *do* have a trick of trying to use the ablative absolute, which isn't entirely sensible or useful in English (but it sounds nice, and that I like).

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

I love being able to write complex sentences. Or not. I can use the length and intricacy of sentences to vary and control pace, create atmosphere, do all sorts of nifty things. It's like having a 5th gear.

Since I never studied Latin... um, what's the ablative absolute (in English)?

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

It's a subordinate clause whose subject is different to that of the main sentence. It doesn't really work in English, but a close approximation would be something like: 'the ships having been readied, Caesar set sail for Gaul'.

[rosehelene.livejournal.com]

Hrm. It can also make it more difficult for the reader to follow the sentence. When I'm reading aloud I have trouble doing so. :P

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Yes, sometimes a sentence that is elegant on the paper doesn't give an equally smooth and rewarding rhythm when read aloud. Otoh, sometimes the (properly placed) punctuation marks provide wonderful places to breathe. Like eighth-rests.