the key to good writing is variety. if every sentence you write is structured the same your writing...

The key to good writing is variety.

If every sentence you write is structured the same your writing becomes uninventive and boring.

Here’s what I mean…

I went to the beach. My brother splashed me with water. The chill of the droplets chilled me to the bone. I trembled. I got a towel

eventually. My blood was able to warm again once the towel was wrapped around me.

I went to the beach. My brother splashed me with water. The chill of the droplets chilled me to the bone. I trembled. I got a towel

eventually. My blood was able to warm again once the towel was wrapped around me.

EVERY SENTENCE IN THIS PARAGRAPH STARTS THE SAME WAY: with the subject.

I went to the beach. My brother splashed me with water. The chill of the droplets chilled me to the bone. I trembled. I got a towel

eventually. My blood was able to warm again once the towel was wrapped around me.

EVERY SENTENCE IN THIS PARAGRAPH STARTS THE SAME WAY: with the subject.

Or take this paragraph…

When I was in class, I saw a bird out the window. While my teacher talked, I found

myself wishing I could fly. As my mind wandered, I had trouble concentrating on

what my teacher was saying. When he grimaced, I found myself guilty of not having

paid attention.

When I was in class, I saw a bird out the window. While my teacher talked, I found myself wishing I could fly. As my mind wandered, I had trouble concentrating on what my teacher was saying. When he grimaced, I found myself guilty of not

having paid attention.

EVERY SENTENCE IN THIS PARAGRAPH STARTS THE SAME WAY: with an adverb clause.

When I was in class, I saw a bird out the window. While my teacher talked, I found myself wishing I could fly. As my mind wandered, I had trouble concentrating on what my teacher was saying. When he grimaced, I found myself guilty of not

having paid attention.

EVERY SENTENCE IN THIS PARAGRAPH STARTS THE SAME WAY: with an adverb clause.

Remember VARIETY is what makes writing dynamic.

Some options for starting sentences include:

The Subject • where the sentence begins with a noun or

adjectives describing a noun– I enjoy eating pancakes.

The Participle • where the sentence begins with an -ing word

that begins an introductory phrase– Eating pancakes, I have enjoyed many a Sunday

brunch.

The Infinitive • where the sentence begins with an infinitive

(to +verb) that is not used as the subject– To enjoy a morning is simple, all you need is

pancakes.The Preposition • where the sentence begins with a preposition– Beneath the table sat my dog, he knew I was

eating pancakes.

The Adverb Clause • where the sentence starts with a subordinating

conjunction– Although I’ve had pancakes every Sunday for a

month, I haven’t gotten sick of them yet.The Single Adverb • where the sentence starts with a word like

“suddenly,” “quietly,” etc..– Eventually the slow moving waiter brought the

pancakes to the table.

The Placeholder • where the sentence starts with a phrase like “this

is,” “there are,” “it is,” etc...– These are pancakes.

The Nominative Absolute • where the sentence starts with a phrase that

modifies the main subject and verb (and could stand alone)– My mind blown, I ate the most delicious pancakes of

my life.

Every sentence can be written in a different way.

Let’s go back to those first paragraphs.

While I was at the beach, my brother splashed me with water. Droplets running down my skin, I found myself quickly chilled to the

bone. I trembled. Eventually I got a towel wrapped around me and my blood was able to

warm again.

NOTE THE VARIETY!

While I was at the beach, my brother splashed me with water. Droplets running down my skin, I found myself quickly chilled to the

bone. I trembled. Eventually I got a towel wrapped around me and my blood was able to

warm again.

NOTE THE VARIETY!ADVERB CLAUSE

While I was at the beach, my brother splashed me with water. Droplets running down my skin, I found myself quickly chilled to the

bone. I trembled. Eventually I got a towel wrapped around me and my blood was able to

warm again.

NOTE THE VARIETY!Nominative Absolute

While I was at the beach, my brother splashed me with water. Droplets running down my skin, I found myself quickly chilled to the

bone. I trembled. Eventually I got a towel wrapped around me and my blood was able to

warm again.

NOTE THE VARIETY!Subject

While I was at the beach, my brother splashed me with water. Droplets running down my skin, I found myself quickly chilled to the

bone. I trembled. Eventually I got a towel wrapped around me, and my blood was able

to warm again.

NOTE THE VARIETY!Single Adverb

Or this one…

When I was in class, I saw a bird out the window. While my teacher talked, I found

myself wishing I could fly. As my mind wandered, I had trouble concentrating on

what my teacher was saying. When he grimaced, I found myself guilty of not having

paid attention.

When I was in class, I saw a bird out the window. Suddenly I found myself wishing I could fly. My mind wandering, I had trouble

concentrating on what my teacher was saying. I found myself guilty of not having paid

attention when I looked up to find my teacher grimacing.

When I was in class, I saw a bird out the window. Suddenly I found myself wishing I could fly. My

mind wandering, I had trouble concentrating on what my teacher was saying. I found myself

guilty of not having paid attention when I looked up to find my teacher grimacing.

Note the variety:Adverb Clause

When I was in class, I saw a bird out the window. Suddenly I found myself wishing I could fly. My

mind wandering, I had trouble concentrating on what my teacher was saying. I found myself

guilty of not having paid attention when I looked up to find my teacher grimacing.

Note the variety:Single Adverb

When I was in class, I saw a bird out the window. Suddenly I found myself wishing I could fly. My

mind wandering, I had trouble concentrating on what my teacher was saying. I found myself

guilty of not having paid attention when I looked up to find my teacher grimacing.

Note the variety:Nominative Absolute

When I was in class, I saw a bird out the window. Suddenly I found myself wishing I could fly. My

mind wandering, I had trouble concentrating on what my teacher was saying. I found myself

guilty of not having paid attention when I looked up to find my teacher grimacing.

Note the variety:Subject

Variety is the spice of life and writing!