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!