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!