"Short sentences can deliver a big "bang" that long sentences cannot. They also help emphasize a point that might get glossed over in a longer sentence, and help create contrast by breaking up a series of longer sentences. The short sentence in the following example achieves all three of these effects:
Charlotte new the time had come to tell her boss how she really felt, to let him know that she wouldn't take it a second longer. She slammed open her door and marched down the hall, past the unbelieving faces of the secretaries, and into her boss' office. She looked into his eyes, summoned all her courage, and took a deep breath.
She couldn't speak."
Noah Lukeman, A Dash of Style: The Art and Mastery of Punctuation, Norton, 2006 p. 22
Why is the short sentence above so effective? It takes four long sentences to build the Charlotte's emotions in the reader's mind. Then boom, like the air exploding from a pin pricked balloon, only three short words perfectly describe Charlotte's, and the reader's, deflation when Charlotte looks into her boss' eyes. In this case, less is more.
The same effect is captured in the shortest verses in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. "Jesus wept," (John 11:35) and "And my father dwelt in a tent" (1 Nephi 2:15). The words "Jesus wept" evoke deep emotion in the reader's heart that couldn't be reached with more words. The description of Lehi dwelling in a tent captures all the faith and humility of this wealthy man and the sacrifice he was willing to make in order to obey and serve the Lord. Again, less is more.
We have to be careful though, according to Lukeman, not to overuse the period -- meaning creating to many short sentences. Otherwise we can introduce amateurish choppiness into our writing.
That's the thoughts for today. What are your thoughts? Let me know what you think!
Monday, 9 June 2008
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Insights
It's now been over a month since I last posted. I've got my blog up and working - though it needs a lot more work. Still it's there with some links to books that have been a big help.
I've been away on vacation and family life has caught up to me. Since I last wrote, I've gained some interesting insight. Alma 37:6 states: Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. I've learned a lot over the last month about that scripture and how it applies to me. I've learned that top priorities have to take precedence over everything else. I want to write, and I am, but is taking a lot longer than I thought it would. That can't be helped when you work full time, are married and have four children. Trying to balance everything -- me time, wife time, children time, family time, work time, writing time, reading time, play time -- is a tremendous challenge, especially for someone like myself who has never been really organized. Bottom line, I'm learning that I can't do it all and do it well. I have to start out small and work up from there. I'd like to take the LDS market by storm. I can't. I would love to be able to post every day, and write tons everyday, but I can't do that and still do all the other things I need to. Still, I'm going to try to post as often as I can.
Have any of you been through this? What do you do to balance things. I'd love to hear from you.
I've been away on vacation and family life has caught up to me. Since I last wrote, I've gained some interesting insight. Alma 37:6 states: Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. I've learned a lot over the last month about that scripture and how it applies to me. I've learned that top priorities have to take precedence over everything else. I want to write, and I am, but is taking a lot longer than I thought it would. That can't be helped when you work full time, are married and have four children. Trying to balance everything -- me time, wife time, children time, family time, work time, writing time, reading time, play time -- is a tremendous challenge, especially for someone like myself who has never been really organized. Bottom line, I'm learning that I can't do it all and do it well. I have to start out small and work up from there. I'd like to take the LDS market by storm. I can't. I would love to be able to post every day, and write tons everyday, but I can't do that and still do all the other things I need to. Still, I'm going to try to post as often as I can.
Have any of you been through this? What do you do to balance things. I'd love to hear from you.
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Outside Looking In
Do you remember a time in your life when you were the new comer? You were in a new ward, going to a new school, starting a new job. How did you feel? Nervous? Scared? Excited? Anxious? Did your stomach do somersaults? Would your choice be all of the above?
Like you, I've been there. I'm there now. I'm new to the publishing world--LDS or otherwise. I've never before attempted to have anything published. I don't have a portfolio of written articles, or great stories. Oh sure I wrote papers in college, both creatively and for research, and got good grades. Ask me where any of those papers are now and I couldn't tell you. I got married while still in college and after graduating with a degree in Near Eastern Studies, reality set in. Unless I want to go to school for another ten years, which I don't, I'd better acquire some marketable skills--quickly. Such were my thoughts back then. I've been extremely blessed since then and have never lacked the means to take care of my family. However, on the path to that success, some things got thrown in the waiting pile--writing being one of them.
Now I'm at a stage in my life where writing is taking a more prominent role. Given what I've said above, however, you may be asking yourself, "Why would you start a blog for newcomers when you are complete newcomer yourself? What do you know about writing? What do you have to offer me? Why should I listen to anything you have to say--you're a novice?" I can understand those questions. However, my purpose in starting this blog is not to tout my expertise. I'm using it as a platform to share information gathered on the path to my becoming an expert -- something that is fully obtainable as I put the effort into it. I want to share my journey with you, and I invite you, if you will, to share your journey with me.
So, here I stand, on the outside looking in at a crowd of well-written, published LDS authors. I want to be part of that crowd, but it is going to take some time. Here's what I've done to take some initial steps. I've collected a small library of books about writing -- showing, telling, plot, structure, character, viewpoint, description, self-editing, punctuation, etc. I'll be posting the list in the next few days. I've joined the latterdayauthors.com forum and made a few posts. I've posted a few comments and asked questions at LDSpublisher.com. I've contacted an already published author, Rebecca Talley, and had her review a children's story I've written. I've polished and honed my story per her suggestions, as well as the suggestions of others, and am getting ready to submit it to several publishers. I should have all in order by about the third week in May. I'm still looking for a good LDS writer's group if anyone has any suggestions. I've joined The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I've written down the titles for a series of children/YA books I've had in my head for a while and started outlining them. I've started this blog as well as others - to be listed in my links - as a means of practicing my writing. I plan to attend the LDStorymakers conference next year (still up in the air right now because I currently live in England and travel back to the states isn't cheap).
What have you done toward reaching your goal of becoming published? What has your experience been like? What insights do you have to share? I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Like you, I've been there. I'm there now. I'm new to the publishing world--LDS or otherwise. I've never before attempted to have anything published. I don't have a portfolio of written articles, or great stories. Oh sure I wrote papers in college, both creatively and for research, and got good grades. Ask me where any of those papers are now and I couldn't tell you. I got married while still in college and after graduating with a degree in Near Eastern Studies, reality set in. Unless I want to go to school for another ten years, which I don't, I'd better acquire some marketable skills--quickly. Such were my thoughts back then. I've been extremely blessed since then and have never lacked the means to take care of my family. However, on the path to that success, some things got thrown in the waiting pile--writing being one of them.
Now I'm at a stage in my life where writing is taking a more prominent role. Given what I've said above, however, you may be asking yourself, "Why would you start a blog for newcomers when you are complete newcomer yourself? What do you know about writing? What do you have to offer me? Why should I listen to anything you have to say--you're a novice?" I can understand those questions. However, my purpose in starting this blog is not to tout my expertise. I'm using it as a platform to share information gathered on the path to my becoming an expert -- something that is fully obtainable as I put the effort into it. I want to share my journey with you, and I invite you, if you will, to share your journey with me.
So, here I stand, on the outside looking in at a crowd of well-written, published LDS authors. I want to be part of that crowd, but it is going to take some time. Here's what I've done to take some initial steps. I've collected a small library of books about writing -- showing, telling, plot, structure, character, viewpoint, description, self-editing, punctuation, etc. I'll be posting the list in the next few days. I've joined the latterdayauthors.com forum and made a few posts. I've posted a few comments and asked questions at LDSpublisher.com. I've contacted an already published author, Rebecca Talley, and had her review a children's story I've written. I've polished and honed my story per her suggestions, as well as the suggestions of others, and am getting ready to submit it to several publishers. I should have all in order by about the third week in May. I'm still looking for a good LDS writer's group if anyone has any suggestions. I've joined The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I've written down the titles for a series of children/YA books I've had in my head for a while and started outlining them. I've started this blog as well as others - to be listed in my links - as a means of practicing my writing. I plan to attend the LDStorymakers conference next year (still up in the air right now because I currently live in England and travel back to the states isn't cheap).
What have you done toward reaching your goal of becoming published? What has your experience been like? What insights do you have to share? I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Friday, 25 April 2008
Ready or Not, Here I Come
I've done it. I've started a new blog for newcomers. I'm a nearly complete novice when it comes to the publishing world (LDS or otherwise). However, I'm learning, and as I learn I want to share with others who may be in the same boat I'm in. I invite those of you who are novices to get on the boat with me and come along for the journey to from novice to expert.
I'll be adding more soon!
I'll be adding more soon!
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