Change of heart regarding style

DennisB · Apr 8, 2013

I've been a frequent critic of writing that involves short, choppy sentences. I've tended to believe that neophyte writers, in their quest for tension and drama, rely way too heavily on short, perfunctory statements that almost seem designed to startle the reader.

The writing that appeals to me tends toward the longer sentences that rely on prepositional phrases and clauses--dependent and otherwise. Then, short sentences are employed as a kind of seasoning--multi-word punctuation, if you will.

But I'm see more and more successful writing in which few sentences are more than a dozen words long, and are primarily statements.

A case in point is A.M. Day's Throne of Olympus, a very popular Indy novel. In seven graphs I surveyed in three chapters, only two sentences were over 12 words long.

So, from this point on, I'll merely say that short, choppy sentences are not my cup-'o-tea, but that there's nothing wrong with them--if that's what the market demands.

mirandashell · Apr 8, 2013

And your point is?

Mare · Apr 8, 2013

Hello!

Varying the length of sentences make more interesting reading. I like the visuals. It would be like doing a painting with all strokes the same width and length, or singing a song in a monotone.

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You can slow down the pace or pick it up with sentence structure. I let the needs my story dictate sentence length.

kkbe · Apr 8, 2013

The market responds favorably to good stories and good writing. But people get bored easily as a general rule, so it's prudent to change up sentence structure, always keeping in mind the context and content. Action scenes may lend themselves to shorter, choppy sentences, whilst musing may warrant gently meandering sentences.

Don't discount your personal style. That's what makes your well-written, really good story unique.

Manuel Royal · Apr 8, 2013

Hemingway and Faulkner were both great writers. Just find the style that feels right to you.

mirandashell · Apr 8, 2013

I've just realised my first post may have come over as slightly rude. It wasn't meant to be. I was genuinely asking.

DennisB · Apr 8, 2013

I suppose my point was to relate my "epiphany," and my realization that literature is like a fine soup, with numerous ingredients... some of which are pretty basic (such as salt).

I, personally, may not like writing that sounds like iambic pentameter (duh-da-duh-duh-duh-duh-DUH! duh-da-duh-duh-duh-duh-DUH! One more time!!!), but there are a ton of readers who do--as long as they can immerse themselves in the characters and story.

Honest Bill · Apr 8, 2013

I find that everyone has a different 'voice' for reading too. If someone reads something out loud, they often read much faster than i hear it in my head, and slight pauses in a sentence are usually more pronounced in my mind, than they are when others are reading.

I think that might be why a lot of writers tend towards ellipses... They want to ensure the reader 'hears' it the way it's intended and you can't always account for the cadence of other people's reading voice.

As others have already mentioned, i find it's best to mix it up, as i don't really like reading too much of the same. and a 'staccato' voice gets under my skin after a short time, as much as long confusing sentences do.

At certain times, one or the other will make much more sense. If a character is panicking and running away for example, i would prefer short and choppy.

BethS · Apr 8, 2013

Variety is good.

thothguard51 · Apr 8, 2013

Varying sentence lengths helps to avoid false rhythms, or that iambic pentameter cadence you reference...

MockingBird · Apr 8, 2013

Mare said:
Varying the length of sentences make more interesting reading. I like the visuals. It would be like doing a painting with all strokes the same width and length, or singing a song in a monotone..

You can slow down the pace or pick it up with sentence structure. I let the needs my story dictate sentence length.

This^

Roxxsmom · Apr 8, 2013

I think I'll chime in with the others who say that varying structure is your friend. Also, consider that different combinations of sentence lengths, sentence structures and word choices will be useful in different types of scenes or situations. In a combat scene, you'll probably want to write with more short, to the point sentences than in a scene where your character is contemplating something or enjoying a peaceful afternoon walk in the countryside.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 9, 2013

Manuel Royal said:
Hemingway and Faulkner were both great writers. Just find the style that feels right to you.

Yes, but not even Hemingway wrote anything choppy. His work had as much rhythm and flow as Faulkner's. Maybe more. Nor were his sentences all short. He varied them regularly.

pezerp59 · May 10, 2013

The combination of longer sentences and shorter sentences seems to create a rhythmic ebb and flow to the text. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is a good example.

The Otter · May 10, 2013

I like writing that's lean, sharp and clear, so I tend to prefer shorter sentences. But yeah, too much of that can start to feel choppy, or like the writer is trying to make it sound more dramatic. Everything in moderation.

The more I write, the more convinced I am that there are really no black and white rules about anything. Something that works in one context and for one type of book might not work for another.

AutumnKQ · May 10, 2013

I also prefer short, clean sentences. I've been reading SYW threads a lot lately, and I'm delighted when I come across a scene that's written that way. It's so easy to read.

I think George Orwell and Orson Scott Card write like that. I think OSC described it as - the plain sentences are like looking at a story through clear glass windowpanes. The language is almost invisible, allowing the story to shine through. (He contrasted that with stained glass windows and flowery prose.)

rwm4768 · May 10, 2013

I prefer sentences on the shorter side. If I have to slow down and decipher a convoluted sentence, that pulls me out of the story and might make me put the book down.

Change of heart regarding style

DennisB

mirandashell

Mare

kkbe

Huh.

Manuel Royal

mirandashell

DennisB

Honest Bill

practical experience, FTW

BethS

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...

MockingBird

Just a fool with a Dream

Roxxsmom

Raised by Wolves

Jamesaritchie

pezerp59

Inexorable

The Otter

Friendly Neighborhood Mustelid

AutumnKQ

rwm4768

practical experience, FTW