When writers ask me how they can improve their writing skills I always ask them about their reading. They often look at me somewhat deflated – ‘Did she not hear what I was asking?’ I can see them wondering. But, truly, emulating the work of other writers is the best way to improve your own writing. When I read, I’m always looking for great sentences. And when I find them, I write them down. (I’ve learned to do this immediately, usually by entering them into my iPhone.) Each week, I share one with you, providing the sentence, the author and my description of why I figure the sentence worked so well.
Word count: 267 words Reading time: About 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate. Today’s comes from Michael Specter in the New York Times. I’ve never much liked […]
Oz is fifty-two and jauntily fit… Read More »
Word count: 297 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate. Today’s is by Adam Gopnik. I’ve long admired the writing of Adam Gopnik,
A glint-eyed scientist with a tiny box… Read More »
Word count: 271 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence by another writer that I’d happily imitate. Today’s comes from Calvin Tompkins. My mother was an artist.
His mouth opens wide in a soundless laugh… Read More »
Word count: 275 words Reading time: About 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate. Today’s comes from Tim Kreider. I don’t have a subscription to the online New
You are going to die Read More »
Word count: 281 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate. Today’s comes from an Anthony Lane New Yorker review of the movie Les
The camera soars on high, the orchestra bellows… Read More »
Word count: 373 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate. Today’s comes from the novel Capital, by John Lanchester. I hadn’t heard of
Even his tallness appeared a form of ease… Read More »
Word count: 316 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skill is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate, this one from the book Joseph Anton by Salman Rushdie. I received the
There was a small enclosed space at the centre of his being Read More »
Word count: 299 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate. Today’s is by Calvin Trillin. I’m not one of those people who eats
Sort of like bungee jumping… Read More »
Word count: 250 words Reading time: about 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate. Today’s comes from Amor Towles. There’s been a fuss about the novel Rules of
I sutured split infinitives… Read More »
Word count: 433 words Reading time: Less than 2 minutes A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. That’s why, every week, I present a sentence that I’d happily imitate. Today’s comes from Taras Grescoe. The first time I went to New York
Performing unscripted drunken operettas… Read More »
