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: 261 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute A terrific way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. Here is a sentence I read recently that I’d happily imitate. This summer, a friend recommended the novel Ragged Company by Ojibway author Richard Wagamese. […]
The flashing bottoms of my brother’s feet…. Read More »
Word count: 272 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute The best way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. For this reason I regularly write down sentences I’ve picked up in my own recent reading. Today’s comes from Julie Otsuka. This summer I read
And for a moment we forgot to breathe…. Read More »
Word count: 251 words Reading time: About 1 minute The best way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. For this reason I regularly write down sentences I’ve picked up in my own recent reading. I like cleverness and wit in writing. Perhaps this is
A deep respect for the money it loathes… Read More »
Word count: 286 words Reading time: Just over 1 minute The best way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. For this reason I regularly write down sentences I’ve picked up in my own recent reading. Here is one by Patrick deWitt. The positive buzz
The sound the water made was like a voice…. Read More »
Word count: 234 words Reading time: Less than 1 minute The best way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. For this reason I regularly write down sentences I’ve picked up in my own recent reading. Here is one by Michael Ondaatje. Although I liked
Sleep is a prison… Read More »
Word count: 146 words Reading time: About 30 seconds A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. Here is a sentence by Lauren Groff I read recently that I’d happily imitate. I recently finished The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff (thanks for
A thousand belly flops of terror by Lauren Groff Read More »
Word count: 201 words Reading time: Less than 1 minute A great way to improve your writing is to emulate the work of others. Here is a sentence I read recently that I’d happily imitate. As I’ve been collecting my sentences-of-the-week for the last four months I’ve noticed a
Science gropes and staggers… Read More »
Word count: 278 words Reading time: About 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. Here is a sentence by Joshua Foer I read recently that I’d happily imitate. I recently finished reading the delightful non-fiction book, Moonwalking with Einstein
A pseudoscientific cliche Read More »
Word count: 222 words Reading time: Less than 1 minute Each week I identify a sentence from my reading that has interested me. This one comes from New Yorker reviewer John Lahr. I confess. I used to watch Sex and the City. At the time (1998-2004), I found it entertaining
Intellectual sinew and humour are not her primary colors…. Read More »
Word count: 207 words Reading time: Less than 1 minute A great way to improve your writing skills is to emulate the work of others. Here is a sentence by Diane Ackerman that I read recently that I’d happily imitate. If you want to write a memorable sentence, be
Smells detonate softly in our memory… Read More »
