Repetitive Sentence Structure

Welcome to another #WriterWarnings! As you write, it’s important to provide readers with a variety of sentence structures. 

Varying the length of your sentences, the way your lines are presented, and how they read will keep readers engaged.

Here is an example from Gary Provost:

"This “sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety.

Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length.

And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals—the sounds that say listen to this, it is important”—by Gary Provost

Scenes where you are trying to create urgency should contain shorter sentences, but be sure to provide variety in some way. If you’re trying to create an ominous atmosphere with your words, lengthier sentences might fit such a scene better than shorter sentences.

Sentence length and structure can impact a scene, so be sure to play around with the presentation of your lines!

Be sure to scroll to see more details!

XO,

Ashley