Wednesday, January 26, 2011

How to Write a Sentence

I just listened to author Stanley Fish being interviewed on Talk of the Nation. His latest offering, How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One, looks very intriguing. I've never read any of his work, but even if all it is is just a collection of great opening sentences, that'll be worth the read. But it sounds like he really delves into the craft and art of writing good sentences, and I crave anything that will help.

I'm consistently amazed at how little heed writers pay to the crafting of their sentences. Good ones are a joy to read. Bad ones make you want to jab forks in your eyeballs.