Tag Archives: The Elements of Style

Timeless Tips

Posted on July 22, 2016 by karinwritesdangerously

Whatever writing challenges we’re facing, it helps to have a wise counselor in our corner. Helpful hands and voices are all around — we have only to look for them. One ever-helpful source of inspiration for me is The Elements … Continue reading →

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And then

Posted on April 15, 2015 by karinwritesdangerously

“I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out.” Oscar Wilde Is it kosher to begin a sentence with a conjunction? There was a time when the answer was … Continue reading →

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Better Unsaid

Posted on September 16, 2014 by karinwritesdangerously

“It took me my whole life to learn what not to play.” Dizzy Gillespie “A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a … Continue reading →

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Telling Words

Posted on March 31, 2014 by karinwritesdangerously

“Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer … Continue reading →

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Do Nots

Posted on December 10, 2013 by karinwritesdangerously

I have many writing handbooks on my shelves, some better than others. But the one that I turn to time and time again for guidance and a gentle kick in the pants about my writing is that old standby, The … Continue reading →

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Perfect Waves

Posted on October 19, 2012 by karinwritesdangerously

“Delay is natural to a writer. He is like a surfer—he bides his time, waits for the perfect wave on which to ride in. Delay is instinctive with him. He waits for the surge (of emotion? of strength? of courage?) … Continue reading →

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Adverb Axing

Posted on April 26, 2012 by karinwritesdangerously

In the classic writing guide, The Elements of Style, the last chapter is devoted to developing strong, sinewy writing and offers a number of valuable tips for aspiring authors. “Cautionary hint” number 4 advises “write with nouns and verbs.” The … Continue reading →

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Windowpane Writing

Posted on January 19, 2011 by karinwritesdangerously

Good writing is like a windowpane. George Orwell “A Champion Of Plain English” — for a writer, a headline like this is irresistible! Needless to say, I dived into The New York Times story below it head first. No matter … Continue reading →

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Be Clear

Posted on December 22, 2010 by karinwritesdangerously

“This seemed an utterly enchanted sea, this lake you could leave to its own devices for a few hours and come back to, and find that it had not stirred, this constant and trustworthy body of water.” E.B. White, Once … Continue reading →

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Inner Ear

Posted on December 6, 2010 by karinwritesdangerously

Tough night:  just spent about two hours revising four pages of a key scene for my YA novel. I made the revisions by reading my draft aloud — it’s amazing what a difference this makes! When your tongue stumbles over … Continue reading →

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