First you write a sentence : the elements of reading, writing ... and life

Title:

Author:

Moran, Joe, 1970- author.

Personal Author:

Moran, Joe, 1970- author.

ISBN:

9780143134343

9780241978511

Physical Description:

229 pages ; 21 cm

General Note:

"First published in Great Britain by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House UK, 2018"--Title page verso.

Contents:

A pedant' s apology, or why I wrote this book -- The ape that writes sentences, or why word order is (almost) everything -- Nouns versus verbs, or how to bring a sentence to life, but not too much -- Nothing like a windowpane, or how to say wondrous things with plain words -- The high-wire act, or how to write long and legato without running out of breath -- Foolish like a trout, or how to join sentences together with invisible thread -- A small, good thing, or why a sentence should be a gift to the world.

Abstract:

"The sentence is the common ground where every writer walks. A good sentence can be written (and read) by anyone if we simply give it the gift of our time, and it is as close as most of us will get to making something truly beautiful. Using minimal technical terms and sources ranging from the Bible and Shakespeare to George Orwell and Maggie Nelson, as well as scientific studies of what can best fire the reader's mind, author Joe Moran shows how we can all write in a way that is clear, compelling and alive. Whether dealing with finding the ideal word, building a sentence, or constructing a paragraph, First You Write a Sentence informs by light example: much richer than a style guide, it can be read not only for instruction but for pleasure and delight. And along the way, it shows how good writing can help us notice the world, make ourselves known to others, and live more meaningful lives. It's an elegant gem in praise of the English sentence"-- Provided by publisher.

Subject Term:

Creative writing -- Social aspects.

Creative writing.

English language -- Sentences.

Summary:

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Shelf Number	Status
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Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

"Do you want to write clearer, livelier prose? This witty primer will help." -- The New York Times Book Review

An exploration of how the most ordinary words can be turned into verbal constellations of extraordinary grace through the art of building sentences

The sentence is the common ground where every writer walks. A good sentence can be written (and read) by anyone if we simply give it the gift of our time, and it is as close as most of us will get to making something truly beautiful. Using minimal technical terms and sources ranging from the Bible and Shakespeare to George Orwell and Maggie Nelson, as well as scientific studies of what can best fire the reader's mind, author Joe Moran shows how we can all write in a way that is clear, compelling and alive.

Whether dealing with finding the ideal word, building a sentence, or constructing a paragraph, First You Write a Sentence informs by light example: much richer than a style guide, it can be read not only for instruction but for pleasure and delight. And along the way, it shows how good writing can help us notice the world, make ourselves known to others, and live more meaningful lives. It's an elegant gem in praise of the English sentence.

Reviews (1)

Kirkus Review

A dense yet splendid "style guide by stealth" that reads like a two-semester course in English composition distilled into a two-week treatise.The question is how, apart from multiple readings, one might absorb all the wisdom in a single gulp. Moran (English and Cultural History/Liverpool John Moores Univ.; Shrinking Violets: The Secret Life of Shyness, 2017, etc.) believes that by "mastering" one of the fundamental building blocks of languagethe sentencewe learn not merely about writing, but about everything. It's a sweeping claim, but Moran backs it up, giving us mostly trenchant sentences on the art of creating them. A sultan of syntax, he wants to show rather than teach, and he generally succeeds. He likens good prose to good poetry, both taking wing on the rhythm, meter, and music of language. Writing is an artisanal craft, or should be, employing meticulous care and execution. Moran extols the virtues of the plain stylelike cooking, "a sentence should rely more on quality ingredients than baroque artifice"but cautions against fetishizing the unadorned, introducing ways to make more elaborate sentences work. Whatever the style, good sentences give order to our thoughts and clarity to the reader, but they must also sing on the page and in the reader's mind. Moran links themes with illustrative asides, as in his short history of writing, but mainly, he critiques the common novice mistakes and veteran's misjudgments, demonstrating skillful alternatives. At times, the author will make even experienced writers feel inept, especially in his discussions of arcane grammatical terms. Still, his tone is comradely, not chiding. Oddly, one point Moran does not address is the element of talent. Everyone's writing can be improved, but all the technique in the world won't make a mediocre talent an exceptional one.Moran writes fluidly and elegantly, offering practical advice on giving one's writing texture and verve. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.