(via heermionegranger)
70830This 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—sounds that say listen to this, it is important.
Gary Provost (via qmsd)
So often, I find that interesting, varied prose, much more so than plot or content, is what draws me to a piece of writing. I so aspire to be a stylish, dynamic writer. Alas…
(via believeinprongs)
Start of Fall, start of blog
Tomorrow is the autumnal equinox, which means today is officially the last day of Summer (the unofficial end of Summer in this country, of course, is marked by Labor Day, but that always struck me as too early). As a Northeastern girl, it’s no surprise that Fall is my favorite season. It’s chock full of some of my favorite things: scarves, light but cozy sweaters, layered clothing in general, pretty foliage, hikes in the woods, and— nerd alert— the start of the academic year. Sure, I was the kid who, despite being a procrastinator of epic proportions, always did pretty well at school, which may have something to do with my affinity for “back to school” season, but I think mostly, I just love the excitement and promise of starting things afresh. Fell off the wagon with some disciplines over the Summer? Here’s a chance to wipe the slate clean and set new goals or try again!
Since I finally finished my Masters last Spring, I no longer have reason to associate new beginnings with the academic year, or the onset of Fall, but old habits/sentiments die hard, I suppose. I was never any good at New Year’s resolutions, but I think historically, I’ve fared somewhat better embarking on new things with the start of a new school year. I don’t yet have a clear sense what these “new things” will be (except for a vague notion that I’d try to read and write more?), but I hope I will soon, and that I might use this blog to mark my progress. Disclaimer: I am not, nor have I ever been very good at keeping things up, so I also make no promises that this blog will not devolve into a series of reblogs of pretty images or funny scenes from my favorite shows or movies. There’s a reason I decided to get a Tumblr. It appeals to my ADD-nature and huge love for all things entertainment-related. You have been warned.
