Creating a Legacy
There are many ways to order words. But if we want our words to count and pass on a legacy to our readers, we must hone the craft of creating effective, meaningful, and life-giving sentences.
I don’t think it is overreaching to say that words have power. The spoken word is particularly powerful. Think about your own experience. Has anyone ever said something that affected you deeply? A simple compliment spoken at the right moment or a negative statement blurted without thought can affect the recipient far more deeply than the speaker may ever realize. Now imagine that the hastily spoken word was written down and preserved for you to read repeatedly, to study its nuances.
I believe in the power of both the spoken and written word. I also believe we live in a world with far too much chaos, anger, and unforgiveness flung about. I aim to use my word skills to promote positivity and mete out grace. I hope you and your young writer, too, will create word pictures for the betterment of others. As I often say to my students, ‘Use your powers for good, not evil!’
This does not mean we cannot write about hard subjects. We can write about sorrow, pain, and even evil without sacrificing moral virtue.
The heart behind each sentence is directly linked to the construction of that sentence, and there are many ways to construct a sentence. Here are four essential truths you can use to guide young writers as they learn to craft sentences that matter:
1. Sentences can be rewritten for clarity as often as needed. Don’t be afraid to write your thoughts as you initially think them. Structure, style, length, and clarity can be adjusted. Just write. Few authors, even published ones, get it all right the first time.
2. Variety is essential. Sentences within a paragraph or a story must be of various lengths and styles. Later, we will discuss how sentence length and style contribute to the rhythm of plot development within stories, but for now, it is enough to know that variety is essential.
3. Sentences can evolve. What you write is just the beginning. Young writers often think once they have written something down on paper, it cannot be changed. That's nonsense! It is often in the act of writing that we process our thoughts. As you write, you may come to a different conclusion that surprises you. Changing your mind is part of growing and learning.
4. Crafting great sentences takes practice and time. When you read something that seems effortless, you can be sure a lot of effort went into crafting that piece!
Young writers must repeatedly be reminded of these four truths until they see the value in writing, rewriting, and revising. With regular practice, the cycle of story planning, writing, and rewriting will become second nature.
