Amy Hempel
I oftentimes wonder what I love about books, and how they have managed to become such a big part of my life, and the way I make my way through the world. There are so many wonderful things about books, what they offer and how companionable they can be; but one big thing in their favour is when they are put together with good or beautiful sentences.
I am often stopped in my tracks by a sentence that is glorious. So succinct, or so elegant; so insightful or so sharply observed. Sometimes I am so moved that I think myself, I could die happy if I had written that line. Or how amazing to have been able to come up with that sentence, and then still have to write so many more to make a full book!
I think that is why I shall probably never write a novel. I could come up with the odd good sentence, but doubt I could sustain it for the tens of thousands of words needed. This is good advice about doing it tho - one good sentence after another.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.