Writing Tip & Prompt: Sentence Structure

On Fridays we like to share writing tips and tricks with our readers. We hope this section will encourage and inspire you to continually improve as a writer.

Writing Tip – Sentence Structure

Sentence structure is something built into a writer’s core, and we can employ little tricks to shift the emphasis of our sentences. For example, use the passive voice to emphasize “what happens” rather than who or what does it: A completed chapter is expected by the end of the day. Use a cleft sentence with “it is/was” or “what” to emphasize a specific subject or object: It was I who won Grand Prize in the contest. Use always, forever or never to express annoyance: He always expects me to work on the weekends. Auxiliary verbs did and do can be used in a positive sentence to express a strong feeling: I do believe your lawn-mowing days are over.

Writing Prompt – Know Your Neighbors

How well do you know your neighbors? What things do they do throughout their day? How large or small is their family? Are they from a different state or country? What brought them to live in your neighborhood and be your neighbor? Write a short story about your thoughts and then write another story after you interact with them and compare your two stories.